Trip out west plan
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,601
Likes: 4,043
From: Virginia
Trip out west plan
Here's our plan. Going to make reservations next weekend. Feedback is welcome. We trailer our bike and park the truck once we get to our base location.
Friday 7/2 Leave Virginia and stay overnight in Kansas City
Saturday 7/3 Arrive in Colorado Springs
Ride Pikes Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
Tuesday 7/6 Head to Hill City SD
Badlands National Park, Devils Tower, Custer State Park
Friday 7/9 Head to Jackson WY
Grand Teton Natl Park
Monday 7/12 Head to Cody WY
Yellowstone, Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph Pkwy
Friday Start back for Virginia
Friday 7/2 Leave Virginia and stay overnight in Kansas City
Saturday 7/3 Arrive in Colorado Springs
Ride Pikes Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
Tuesday 7/6 Head to Hill City SD
Badlands National Park, Devils Tower, Custer State Park
Friday 7/9 Head to Jackson WY
Grand Teton Natl Park
Monday 7/12 Head to Cody WY
Yellowstone, Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph Pkwy
Friday Start back for Virginia
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 1,151
From: Brandon,Fl
When in Red Lodge be sure to stay at the Alpine Lodge, you can thank me later. Leaving Cody, 14 or 14a are win, win either way. I had planned on taking 16 to Buffalo but I had to change my plan but as we passed the exit on I-90 you could see in the distance that it would be spectacular. In Cody, we have stayed at the Cody Cowboy Village the 3 times we have been there, nice place!! And if you are planning to go to Mt. Rushmore be sure to come in from the south on 36 onto Iron Mountain Rd, that way you can come thru the tunnels and see the faces in the distance...
Last edited by Hammerhead Pat; Dec 21, 2020 at 03:56 PM. Reason: addition comment
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 412
Likes: 113
From: Nebraska
If youre in Colorado Springs, head over to Canon City and ride Skyline Drive. Its a real short ride but its pretty cool. There are many videos on YouTube. Its about an hour west of Colorado Springs.
Big Thompson Canyon Hwy 34 from Loveland, CO to Estes Park is a great ride. You could also do the Peak to Peak ride depending on your route to RMNP. I believe its Hwy 72 & 7 into Estes Park. Id probably suggest the canyon.
Black Hills: Iron Mountain, Needles highway, Spearfish Canyon, Old Hill City Road is a short but fun one between Hill City and Keystone. It follows the old rail line between the two towns and you cross it several times. Its very twisty.
Big Thompson Canyon Hwy 34 from Loveland, CO to Estes Park is a great ride. You could also do the Peak to Peak ride depending on your route to RMNP. I believe its Hwy 72 & 7 into Estes Park. Id probably suggest the canyon.
Black Hills: Iron Mountain, Needles highway, Spearfish Canyon, Old Hill City Road is a short but fun one between Hill City and Keystone. It follows the old rail line between the two towns and you cross it several times. Its very twisty.
Last edited by 662894v; Dec 21, 2020 at 09:02 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,627
Likes: 11,312
From: Colorado Rockies
Here's our plan. Going to make reservations next weekend. Feedback is welcome. We trailer our bike and park the truck once we get to our base location.
Friday 7/2 Leave Virginia and stay overnight in Kansas City
Saturday 7/3 Arrive in Colorado Springs
Ride Pikes Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
Tuesday 7/6 Head to Hill City SD
Badlands National Park, Devils Tower, Custer State Park
Friday 7/9 Head to Jackson WY
Grand Teton Natl Park
Monday 7/12 Head to Cody WY
Yellowstone, Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph Pkwy
Friday Start back for Virginia
Friday 7/2 Leave Virginia and stay overnight in Kansas City
Saturday 7/3 Arrive in Colorado Springs
Ride Pikes Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
Tuesday 7/6 Head to Hill City SD
Badlands National Park, Devils Tower, Custer State Park
Friday 7/9 Head to Jackson WY
Grand Teton Natl Park
Monday 7/12 Head to Cody WY
Yellowstone, Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph Pkwy
Friday Start back for Virginia
The western entrance to RMNP may be closed a while as the entrance and Winding River area in Grand Lake burned this summer.
