Velo Escapes Big Sky Camp · By Invitation
The Epic
350 miles under the biggest sky in America, with mountain passes that just keep climbing.
The Idea
Five days where the only thing you spend energy on is the riding. Lodging, routes, SAG, meals, recovery — all of it scouted, booked, staffed, and on the schedule before you arrive.
We're posted up at the Hampton Inn Bozeman — clean, modern, with the kind of breakfast that gets you out the door at 7 a.m. with food in you. Right off I-90, ten minutes from the airport, easy in and easy out.
Routes climb the Bridger range, push up to Hyalite Reservoir, and stretch south into Gallatin Canyon and Big Sky proper. SAG support every ride. A pro-level bike mechanic on staff full-time, riding with the group, dialing in every bike. Massages on the long-ride day. Group dinners at the best of what Bozeman has to offer — and yes, kit gets washed.
Bring your bike, your kit, and your legs. We've got the rest.
Ride Profile
Itinerary
Arrive between 2 and 6 p.m. (check-in at the hotel starts at 3). Drop your bags. Indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center. Optional easy spin around the Bozeman bike path to start adjusting to altitude. Evening: 7 p.m. group dinner at Open Range — Montana steakhouse with a craft cocktail bar, downtown Bozeman, short shuttle from the hotel.
Included meals: Dinner, Snacks
70 mi · 3,500 ft climbing
An honest opening day. 70 miles north through Bridger Canyon with a long steady climb to Battle Ridge Pass and a screaming descent on the back side. SAG support all day. Lunch: 12:30 p.m. roadside at the Bridger Brewing satellite stop — burgers and beverages. Back at the hotel by 3. Pool, hot tub. Evening: 6 p.m. group dinner at Blackbird Kitchen — wood-fired Italian in downtown Bozeman.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
90 mi · 4,500 ft climbing
A real day in the saddle. 90 miles south to Hyalite Reservoir with the long climb to 6,700 feet at the dam — the prettiest mountain lake views in the area. Back at the hotel around 2. Recovery: pool, hot tub, fitness center if you have anything left. Evening: 6 p.m. group dinner at Plonk Wine Bar & Bistro — eclectic farm-to-table in downtown Bozeman.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
130 mi · 6,500 ft climbing
The day everyone's here for. A true alpine century — 130 miles south through Gallatin Canyon to Big Sky and back, with 6,500 feet of climbing on world-class pavement next to the Gallatin River. SAG support throughout. Lunch on the road at By Word of Mouth in Big Sky — sandwich, refuel, roll. Back at the hotel: 30-to-60-minute massages (included, pick your slot). Evening: dinner delivered from Sweet Chili Asian Bistro — eat poolside or in your room. Optional Yellowstone helicopter tour available before dinner for those who want one ($695/pp, see below).
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
60 mi · 3,000 ft climbing
A recovery spin in the morning before checkout. About 60 miles, mostly rolling, through the Gallatin Valley back roads with one moderate climb. Loose legs, a full hot breakfast at the hotel beforehand, goodbye until next time.
Included meals: Breakfast, Snacks
A note on fitness and ability
The riding is open to intermediate to strong riders — you don't need to race, but you should be able to sit in with a group at 16–18 mph average on rolling terrain for several hours.
Off the front is fine. If you want to push, push. Take your segment, find your gas station, regroup later — we won't hold you back.
Off the back is not. A group this size has one SAG, and it stays with the group. If you can't hold the group's pace, the day breaks — for you, and for everyone else. That's the only line.
E-bikes welcome — a quick note on charging
E-bikes are a great way to enjoy these routes. A couple of practical notes so the day goes smoothly: bring your own charger, and have a look at each day's distance against your battery range. Be smart about taking on the full distance if your battery won't make it — there's no way to recharge mid-ride, so if a day looks tight, plan to ride a shorter loop or sit that one out rather than risk running flat.
Base Camp
We've taken rooms at the Hampton Inn Bozeman — a clean, modern hotel right off I-90 with everything you need and nothing you don't. Indoor heated pool. Hot tub. Fitness center. Complimentary hot breakfast every morning starting at 6 a.m. — early enough to roll out for the long-ride days.
Two room types — both two-queen, both quad occupancy. Standard rooms have everything you need; the upgraded king suites are slightly larger with a sitting area. Significant others welcome — Bozeman's downtown is a 10-minute drive with great food, breweries, and shops.
