I’m laying out the route plans for a 2 week, 3,200 mile July tour. One of the legs is departing the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone to the east end of Going to the Sun highway in Glacier National Park.
One option is to leave from the West Entrance ( actually North-West) of Yellowstone, and head north on 191 through the Gellatin National Forest.
The other option I am considering, is to exit the North-East of Yellowstone, and head to Red Lodge via the Beartooth Highway. Then north to 90 West and then North.
The Bearttoth Pass Route is about 200 miles more than the more direct straight north route. And 191 through the Gellatin NF looks like a nice ride as well.
Soooo...which do you recommend? Is the Beartooth Highway worth the extra 200 miles?
By the way, the leg on the day we would take on Beartooth is about 300 miles...would that be too much considering the terrain?
If you've that close and never ridden it, yes it is worth the extra miles. Just remember that it can close at anytime of the year so I would have a backup plan in order ……..
I have done it both ways but I would do Yellowstone, Gallatin then up through the mission range and Flathead like into Glacier. Then do Beartooth on the way back. Coming out of Yellowstone and up the Gallatin Gateway is a beautiful ride. Hit the slab for a fast ride to Missoula then up to Glacier. Are you coming out of SoCal? The ride up to Jackson Hole and in the south entrance to Yellowstone is a hell of a nice ride. If you come around the east side of Flathead like you can stop and I will buy you a beer.
The first map is a good ride, but not much to see..... the second one is a Bucket List ride with an enormous amount of stuff to see. You do have a bunch of Slab on the second one, but the Beartooth is worth it. A suggestion is not to go North of Old Faithful, but to head south and shoot towards Yellowstone lake and go up the West side of it to the junction and then continue North. That is a much more scenic road and has more stuff to see along the way. The extra miles and stops will make it into a 10+ hour day over the first map.
Last edited by CanadianRocky; 01-09-2019 at 03:48 PM.
Reason: oops
01-09-2019, 12:59 PM
Is Beartooth Highway worth an extra 200 miles?
