Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Contributor to HDForums.com
Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
Hey gang... my son and I are heading out to Yellowstone from Lexington KY next week. He'll be riding a rented '08 Road King and I'll be riding my '08 Ultra. We'll be out for about 10 days for what we hope to be a trip of a lifetime. Just the two of us, Dad and son on a most excellent adventure.
I would greatly appreciate any advice, from roads to take to places to see and stay. I think our destination will be Cody, but not sure and still open for ideas and changes to what little planning we've done so far. It's mostly seat of our pants at this point. We will most likely ride some super slabs to get out to Kansas, but even considered US 50 for parts of it. I just don't want to waste too much time waiting on stop lights, but don't want to miss anything if I can avoid it. Since we have limited time, it will be go go go all the time. And we'l be doing motels instead of camping... even though camping sounds like fun!
Thanks in advance for your suggestions and advice!
Ray
I would greatly appreciate any advice, from roads to take to places to see and stay. I think our destination will be Cody, but not sure and still open for ideas and changes to what little planning we've done so far. It's mostly seat of our pants at this point. We will most likely ride some super slabs to get out to Kansas, but even considered US 50 for parts of it. I just don't want to waste too much time waiting on stop lights, but don't want to miss anything if I can avoid it. Since we have limited time, it will be go go go all the time. And we'l be doing motels instead of camping... even though camping sounds like fun!
Thanks in advance for your suggestions and advice!
Ray
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Joined: Apr 2008
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RE: Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
50 is a good road with much to see. take it to grand jct., co then head north via rifle, co.IMO there are many sights in the west that surpass yellowstone as it has never recovered from the fires of the 80's. don't miss wind river canyon in wy. as well as the chief joseph hi way. another don't miss is the bear tooth hiway in montana near yellowstone. you could return home through the black hills. if you are new to touring i would offer this suggestion. don't make hotel reservations as they will force you to ride to a set point. leave as early as possible in the a.m. and never be on the road within an hour of sunset. don't make gas stops over 10 min. these are just suggestions based on having done a camping tour of the area you mentioned last yr. just arrived home from a tour last night which included riding across hiway 50 from ks. to modesto, ca then to phoenix. from there to washington, d.c. and then down the easter shore of virgina across deals gap and then to ga., alabama, ms. ar. and back home yesterday afternoon.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 207
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RE: Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
Check with the Yellowstone park service and see what roads they are working on. I was there in 2006 and they were working heavy on the East entrance. The rain was not fun! The roads were HILLY and very slippery with mud. Everyone was very HAPPY to have made it through the construction area without anybody going down.
Be very familiar with the rental bike. On the same trip one of our riders went down because the brakes on the rental did not feel the same as his normal ride. Touched them a little hard and the next thing he knows is he is lying on the road waiting for the ambulance to take him to the hospital in Jackson Hole. One other thing to consider is the insurance issues, even though he got full coverage on the rental he was still responsible to get it back to the dealer even though it was not rideable. Luckily a friend was available to run the 1400 miles round trip with a trailer to get the bike.
I am not trying to discourage you from going just giving you the benefit of our experience. Yellowstone is a wonderful place to see! I do believe you need to make reservations for lodging near Yellowstone. West yellowstone has many motels that you can find on line. Make reservations that can be canceled if you do not make it there when you plan. Riding a bike and not being able to find a motel when it is time to get off for the day is not fun. For that reason I would not go more that 400 miles a day and spend time seeing the sites and trying to avoid the worst weather. Good Luck!! Safe Riding! Getting home safe is the most important thing.
Be very familiar with the rental bike. On the same trip one of our riders went down because the brakes on the rental did not feel the same as his normal ride. Touched them a little hard and the next thing he knows is he is lying on the road waiting for the ambulance to take him to the hospital in Jackson Hole. One other thing to consider is the insurance issues, even though he got full coverage on the rental he was still responsible to get it back to the dealer even though it was not rideable. Luckily a friend was available to run the 1400 miles round trip with a trailer to get the bike.
I am not trying to discourage you from going just giving you the benefit of our experience. Yellowstone is a wonderful place to see! I do believe you need to make reservations for lodging near Yellowstone. West yellowstone has many motels that you can find on line. Make reservations that can be canceled if you do not make it there when you plan. Riding a bike and not being able to find a motel when it is time to get off for the day is not fun. For that reason I would not go more that 400 miles a day and spend time seeing the sites and trying to avoid the worst weather. Good Luck!! Safe Riding! Getting home safe is the most important thing.
RE: Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
You're in for a quite a treat my friend. Did it in 05 and doing it again this year from VA.
RED5060, thanks, I can use some of that advice onroutes through Colorado myself.
Enjoy your trip hoosierhog
RED5060, thanks, I can use some of that advice onroutes through Colorado myself.
