Wyoming vs Colorado
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Longmont, Co
Riding Wyoming
A group of us from around Denver did the Yellowstone-Beartooth Pass trip last year. Yes, going through Yellowstone is going to be slow, (speed limits and traffic), but it is worth it. It takes a min. of 3 days to see the park and Beartooth Pass. I would recommend planning to stay in Cody for a couple of nights. You can do day rides to the park, Beartooth Pass from there. Make sure you go to the Buffalo Bill Museum, (half day) the best western museum you will ever see. The Cody Motor Lodge is a good economical centrally located motel where a lot of bikers stay. Also a good motel in Riverton is the Paintbrush motel.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
There used to be a couple of decent resturants in both Saratoga and Elk Mountain though I don't know if they are still around. Saratoga also reminded me of Dubois. Dubois is just outside of Yellowstone on H287 though I haven't been to either Saratoga or Dubois in quite a while. Cody is a must if in the Yellowstone area.
One suggestion, get a National Parks Pass before going through Teton and Yellowstone or pay twice.
It's funny you mention that since I still recall one of the Colorado ski resorts getting sued for using a back drop of the Tetons in their ads. Did they ever pave that road from Steamboat Springs, Colorado (Routt National Forest) through Medicine Bow National Forest (Wyoming) which ends up south of Rawlins/Saratoga?
Last edited by TNB; Dec 19, 2012 at 01:10 PM.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
I-80 through there is pretty boring, but it is the shortest route. It's more scenic taking the byway from Laramie over to Saratoga via Snowy Range Road H130 which is closed most of the year for snow (but at least it is paved now) or continue on H130, H70 to H789.
There used to be a couple of decent resturants in both Saratoga and Elk Mountain though I don't know if they are still around. Saratoga also reminded me of Dubois. Dubois is just outside of Yellowstone on H287 though I haven't been to either Saratoga or Dubois in quite a while. Cody is a must if in the Yellowstone area.
One suggestion, get a National Parks Pass before going through Teton and Yellowstone or pay twice.
It's funny you mention that since I still recall one of the Colorado ski resorts getting sued for using a back drop of the Tetons in their ads. Did they ever pave that road from Steamboat Springs, Colorado (Routt National Forest) through Medicine Bow National Forest (Wyoming) which ends up south of Rawlins/Saratoga?
There used to be a couple of decent resturants in both Saratoga and Elk Mountain though I don't know if they are still around. Saratoga also reminded me of Dubois. Dubois is just outside of Yellowstone on H287 though I haven't been to either Saratoga or Dubois in quite a while. Cody is a must if in the Yellowstone area.
One suggestion, get a National Parks Pass before going through Teton and Yellowstone or pay twice.
It's funny you mention that since I still recall one of the Colorado ski resorts getting sued for using a back drop of the Tetons in their ads. Did they ever pave that road from Steamboat Springs, Colorado (Routt National Forest) through Medicine Bow National Forest (Wyoming) which ends up south of Rawlins/Saratoga?
I don't know about the road from SteamBoat Springs to Rawlins. But that reminds me of a town we stopped in called Saratoga, which isn't far from Rawlins. Me my wife and another couple were riding, we were all leathered up in our poser/pirate outfits and figured it would be a good idea to go into a local pub. So we go bustin into this place and as soon as we walked in it went silent. Place was full of cowboys all staring at us. I don't think they thought much of us biker/wanna bee types. We turned around and left, went somewhere else. I think one of those rednecks would have wanted to pick a fight, and I wasn't in the mood to beat up a room full of cowboys. lol.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, MO
Guys, thanks for all the responses. We will plan this out and I am sure have a great time regardless. Don't know if I am wanting to be sold on a particular route as asked by someone above, I just don't have any experience in Wyoming. I usually look at lots of pictures, videos of rides, road descriptions etc. Unfortunately I don't get to take much time off and so I always want to make the most of it. Researching the trip, however, is part of the fun.
Again, thanks. Hopefully next late July I can post a picture or two.
Again, thanks. Hopefully next late July I can post a picture or two.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
Oh yeah, I forgot about the Tetons, but there aren't many roads through them, just around them if I recall. The Beartooth pass is spectacular, and I really enjoyed the Bighorn on the other side of the state as well.
I don't know about the road from SteamBoat Springs to Rawlins. But that reminds me of a town we stopped in called Saratoga, which isn't far from Rawlins. Me my wife and another couple were riding, we were all leathered up in our poser/pirate outfits and figured it would be a good idea to go into a local pub. So we go bustin into this place and as soon as we walked in it went silent. Place was full of cowboys all staring at us. I don't think they thought much of us biker/wanna bee types. We turned around and left, went somewhere else. I think one of those rednecks would have wanted to pick a fight, and I wasn't in the mood to beat up a room full of cowboys. lol.
