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Got some business in Seattle last week of May. Figured I'd ride up there from Sac. Once I'm done there, I have a week. Never been to Montana, I figure it's time.
I've done the PCH as far as the Cali-Oregon border. Was thinking about running up to Redding then cut across Six Rivers and follow the coast up. From there I figure Lewis and Clark generally had the right idea.
I'll probably come home via 50 through Nevada. Via either Utah or Colorado depending on time. Either way Yellowstone is on the list.
Main question is Seattle to Montana but any suggestions are eagerly anticipated
Someone else will have to tell you the best way to get from Seattle to Lewiston, ID, but by some means, get there. From Lewiston, you'll ride east on US 12 along the Clearwater River to Kooskia, and on over Lolo Pass to Missoula. From Missoula, there's probably not a bad route to Yellowstone, and lots of good routes. I'm guessing that @mtgriz or @CanadianRocky would have suggestions and good as anyone on the forum. If it were me, I'd want my route to include getting to Red Lodge, MT, then over the Beartooth Highway (assuming you're not going right away, I guess) and into the park. You might as well ride Chief Joseph down to Cody while you're in the neighborhood.
After enjoying Yellowstone, I would head south to Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, and down along the river to Alpine, WY. From there, south through Star Valley and over to Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border. Again, depending on your timing, you'll want to get a fresh raspberry shake. From Bear Lake you could either go down to Evanston, WY and then take the Mirror Lake Highway (UT/WY 150) over to the Park City, UT area, or (before you get to Evanston) hang a right in Woodruff, UT and ride UT 39 over Monte Cristo to Huntsville. The Shooting Star Bar or the Huntsville BBQ Co. are both delicious options up there. From Huntsville I would stay on the back side of the Wasatch Range and make my way to Park City. Either way you get to Park City, ride down Provo Canyon and from there head to Delta, UT and across Hwy. 50 as you had in mind.
2019 Spring Opening Dates
Conditions permitting, roads will open to regular (public) vehicles at 8:00 am on the following dates:
April 19: West Entrance to Madison Junction, Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful, Norris to Canyon Village.
May 3: East Entrance to Lake Village (Sylvan Pass), Canyon Village to Lake Village.
May 10: South Entrance to West Thumb, Lake Village to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass), Tower Junction to Tower Fall.
May 24: Tower Fall to Canyon Village (Dunraven Pass)
May 24: Beartooth Highway
2019 Construction
Canyon Village Area
2019 season: some destinations unavailable as part of the Canyon Overlooks and Trails Restoration Project.
Fishing Bridge to Indian Pond (East Entrance Road)2019 season: expect 30-minute delays along the East Entrance Road between Fishing Bridge and Indian Pond (excluding holidays*).
Norris to Mammoth
2019 season: expect 30-minute delays between Roaring Mountain and Apollinaris Spring (excluding holidays*).
*Holidays include Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
I agree with the Lewiston Id. to Missoula Mt. run. Beautiful, have done it a hundred times. One thing to keep in mind is just because your going up in the May , June window doesn't mean you won't see snow. I would take good rain and cold gear and allow for some downtime for the weather. But by all means do it, you will not regret it. Montana is by far the most beautiful state in the lower 48. Of course with my state Oregon coming in second.
Someone else will have to tell you the best way to get from Seattle to Lewiston, ID, but by some means, get there. From Lewiston, you'll ride east on US 12 along the Clearwater River to Kooskia, and on over Lolo Pass to Missoula. From Missoula, there's probably not a bad route to Yellowstone, and lots of good routes. I'm guessing that @mtgriz or @CanadianRocky would have suggestions and good as anyone on the forum. If it were me, I'd want my route to include getting to Red Lodge, MT, then over the Beartooth Highway (assuming you're not going right away, I guess) and into the park. You might as well ride Chief Joseph down to Cody while you're in the neighborhood.
After enjoying Yellowstone, I would head south to Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, and down along the river to Alpine, WY. From there, south through Star Valley and over to Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border. Again, depending on your timing, you'll want to get a fresh raspberry shake. From Bear Lake you could either go down to Evanston, WY and then take the Mirror Lake Highway (UT/WY 150) over to the Park City, UT area, or (before you get to Evanston) hang a right in Woodruff, UT and ride UT 39 over Monte Cristo to Huntsville. The Shooting Star Bar or the Huntsville BBQ Co. are both delicious options up there. From Huntsville I would stay on the back side of the Wasatch Range and make my way to Park City. Either way you get to Park City, ride down Provo Canyon and from there head to Delta, UT and across Hwy. 50 as you had in mind.
If you've already done 101 to the Oregon border, you might consider I-5 to Grants Pass, then 199 over to the coast which will kick you out on 101 right near the border. That section of I-5 from Redding north into the Rogue Valley is one of the more scenic stretches (for freeway riding anyway) and 199 along the Smith River canyon is a beautiful ride. Plan on stopping at Patrick Lodge near Gasquet (pronounced gas-key) if you have time:
Agree with others, Hwy 12/Lolo Pass is a great ride.
Last edited by duckbagger; Apr 12, 2019 at 10:43 AM.
"Someone else will have to tell you the best way to get from Seattle to Lewiston, ID,"
HWY 20 is one of the better ways to get across WA (if you want the scenic route).
Once you get to the other side of WA some were around Newport start heading south.
Lots of secondary roads in the area, example would be 41 (out of Newport) then 95 out of Coeur d'Alene (should get you close to Lewiston).
My second choice to 12 (Lolo pass) is taking 2 out of Newport then 200 all the way to Ravalli.
Then decide if you want to do Glacier or not.
If that is to long of a drive and you like rolling hills (farm country) then 26 out of Vantage to about Colfax then 195 to Lewiston.
Ya, 20 to Newport is a nice piece of road. Then 41 to Coeur d' Lain, then 95 to Lewiston ... end of day one.... then down 3, over Rattlesnake pass, (bucket list road) and onto Enterprise, and then Joseph... then over and through Hells Canyon, another bucket list ride... then over to McCall... end of day two...and head down 55 to 17 and head east towards 21 and Stanley... then down 75 and up and over The Galena Pass.... onto (and through Sun Valley, nothing to see here, and everything is Real Money)... and onto Craters of the Moon, pay the entrance fee if you dont have an All parks Season pass (Get one), and then 26 to 20 to Idaho falls... end of day three .... then suggest 26/31/33 to Jackson, a couple of nice passes on that connector..... then up towards Yellowstone, and through to Cody.. end of day four ....... Three days in Cody (bring money, but it is worth it)... one day to do the south loop through Yellowston, one day to do the North loop, and one day to do the Beartooth & chief joseph loop.... end of day seven.
All of it are great roads, and I have been on every one of them, some of them several times.... No disappointments in any of the above.
We went and saw lots of fog, but worth a trip to me. A day going around the Olympic park can see a lot. From the top where you can see snow covered peaks to the ocean. Rain forests on the west side
You have seen western coast, so maybe not as impressive to you.
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Northwest -- suggestions?