Enjoy your trip hoosierhog
Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
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RE: Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
I did that trip last year on my dresser. I took the route through the Sand Hills of Nebraska from lincoln. Ended up going trough Casper. You should go through the wind river to Red Lodge which will position you for the beartoot and entry into yellowstone from the northeast. Riding out of yellowstone, you have to ride through the big horn mtns. out or Cody. Cody is a cool place and the ride to it from yellowstone is great. Big Horns are great also. Black hills are OK but not like the real mountains. Consider putting down to Jackson Hole. Go to the Snake river Brewery to have a beer and some great food. Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is kinda lame but it's still cool. One thing you have to watch is getting a place to stay (motel) late in the day. I almost blew it in Riverton! Only two rooms left in town due to the energy boom out there. Might want to take a few bottles of octane booster for the stations that only sell 89 - 90 octane. Just came back from the Grand Canyon last month and was dodging thunderstorms and Tornadoes most of the way, not to mention the wind!! Have a great trip. Got some pics to vue if you want to see them. Let me know.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,551
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From: Contributor to HDForums.com
RE: Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
Worm... pix would be great. Just email them to me via this site, if that's ok. Or if you need it, I'll PM my email addy to you.
These are great suggestions folks. Please keep 'em comin'!
These are great suggestions folks. Please keep 'em comin'!
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
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RE: Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
Having been to Yellowstone twice, and going back this year. All I can say is you're in for a treat! You should see if you can get at least 1 night at the old faithful inn...They may have a cancellation for when you'll be in the area. It's well worth the effort to try and stay there. Old faithful goes off about every 1.5 hours, way to cool to miss.
One thing we found is that the scenery changes with every turn and that's no exageration. You'll go from open plain to wooded hills to lake side in just a few miles. In order to capture some of the action we picked up a POV.1 camera system for this year, to try and capture some of the detail.
One of the rides that I would HIGHLY recomend is the Cooke City Highway either haeding to the park or as a side ride. The cooke City Highway runs between Red Lodge Montana and the North east entrance of the park. The ride will take you from around 3000 foot elevation at the northeast gate to around 10,000 feet on top of the bear tooth mountains. You'll go by glaciers, alpine meadows and glacier lakes.
Just writing about it I can't wait to get back out there in July. I'll post some pictures from the park. Have a great ride.....
[IMG]local://upfiles/53676/509CDC90655E4D619B4E3AA68280B731.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/53676/9601DEBF1C7F4DA0925BBD5CB2532560.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/53676/9AAAA50ABCC045D28BBE7038689B2B6C.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/53676/2FAA2F4108C2477F9604CFA1C85F8325.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/53676/0F370A7B29F34923A72060FCF31E55E8.jpg[/IMG]
One thing we found is that the scenery changes with every turn and that's no exageration. You'll go from open plain to wooded hills to lake side in just a few miles. In order to capture some of the action we picked up a POV.1 camera system for this year, to try and capture some of the detail.
One of the rides that I would HIGHLY recomend is the Cooke City Highway either haeding to the park or as a side ride. The cooke City Highway runs between Red Lodge Montana and the North east entrance of the park. The ride will take you from around 3000 foot elevation at the northeast gate to around 10,000 feet on top of the bear tooth mountains. You'll go by glaciers, alpine meadows and glacier lakes.
Just writing about it I can't wait to get back out there in July. I'll post some pictures from the park. Have a great ride.....
[IMG]local://upfiles/53676/509CDC90655E4D619B4E3AA68280B731.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/53676/9601DEBF1C7F4DA0925BBD5CB2532560.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/53676/9AAAA50ABCC045D28BBE7038689B2B6C.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/53676/2FAA2F4108C2477F9604CFA1C85F8325.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/53676/0F370A7B29F34923A72060FCF31E55E8.jpg[/IMG]
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Orange County, CA
RE: Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
I am planning a ride from Los Angeles to Yellowstone to Sturgis and back to California the first week of August. Been to Sturgis many times- so that leg of the ride will be decided on depending upon time. We are taking 9 days for this trip and will probably use the freeway for the first day just to get the hell out of California, Nevada, and Utah. Hopefully making it to Salt Lake City in the first day. From there we are going to take our time and get off the beaten path.
I can't wait!!!
I can't wait!!!
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 697
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From: Just west of Tahoe
RE: Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
If you go through Cody be sure to stop at Cody Custom Cycles. Those boys have helped me out a ton over the years. Seems like every time I ride through Yellowstone something goes wrong with the bike I'm on! Don't matter what bike either. Oh yaa. Don't ride through the park after dark. The buffalo like to camp on the roadway. It's nice and warm. Last time I was at Cody Customs there was an Aussie there with his front end bent under. He didn't know what he hit but I have my suspicions!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
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RE: Heading to Yellowstone - Advice Please
Take full rain gear/cold weather gear.
I went 2 years ago over the 4th of July holiday. It was almost 90 degrees when we were at Old Faithfull. 3 hours later we were in a SNOW storm and freezing our butts off from the snow/wet/cold halfway up the upper loop. Had no rain gear with us.
The weather in Yellowstone can be CRAZY, and it can change radically on you in an hour. There are almost NO places to pull over for shelter once your in there.
Take appropriate gear for 30-90+ degrees, and carry it will you at all times.
That was the last time I ever headed out without rain gear. Lesson learned the hard way.
I went 2 years ago over the 4th of July holiday. It was almost 90 degrees when we were at Old Faithfull. 3 hours later we were in a SNOW storm and freezing our butts off from the snow/wet/cold halfway up the upper loop. Had no rain gear with us.
The weather in Yellowstone can be CRAZY, and it can change radically on you in an hour. There are almost NO places to pull over for shelter once your in there.
Take appropriate gear for 30-90+ degrees, and carry it will you at all times.
That was the last time I ever headed out without rain gear. Lesson learned the hard way.