Is Beartooth Highway worth an extra 200 miles?
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
Wow! Great feedback everyone. So, Ill definitely include Beartooth in the trip. We are limiting the trip to 2 weeks, and although Id love to do the loop like Chief suggested I cant fit it all in. Hey...theres always next year.
Our rough itinerary, with key points:
- Depart San Diego area north on I-15, to Park City, Ut
- North along Snake River to Jackson, Wy.
- Through Grand Teton, NP to Yellowstone
- Staying at Old Faithful Lodge for 2 nites, one day of touring Yellowstone.
- Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, then on to the East end of Glaciers Going to the Sun Rd.
- Gong to the Sun Rd to Lake McDonald
- Staying at Lake McDonald lodge in Glacier
- South to Idaho then cross Idaho (east to west) via the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway.
- Spend 2 nites in Lake Tahoe
- 395 South to Lee Vining, then west on Tioga Pass Highway to Yosemite NP.
- Spend 1 nite in Yosemite
- home.
3,300 Miles.
Our rough itinerary, with key points:
- Depart San Diego area north on I-15, to Park City, Ut
- North along Snake River to Jackson, Wy.
- Through Grand Teton, NP to Yellowstone
- Staying at Old Faithful Lodge for 2 nites, one day of touring Yellowstone.
- Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, then on to the East end of Glaciers Going to the Sun Rd.
- Gong to the Sun Rd to Lake McDonald
- Staying at Lake McDonald lodge in Glacier
- South to Idaho then cross Idaho (east to west) via the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway.
- Spend 2 nites in Lake Tahoe
- 395 South to Lee Vining, then west on Tioga Pass Highway to Yosemite NP.
- Spend 1 nite in Yosemite
- home.
3,300 Miles.
Last edited by TriGeezer; Jan 10, 2019 at 09:51 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 102
Likes: 6
From: Manitoba, Canada
I've done both multiple times, and I'll keep going back to Beartooth. Easily on my list of top 3 roads.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 789
Likes: 225
From: Sheboygan, WI
Glad you are doing Beartooth, amazing ride! You need to plan another trip up there and catch Chief Joseph, if you can't work it in this time. This one is also amazing to ride and the views are spectacular.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 20,424
Likes: 24,217
From: WetCoast
Wow! Great feedback everyone. So, Ill definitely include Beartooth in the trip. We are limiting the trip to 2 weeks, and although Id love to do the loop like Chief suggested I cant fit it all in. Hey...theres always next year.
Our rough itinerary, with key points:
- Depart San Diego area north on I-15, to Park City, Ut
- North along Snake River to Jackson, Wy.
- Through Grand Teton, NP to Yellowstone
- Staying at Old Faithful Lodge for 2 nites, one day of touring Yellowstone.
- Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, then on to the East end of Glaciers Going to the Sun Rd.
- Gong to the Sun Rd to Lake McDonald
- Staying at Lake McDonald lodge in Glacier
- South to Idaho then cross Idaho (east to west) via the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway.
- Spend 2 nites in Lake Tahoe
- 395 South to Lee Vining, then west on Tioga Pass Highway to Yosemite NP.
- Spend 1 nite in Yosemite
- home.
3,300 Miles.
Our rough itinerary, with key points:
- Depart San Diego area north on I-15, to Park City, Ut
- North along Snake River to Jackson, Wy.
- Through Grand Teton, NP to Yellowstone
- Staying at Old Faithful Lodge for 2 nites, one day of touring Yellowstone.
- Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, then on to the East end of Glaciers Going to the Sun Rd.
- Gong to the Sun Rd to Lake McDonald
- Staying at Lake McDonald lodge in Glacier
- South to Idaho then cross Idaho (east to west) via the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway.
- Spend 2 nites in Lake Tahoe
- 395 South to Lee Vining, then west on Tioga Pass Highway to Yosemite NP.
- Spend 1 nite in Yosemite
- home.
3,300 Miles.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 404
Likes: 86
From: Portland, Oregon
Wow! Great feedback everyone. So, Ill definitely include Beartooth in the trip. We are limiting the trip to 2 weeks, and although Id love to do the loop like Chief suggested I cant fit it all in. Hey...theres always next year.
Our rough itinerary, with key points:
- Depart San Diego area north on I-15, to Park City, Ut
- North along Snake River to Jackson, Wy.
- Through Grand Teton, NP to Yellowstone
- Staying at Old Faithful Lodge for 2 nites, one day of touring Yellowstone.
- Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, then on to the East end of Glaciers Going to the Sun Rd.
- Gong to the Sun Rd to Lake McDonald
- Staying at Lake McDonald lodge in Glacier
- South to Idaho then cross Idaho (east to west) via the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway.
- Spend 2 nites in Lake Tahoe
- 395 South to Lee Vining, then west on Tioga Pass Highway to Yosemite NP.
- Spend 1 nite in Yosemite
- home.
3,300 Miles.
Our rough itinerary, with key points:
- Depart San Diego area north on I-15, to Park City, Ut
- North along Snake River to Jackson, Wy.
- Through Grand Teton, NP to Yellowstone
- Staying at Old Faithful Lodge for 2 nites, one day of touring Yellowstone.
- Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, then on to the East end of Glaciers Going to the Sun Rd.
- Gong to the Sun Rd to Lake McDonald
- Staying at Lake McDonald lodge in Glacier
- South to Idaho then cross Idaho (east to west) via the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway.
- Spend 2 nites in Lake Tahoe
- 395 South to Lee Vining, then west on Tioga Pass Highway to Yosemite NP.
- Spend 1 nite in Yosemite
- home.
3,300 Miles.
After Glacier drop down to Missoula, go to Lolo pass on Hwy12, follow that along Clearwater River to Lewiston (one of my favorite roads in the US but I've always only done it West to East) Stop in Lowell, ID just before Lewiston for lunch at the Wilderness Café. (Lowell, ID is a gas station and the café, my favorite food place. From Lewiston continue West through Columbia River Gorge, take 97 through Oregon and into Reno.
If you've never been through the Gorge it's very scenic. This route will also take you through Pendleton, OR Bike week there is July 18 - 21, if that fits in with your timeline
Hell's Canyon Bike week is the week before that in Baker, OR just south or Lewiston, ID if that fits in more with your timeline.
Whatever you do, looks like a great trip, enjoy!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 761
Likes: 124
From: College Station TX
Instead of leaving Yellowstone out of the northeast. Go out the east entrance towards Cody. The east entrance is one fine ride. Out of Cody hit Chief Joseph and you hit Beartooth from there. Your not missing anything spectacular on the Beartooth until after that point.
Once you get to Glacier make sure you hit Many Glacier. Have fun. I'm headed back to Glacier this year also. Probably the end of July. Then hit Sturgis on the way home.
Once you get to Glacier make sure you hit Many Glacier. Have fun. I'm headed back to Glacier this year also. Probably the end of July. Then hit Sturgis on the way home.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 376
From: Mississippi
Yeah, what he said. Very nice ride.
