Contact Eric About this RIDE to Alaska thru Prudhoe Bay!
The remote roads, small towns and rustic infrastructure between Bend, Oregon, Prudhoe Bay, and Anchorage, Alaska. A truly unique area in our world.
Research Trip Format and Status: Enjoy a relaxed pace with a Support Van following, take an extra rest day if ever needed, and keep your motorcycle light with luggage in the van.
Type of Tour: Group Research Trip with Lead Guide and Support Vehicle for luggage transport and emergency needs. Only for riders with significant prior off-pavement riding experience on the types of motorcycles being offered.
Tour Distance & Terrain: Approximately 4,000 miles (6,400km) of pavement, dirt, gravel, and possible mud.Total % of off-pavement yet to be determined, riders must be ready for all. Itinerary will be announced from day to day as we progress and adjust for the overall destination date.
Support Vehicle with Driver/Mechanic & Luggage Transport. Ever gotten sick during a trip and unable to ride? It can happen to anyone, so with this service included, you can safely recover in our Support Van, ready to ride without falling behind. The bulk of your luggage in the van makes bikes lighter, safer, and more fun to ride.
18 Nights Accommodations, ranging from 3 star "simple" to occasionally more upscale experiences. *NOTE: 2 or 3 nights of camping possible. Inquire for details.
Along with the announcement of our motorcycle rental fleet in Bend, Oregon, we're inviting a handful of adventure riders to be part of our scouting mission from our hometown of Bend, all the way up through Canada to Prudhoe Bay, and then down to Anchorage, Alaska for the finish. With mixed terrain throughout the trip, we expect the bikes we're offering to be perfect for the experience, and without having a fixed, rigid schedule for us to keep up with, everyone can relax and enjoy the expedition. Unlike our existing tours which have definite overnight locations set and scheduled, on this Research Trip, your Lead Guide will decide from day to day exactly where each overnight location will be. With the idea of exploring some possible off-pavement shortcuts, our support van may not always be on the same exact path as our group, but can be relied upon for meeting up with your luggage at the end of the day. Total spontaneity, yet with a basic plan in place: "Make it to the top, and the finish."
Yes, this route could probably be done faster, and it could surely be done more slowly. We're trying to create a comfortable pace, one that everyone can relax and enjoy, but also with days full of exploring and discovering what we can along the way. Weather can be a little rough at these latitudes, so we are looking for riders who can grit their teeth, and deal with whatever mother nature throws at us. If you are not a dual sport Rider with a flexible demeanor and willing to be a team player, this is not a trip for you.
Welcome to Bend, and we hope you can arrive a little earlier and enjoy this most outstanding area in the outdoorsy world. We are nestled along the Deschutes River which writhes up from the Cascade Mountains, and serves as the backbone for our small town. From the river rafting and fly fishing opportunities along the way to the vast array of mountain biking, dirt biking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, and other options we have in the area, we are incredibly proud to call Bend "home," and hope you have the chance to enjoy it as well before departure. (Prediction: Those of you outdoorsy-types looking for retirement or vacation home possibilities will end up purchasing a property here soon.) --- Upon arrival, we'll meet up for a welcome dinner and briefing, and to get everyone familiar with their motorcycles before takeoff. Bring anything you want to mount on the bike, and we'll make sure you're all set and fit for the great ride ahead. We twist our wrists on the way to Alaska tomorrow.
As adventure riders typically hope for, we are quite a bit off the beaten path already. That sliver of Alaska will already extend beneath us while we remain in Canada and enjoy the small towns, the quiet places, and an ongoing array of wildlife sitings. Expect Bald Eagles, Black Bears, Grizzlies, and Moose to be present around us, and some of the freshest air and enjoyable riding in this seldom traveled part of the world. Again making detours where timing allows for riding off the main routes, don't expect anything to seem like a "main route" to begin with.
While the southbound version of our trip (starting just after this one from Anchorage) will head up to Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, the weather statistics for Prudhoe Bay demand that we arrive at this northernmost point earlier in the summer. Up through the adventure riders' famed Dawson City and across the Top of the World Highway, here it is, our final stretch. Those of you who have ridden with us to Ushuaia might be reflecting back on those points much further south, and that famous sign at Bahia Lapataia. No matter what your riding background though, congrats on being the type of rider who like to get out and explore the world.
With the Polar Ice Cap behind us and quite a story to tell, we'll ride back through Denali National Park for our finish in Anchorage. Hopefully you'll have some extra time before flights home. We are encouraging everyone to allow at least 2 extra days at the end before doing so, as again, this is a research trip. This is adventure riding. Anything can happen along the way, and we don't want to compress the experience or be "pressed for time." Let's enjoy, relax, and explore, and make this the best trip possible.