Pre-NAFO riding thru Glacier NP and Idaho...oops I mean Colorado

[wheatonFJR]

Itinerary has been changed...trip has been shortened to 10 days...see post #47.

I'm looking for some help from my Western Forum buddies,

I've not ridden to Glacier or points in Idaho, so this whole area is new to me. I have tried to use previous Forum information to help hit good areas...however, I am looking for anyone who has taken trips in this area to help point me to better roads or to warn me away from mediocre roads.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I'm leaving 2 saturday's before NAFO, getting to Glacier Sunday night. I am getting to NAFO Thursday late afternoon.

Day 1 & 2 trip out to Glacier -1430 miles

Day 3 Day trip loop around Glacier to west side of Glacier to Kalispell, MT -320 miles

Day 4 Kalispell to Lewiston, ID -390 miles

Day 5 Lewiston to Butte, MT, ID -390 miles

Day 6 Butte to Red Lodge, MT -310 miles

Day 7 Red Lodge to W. Yellowstone, ID -161 miles

Day 8 W. YStone to Boise, ID -410 miles

Day 9 Boise to Idaho Falls, ID -400 miles

Day 10 Idaho Falls to Park City, UT -365 miles

Day 11 Park City to Glenwood Springs -335miles

Day 12 Glenwood Springs to Masonville, CO -335miles

Day 13 Masonville to NAFO -273 miles

BTW, I am also looking for a travel partner...so if you are interested in this trip, send me a PM. I would like to roomsplit at hotels, but will camp if neccessary. Just not crazy about camping in "Bear" country...

 

[shokdimn]

Nice looking itinerary!

Is ND preferred over SD for the first two days for a certain reason?

Are you interested in passing thru the Badlands then crossing the Bighorns, travel the Beartooth, then head up to Glacier? And by the way there’s some beautiful scenery just across the boarder from Glacier in and around Waterton Lakes NP.

Years ago there were some good places to camp just north of Rifle, CO. And they have a nice new La Quinta there now.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Hadn't really thought about the first two days as I'm just blasting out there. So the shortest distance is about 1400 miles or so. I was just trying to maximize time in the areas I haven't been to before.

I have been to the badlands and yellowstone during the family minivan vacation...

 

[zzzzip]

Howdy Mark--

You will be in Boise the weekend of my 40th class reunion, so make sure you stay away from the Airport Holiday Inn... there will be Dragons everywhere. Military Brats--they are animals (or big lizards, as the case may be.)

Skip

B)

 

[Murph]

Mark-

I don't know if you've seen Theo Roosevelt Nat'l Park before, but I it's in Western ND just off I-94 and I think it's worth ... at the very least ... a loop on the park road off the Medora exit.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Great looking ride plan Mark.

You will enjoy day #5 on 12 East bound across Idaho. Most excellent road. Only comment, if you are interested in staying off I-94 you could go farther north and come across on US2. This will however take another 1/2 day, so if your plan is to burn it west then the Interstate is the fastest way...There are several very long straight stretches on US2 if you're interested in exploring the FJR's potential...or so I've heard.

It can (will) be very hot in certain stretches of your route as well. Buy a cooling vest, it will be your bestest friend.

Have fun, see you in Colorado.

--G

 

[v65]

Man I would love to ride with you, but I hope to hit Glacier the weekend before NAFO.

 

[devanator]

wheaton

That is going to be one hell of a trip. Have some fun and am looking forward to the ride report. If you plan the timing right you will be passing Alexandria MN on the way out. Stop at the right time and I will buy you a meal and a brew on the way through.