I don't know about the road from SteamBoat Springs to Rawlins. But that reminds me of a town we stopped in called Saratoga, which isn't far from Rawlins. Me my wife and another couple were riding, we were all leathered up in our poser/pirate outfits and figured it would be a good idea to go into a local pub. So we go bustin into this place and as soon as we walked in it went silent. Place was full of cowboys all staring at us. I don't think they thought much of us biker/wanna bee types. We turned around and left, went somewhere else. I think one of those rednecks would have wanted to pick a fight, and I wasn't in the mood to beat up a room full of cowboys. lol.
Anyway, it doesn't surprise me since one of my friends used to own a ranch near Glendo, Wyoming. He rode a Harley, had long hair, and usually wore tennis shoes. The "drugstore" cowboys would give him **** until they later needed a "job" and sought work herding cattle from the same long-hair tennis shoe harley riding person thay gave **** to.
Guys, thanks for all the responses. We will plan this out and I am sure have a great time regardless. Don't know if I am wanting to be sold on a particular route as asked by someone above, I just don't have any experience in Wyoming. I usually look at lots of pictures, videos of rides, road descriptions etc. Unfortunately I don't get to take much time off and so I always want to make the most of it. Researching the trip, however, is part of the fun.
Again, thanks. Hopefully next late July I can post a picture or two.
Again, thanks. Hopefully next late July I can post a picture or two.
Last edited by TNB; Dec 19, 2012 at 04:26 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay, Florida
I'll be following this thread with interest as my wife and I are planning our trip out that way for next summer around the same time, but we have three weeks from Maryland, but we're stopping outside St. Louis to see family on the way out there, I'm interested in what everyone has to say for a northerly route versus a more southerly route. We've done the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Dr to the Tail of the Dragon area the last two summers, but we're looking for some nice riding/sightseeing in and around the Rockies this coming summer. I started marking out everywhere I wanted to see, but quickly found I would need about 3 months, not just 3 weeks to see everything I wanted, so I started breaking it into a southerly route and a northern route over 2 summers. Now I'm just trying to decide which one for this summer.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
I love western Wyoming. I also have been to Yellowstone over the 4th of July. You will love it. Cody is at 6000 feet so it is cooler than in the flats. I have not ridden in Colorado so I cannot provide first hand knowledge. If it were me I would head west from estes park in Co to the western side of the state and then head North to Tetons and Yellowstone. Then on to the Beartooth and Red lodge and then back to Cody. The bighorns are beautiful. There are so many good places to ride you wont be sorry which way you go. Good Luck Check out my signature, 6inches of snow on the Beartooth 7-6-2012.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 33
From: Acworth
Both have some great roads, I would have to pick Colorado between the 2 because anything on the west side of I 25 offers beautiful riding. Pikes Peak, Rocky Mnt NP, Loveland pass, Hwy 550 from Montrose to Durango, the list goes on and on.
Wy has hwy 296-Cheif Joseph hwy , 212 - Beartooth hwy and I really like Alt 14 between Sheridan and Lovell. the 14/16 from Gillette towards Sheridan, better than the Interstate and only adds 4 mi. If you ride thru Yellowstone heading south thru the Tetons, be sure to take the Teton Park rd. It gets you up close iwth those mnts. Jackon Hole is interesting too.
Bring back pics for us to see!
Wy has hwy 296-Cheif Joseph hwy , 212 - Beartooth hwy and I really like Alt 14 between Sheridan and Lovell. the 14/16 from Gillette towards Sheridan, better than the Interstate and only adds 4 mi. If you ride thru Yellowstone heading south thru the Tetons, be sure to take the Teton Park rd. It gets you up close iwth those mnts. Jackon Hole is interesting too.
Bring back pics for us to see!
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
Went there via Pinedale one time hitting a sage hen at night resulting in some feathers and blood splatter left behind. Did I get some looks pulling in. I'm just glad there were still a few feathers stuck in place, so the people looking realized the blood was from a bird.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 562
Likes: 21
From: Arlington, TX
If I had to choose between Wyoming and Colorado, I'd choose both.
Seriously, I'd actually choose Colorado for overall the best riding. It's hard to find a bad road anywhere west of I-25.
I've ridden in both states and Wyoming is gorgeous also in certain places. Of course, Yellowstone is the cat's meow. But to really see everything there will take at the very least a couple of days and then you don't get to spend very much time in any one place. There you don't really get to enjoy riding (traffic is slow and your motorcycle is just transportation).
Beartooth from the northeast corner of Yellowstone over to Red Lodge, Montana is a hard road to beat.
But overall, Colorado has the best, most concentrated riding. It's all good.
Seriously, I'd actually choose Colorado for overall the best riding. It's hard to find a bad road anywhere west of I-25.
I've ridden in both states and Wyoming is gorgeous also in certain places. Of course, Yellowstone is the cat's meow. But to really see everything there will take at the very least a couple of days and then you don't get to spend very much time in any one place. There you don't really get to enjoy riding (traffic is slow and your motorcycle is just transportation).
Beartooth from the northeast corner of Yellowstone over to Red Lodge, Montana is a hard road to beat.
But overall, Colorado has the best, most concentrated riding. It's all good.