New This Year
We've put a pro-level bike mechanic on staff full-time — riding with the group every day, in camp every evening.
Before each ride: every bike is greased, lubed, and dialed in. After each ride: every bike is cleaned, checked over, and set up for tomorrow. Flat on the road? Handled. Skipping in the cassette? Handled.
No one is fixing their own flats. No one is lubing their own chain at 6 a.m. This isn't a guide with a multi-tool — this is a pro mechanic, on staff, just for your bike.
Bring your legs. The bike is our problem.
Everything Is Handled
Your own bedroom and your own bathroom. Not a dorm. Not a shared bunk. Significant others welcome.
A real bike mechanic, on staff full-time, riding with us every day. Bikes prepped before every ride, cleaned and dialed in after. Flats on the road? Handled. You don't fix anything yourself.
All meals included — every breakfast, every lunch, every dinner — plus on-bike nutrition and snacks at the villa.
Saltwater pool. Hot tub. Massages on the long-ride day. Indoor fireplace. Sunken fire pit.
On-route navigation support with GPS files and daily ride briefings
A dedicated support vehicle following the route for safety and logistics
A custom-designed cycling jersey for the trip
Laundry service so you can pack light and ride fresh every day
A curated digital photo album capturing the highlights of your escape
An experienced guide riding with the group for navigation and support
Mid-ride snacks and fuel stops to keep you energized on the road
Electrolyte drinks and hydration supplies provided daily
Cold drinks and refreshments waiting for you at the finish each day
A mesh laundry bag for easy drop-off and pickup
Gratuities for local experts, restaurant staff, and hospitality teams
Bozeman sits at the doorstep of three of the best riding ranges in the American West — the Bridgers to the north, the Gallatins to the south, and the Madison range to the southwest. Wide open valleys. Long canyon climbs. Clean Western air at 5,000 feet, climbing to over 8,000 on the bigger days. And after the ride — a college town that knows what tired riders want for dinner.
Travel
Closest airport:
Bozeman Yellowstone International (BZN) is about 8 miles from the hotel, roughly a 15-minute drive. Most major airlines fly direct from West Coast hubs (Seattle, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles) and several Eastern hubs (Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis).
Rental cars available at the airport. Or pick our optional private SUV shuttle from BZN at checkout — door-to-door, no rental-car detour.
Weather
Mid-July in Bozeman is peak summer at altitude — the best window of the year for riding. Days are warm and dry in the upper 70s to low 80s, mornings start cool in the upper 40s (long-sleeve roll-out weather), and the air at 5,000 feet feels noticeably crisper than what you're used to at sea level.
Rain is rare but possible in the afternoons — pack a light rain shell. Sunrise around 5:50 a.m., sunset around 9:30 p.m. — plenty of daylight for whatever the day brings.
Wildfire smoke can occasionally drift through the valley in mid-summer; we monitor conditions daily and adjust routes if AQI gets above acceptable levels. Bring layers — even mid-July mornings can dip into the 40s.
Official Partner
Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop in Austin is an official partner of Velo Escapes — and our go-to recommendation for any rider coming to this trip who needs a high-quality road rental.
Flying in without a bike? Reach out to the team at Mellow Johnny's directly. They know our trips, they know the kind of roads we're riding, and they'll set you up properly before you head out.
Note: they ship rentals nationwide — so wherever the trip is, they can get a bike to you.
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More About This Trip
About the routes. All four rides have been scouted and ridden by us personally. You'll get the GPS files ahead of time to load into your bike computer. Routes range from rolling canyon tempo to the proper Day-4 alpine century — different roads each day, no repeats.
Route flexibility. We reserve the right to change routes if weather, smoke, or road conditions make a route unsafe or unenjoyable. We have backup routes mapped out for every day.
Time of year. Mid-July in Montana is the sweet spot — warm dry days in the upper 70s to low 80s, cool mornings in the upper 40s, and 16 hours of daylight. The wildflowers are at peak.
Altitude note. Most of the riding sits between 5,000 and 8,500 feet. If you live at sea level, expect to feel it on Day 2. By Day 4 your body adjusts. We recommend arriving a day early if you have the option — your legs will thank you.
One more thing. Bring a positive attitude and a willingness to push when the road kicks up. We'll handle the rest.
