Yellowstone MUST See?
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 294
Likes: 16
At Yellowstone, loop the park. It is a figure 8 and it will take 3 days to see all of the park but you can shorten it to two if you come in from Cody. From Cody, you will come through Lamar Valley. Go south to Tower and go south to Canyon. To see the most, go south from Canyon to Yellowstone Lake, where the road will take you through Hayden Valley where there is the largest buffalo herd. Also, the geyser stop just past it is one of the better stops. From Yellowstone Lake, go the Old Faithful area, which is the big geyser area. Back track from there and go Grant Village and head south to Hiway 89. THis will go down to Jackson and the Tetons.
From there you either backtrack all the way through Yellowstone again, or head west to Idaho. I went through Swan Valley and Paradise Lake into Idaho Falls (great road and scenery; very easy) but there are other roads that cut west from Jackson that will also head into Idaho.
To get back up to US2 and Glacier Park and the return home, you have to kinda zigzag north and west to get to Missoula (assuming you are trying to avoid the interstates. If not, head north on I15 and then I90). If you want the best 2 lane roads, head north on US20, then west on MT87, to US287. Eventually, this will take you by Virginia City MT, are real ghost town and a great place for lunch. All of this will get you to Butte, and from there you have to take I95 to Missoula. From Missoula, look at a map. There are two routes to Whitefish and US2. Flathead is the obvious route, but look at a map. There is a highway at Bonner (just before you get to Missoula) MT200. Go east, and then cut north on MT83 to Seely Lake. This was a great ride and it will eventually get you exactly where you want to be, US2. Flathead route is too busy and only OK scenic-wise.
From there you either backtrack all the way through Yellowstone again, or head west to Idaho. I went through Swan Valley and Paradise Lake into Idaho Falls (great road and scenery; very easy) but there are other roads that cut west from Jackson that will also head into Idaho.
To get back up to US2 and Glacier Park and the return home, you have to kinda zigzag north and west to get to Missoula (assuming you are trying to avoid the interstates. If not, head north on I15 and then I90). If you want the best 2 lane roads, head north on US20, then west on MT87, to US287. Eventually, this will take you by Virginia City MT, are real ghost town and a great place for lunch. All of this will get you to Butte, and from there you have to take I95 to Missoula. From Missoula, look at a map. There are two routes to Whitefish and US2. Flathead is the obvious route, but look at a map. There is a highway at Bonner (just before you get to Missoula) MT200. Go east, and then cut north on MT83 to Seely Lake. This was a great ride and it will eventually get you exactly where you want to be, US2. Flathead route is too busy and only OK scenic-wise.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
When entering the park, ask about road construction as this can add hours to each day and can be tedious in lieu of fun. Speed limit is around 45mph (just a guess) in the park, so it is always a long day in the saddle, but well worth it.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
From: Nor-Kal
Don't speed in Yellowstone no matter what you do. THey strictly enforce the speed limits. I saw more tickets written in Yellowstone than I did at Sturgis 
Jackson Hole is a great little area and riding through the Tetons was beautiful. There's a lot of interesting stuff out in the middle of nowhere. Take your time and enjoy.
Jackson Hole is a great little area and riding through the Tetons was beautiful. There's a lot of interesting stuff out in the middle of nowhere. Take your time and enjoy.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
SNOW in Yellowstine this weekend. I just checked out the NPS web site. Weather alert for Yellowstone.
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