Beartooth Highway
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Salt Lake City, UT
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Joined: Feb 2007
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You gotta stop at the Snow Creek Saloon. No trip to Red Lodge is complete until you stop there!
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Nomad
The 'tooth is always open for Memorial Day weekend. Never fail.
But spring in Montana.....windy, sudden rain storms (they blow out as quick as they blow in), still below 40° in the morning and can peak at 75° in mid-afternoon.
Riding a road like the Beartooth Hwy can be dangerous only because of the wind. I suggest timing it so that you leave Red Lodge ~10-11am. The black ice will be cooked off by then, but it will be before the sun melts the snow (on the shoulders) and creates trickles that will re-freeze when the afternoon winds pick up. Plus you gain a lot of altitude pretty quickly. Temps will drop as you climb. A nit of snow is not unheard of this time of year up there. You'll probably see some backcountry skiers up there. Memorial Day weekend on the pass is a telemark tradition in MT.
Actually, that's perfect timing. Sleep in (I like the Yodeler), eat an old-fashioned breakfast at the Cafe (with the dancing neon Indian), and then noodle on up the 'tooth.
Also in Red Lodge is a great brewery that now has a restaurant that is pretty good. The Creek is a great bar, in any season. Lots of shops on Main St that the wives will like.
If you have any other questions about riding in Montana/Yellowstone, just ask. I live here.
But spring in Montana.....windy, sudden rain storms (they blow out as quick as they blow in), still below 40° in the morning and can peak at 75° in mid-afternoon.
Riding a road like the Beartooth Hwy can be dangerous only because of the wind. I suggest timing it so that you leave Red Lodge ~10-11am. The black ice will be cooked off by then, but it will be before the sun melts the snow (on the shoulders) and creates trickles that will re-freeze when the afternoon winds pick up. Plus you gain a lot of altitude pretty quickly. Temps will drop as you climb. A nit of snow is not unheard of this time of year up there. You'll probably see some backcountry skiers up there. Memorial Day weekend on the pass is a telemark tradition in MT.
Actually, that's perfect timing. Sleep in (I like the Yodeler), eat an old-fashioned breakfast at the Cafe (with the dancing neon Indian), and then noodle on up the 'tooth.
Also in Red Lodge is a great brewery that now has a restaurant that is pretty good. The Creek is a great bar, in any season. Lots of shops on Main St that the wives will like.
If you have any other questions about riding in Montana/Yellowstone, just ask. I live here.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Virginia
Thanks, Faber. We do plan to spend one night in Red Lodge, so will check out the Yodeler. Did plan to stay in a cabin in Yellowstone for two night, but looks like they are all booked up for June 13 & 14. You have any suggestions for a nice biker motel convenient to Yellowstone for touring the park for a day. We plan to enter from the south coming from Jackson on the 13th. Plan to spend one night in Red Lodge on June 15. Also, note that we will have to ride the Beartooth from Yellowstone to Red Lodge. I am heading on out from there on a trip to Alaska!!
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 78
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From: Waukesha, WI
Thanks, Faber. We do plan to spend one night in Red Lodge, so will check out the Yodeler. Did plan to stay in a cabin in Yellowstone for two night, but looks like they are all booked up for June 13 & 14. You have any suggestions for a nice biker motel convenient to Yellowstone for touring the park for a day. We plan to enter from the south coming from Jackson on the 13th. Plan to spend one night in Red Lodge on June 15. Also, note that we will have to ride the Beartooth from Yellowstone to Red Lodge. I am heading on out from there on a trip to Alaska!!