There are some great rides even in Denver area and surrounding foothills. I know the area well. Another option is Poudre Canyon and possibly the Snowy Range in southern Wy. These are fantastic rides if you can incorporate them.
If you're leaving from Northern Va. there is a great route through W. Va. To take, plus its a time saver.
Feel free to PM me if I can help. You'll truly enjoy Colorado and Wyoming. I split my time between my 2 places there.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
Here's our plan. Going to make reservations next weekend. Feedback is welcome. We trailer our bike and park the truck once we get to our base location.
Friday 7/2 Leave Virginia and stay overnight in Kansas City
Saturday 7/3 Arrive in Colorado Springs
Ride Pikes Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
Tuesday 7/6 Head to Hill City SD
Badlands National Park, Devils Tower, Custer State Park
Friday 7/9 Head to Jackson WY
Grand Teton Natl Park
Monday 7/12 Head to Cody WY
Yellowstone, Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph Pkwy
Friday Start back for Virginia
Friday 7/2 Leave Virginia and stay overnight in Kansas City
Saturday 7/3 Arrive in Colorado Springs
Ride Pikes Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
Tuesday 7/6 Head to Hill City SD
Badlands National Park, Devils Tower, Custer State Park
Friday 7/9 Head to Jackson WY
Grand Teton Natl Park
Monday 7/12 Head to Cody WY
Yellowstone, Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph Pkwy
Friday Start back for Virginia
Assuming you have not....to me, this sounds rushed. You could spend 1+ weeks in CO alone and see some incredible scenery. South of I-70 is worth the time.
Hill City - maybe better planned as part of a Sturgis trip where you can enjoy all the roads in the HIlls and not be limited by time. (Go the week before the rally....stay part of bike week)
Beartooth and Chief are must rides, but west from Cody opens an entire new opportunity for Idaho and heading up into Montana.
I know not everyone has a ton of time off, but IMO, it absolutely sucks being rushed on a bike trip. Smaller bites, more trips, savor the flavor may be worth considering.
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Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,601
Likes: 4,043
From: Virginia
Yeah, its probably ambitious. This will be our 4 th trip to Colorado and Wyoming. Wife has never been to SD, ive been a few times. Not a big fan of Sturgis, was there for the bike rally 20+ years ago and once was enough, lol!
Have you been to any of these places before?
Assuming you have not....to me, this sounds rushed. You could spend 1+ weeks in CO alone and see some incredible scenery. South of I-70 is worth the time.
Hill City - maybe better planned as part of a Sturgis trip where you can enjoy all the roads in the HIlls and not be limited by time. (Go the week before the rally....stay part of bike week)
Beartooth and Chief are must rides, but west from Cody opens an entire new opportunity for Idaho and heading up into Montana.
I know not everyone has a ton of time off, but IMO, it absolutely sucks being rushed on a bike trip. Smaller bites, more trips, savor the flavor may be worth considering.
Assuming you have not....to me, this sounds rushed. You could spend 1+ weeks in CO alone and see some incredible scenery. South of I-70 is worth the time.
Hill City - maybe better planned as part of a Sturgis trip where you can enjoy all the roads in the HIlls and not be limited by time. (Go the week before the rally....stay part of bike week)
Beartooth and Chief are must rides, but west from Cody opens an entire new opportunity for Idaho and heading up into Montana.
I know not everyone has a ton of time off, but IMO, it absolutely sucks being rushed on a bike trip. Smaller bites, more trips, savor the flavor may be worth considering.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 774
Likes: 320
From: St. Louis
Be prepared for the traffic on the front range in Colorado during the 4th. A beautiful ride but Colorado has been found by Californians and they brought their traffic and cost of living with them.
I like F150HD ideas.
I personally would avoid the parts of Colorado you are considering. Don't get me wrong CO was my home and my parents still own a ranch near Alamosa but I just can't relax and enjoy riding in the front range any more.
I like F150HD ideas.
I personally would avoid the parts of Colorado you are considering. Don't get me wrong CO was my home and my parents still own a ranch near Alamosa but I just can't relax and enjoy riding in the front range any more.
Last edited by L88; Dec 22, 2020 at 05:18 AM.
