yellowstone area
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 716
Likes: 154
From: Canada
yellowstone area
I was going to do Yellowstone last summer but got stopped by fires. Gonna give it another try this year.
I'm looking to go from West Yellowstone, through Norris and Canyon to Cody, then to Cooke city and finally Red Lodge. I'll be leaving west Yellowstone early about 7am. Is it reasonable to do this in one day without feeling pushed? I'm more interested in the ride from the east boundary to Cody, Cooke City via Chief Joseph and then the Beartooth to Red Lodge. The park itself is a bonus but of secondary interest.
I'm looking to go from West Yellowstone, through Norris and Canyon to Cody, then to Cooke city and finally Red Lodge. I'll be leaving west Yellowstone early about 7am. Is it reasonable to do this in one day without feeling pushed? I'm more interested in the ride from the east boundary to Cody, Cooke City via Chief Joseph and then the Beartooth to Red Lodge. The park itself is a bonus but of secondary interest.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 376
From: Mississippi
I did part of that ride this year. Cody to Chief Joseph, Beartooth to Red Lodge, Lunch in Red Lodge, Beartooth to Cooke City, waited out a rain shower for an hour or so at a café just outside the park, then down to Canyon. Later I rode over to Norris and back.
I think you will have plenty of time.
I think you will have plenty of time.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 111
From: Sioux Center IA
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Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
I have done West Yellowstone to Red Lodge, ate lunch and back to West Yellowstone for dinner. Was a nice day ride and not rushed for daylite hours at all.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 283
From: California, Md now Savannah, Ga
I know this is the opposite direction of what you're talking about but here goes. We left Billings around 9am on Sat morning Aug 10th and came down to Red Lodge via 212 and gassed up then hit the Beartooth but didn't rush. Came into Yellowstone and stopped to put rainsuits on. Construction in Yellowstone caused us to not go down Grand Loop Road by Yellowstone Lake so we went to the west side of the park and then came down what Google maps shows as Rt89. Remember in Yellowstone, according to the Park Ranger who I asked some directions of and he emphasized to me that "WE DON"T USE ROUTE NUMBERS IN THE PARK". So have your road name directions not route numbers. Got thru the park and got to Jackson Hole just after dark which maybe was around 8:15 or perhaps a little later. It was a long hard day but we made it. Had traffic in Yellowstone been heavier and buffalo herd roadblocks delays been longer we would have missed the Tetons during daylight.
If I were you, I wouldn't want to chance having to do the Beartooth after dark. If I had my day to do over, I'd probably stay at a lodge for the night in Yellowstone but your day plan doesn't seem as aggressive as ours was so you'll probably be ok.
If I were you, I wouldn't want to chance having to do the Beartooth after dark. If I had my day to do over, I'd probably stay at a lodge for the night in Yellowstone but your day plan doesn't seem as aggressive as ours was so you'll probably be ok.
Last edited by Xcrossbow; Dec 25, 2013 at 09:56 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,858
Likes: 29,836
From: PNW
As mentioned, very doable. I get the "stop and smell the roses" approach, but we enjoy the view from the bike. We did West Yellowstone to Sturgis easily and stopped plenty for pics. Old Faithful, Continental Divide, etc. Also as mentioned, it can get cold. It was August and we froze our butts off in the morning (7 am). But, there were hardly any tourists on the road through Yellowstone so it was well worth freezing. I would bring the heated gear.