Mike/devanator

 

[vandy]

speeking from experiance having lived in north dakota most of my first 30 years of my life and about 10 of it near hwy 94 in dickinson nd. that is the flattest most boaring road that you may ever come across.. medora isnt too bad and a large deture to the north section of the state around the piece garden at lake metagoshi is even better but your bang for the buck would be better off spent further south like the bad lands or at least take non interstate hwys in the nd area... its one of those few places left in the us where people are still friendly and trusting.. you could probably stop at 9 out of 10 houses and tell them your hungry and they would invite you in for a meal... not the same as some places ive been.

if your just trying to make great time 94 is the way to go.. good luck,

 

[valetz]

Wheaties,

I'd stay off the interstate if possible...

The US Hwys are in decent shape...

Fewer tractor trailers....

And the the scenery hasn't been interstatified...

I ran US 12 all the way to the coast 2 years ago, even it is 4 lanes in few spots.

-bvw.

 

[twowheelnut]

Ahhhhhhh, this kinda thread warms my heart! Thanks Wheaty! :good:

 

[madmike2]

I'd make a couple of suggestions that can easily be overruled by the locals.

1) At WFO 3 in Moscow, we took a day ride that went around the East side of Lake Coeur d' Alene. A little winding 2-lane...not to make good time but to enjoy the shoreline of the lake. Off of Hwy 90 you'd take Hwy 97 South along the lake until it hits Hwy 3.

2) Last year, on our way to Park City we went North from NorCal and through Idaho. We didn't get to the panhandle, but we did manage to ride through the Sawtooth State Park and take Hwy 75 South through Ketchum and Halley (The Sun Valley Ski Area). Hwy 21 to Stanley, then South to Hwy 20. BUT, once you get around Hwy 20 it is desert and HOT. We headed East and stopped at Craters of the Moon Nat'l Park.

But you're going to be seeing plenty of scenery....at least enough to make this member jealous envious!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks everybody for the replies...and KEEP them comin...

George...I will need a cooling vest? I presume you are talking about lower Idaho, UT & Western CO. I will have my camel back...can I limp around with that? What will the temps be? Killer I suppose... :blink:

Brian, I hate interstates :glare: I just didn't think I could get out to GNP in two days otherwise. I guess could take 3 days on the US routes and cut off the Utah/Western CO part of the trip. I hate interstates...

This trip is kind of a preamble to my "big trip" the following year out to the northwest, west coast and southwest...so we'll see how this goes.

..Hope NOT to arrive with staples in my head at NAFO from camping in "bear country" like that other guy from northern Illinois at a previous WFO... :clapping:

 

[TriggerT]

Man Wheaties, I am SOOO jealous that you can take that kind of time. Wish I could join you. With that many miles on before NAFO, your arse should be in good shape for the SS1K on the Friday of NAFO.

 

[madmike2]

George...I will need a cooling vest? I presume you are talking about lower Idaho, UT & Western CO. I will have my camel back...can I limp around with that? What will the temps be? Killer I suppose... :blink:

Yes, bring your cooling vest! We were in southern Idaho and it was hot (95-100). IIRC, is was 102 when we arrived at the motel in Caldwell. After riding through Sawtooth, it was 100+ in Blackfoot. The next day it was "cloudy" in Yellowstone and it rained as we rode through the Grant Tetons into Jackson Hole WY.

..Hope NOT to arrive with staples in my head at NAFO from camping in "bear country" like that other guy from northern Illinois... :clapping:

Or with the fairing askew from a close encounter with a "forest rat" like another did (With one of the first 2005s!).

 

[stryg8r]

This trip is kind of a preamble to my "big trip" the following year out to the northwest, west coast and southwest...so we'll see how this goes.

Bite me Wheaton! You really know how to hurt a guy!

Looks like a great trip. Have you looked into heading up into Canada and hitting Banff/Jasper and the Icefields Parkway?

 

[wheatonFJR]

I'd make a couple of suggestions that can easily be overruled by the locals.
1) At WFO 3 in Moscow, we took a day ride that went around the East side of Lake Coeur d' Alene. A little winding 2-lane...not to make good time but to enjoy the shoreline of the lake. Off of Hwy 90 you'd take Hwy 97 South along the lake until it hits Hwy 3.

2) Last year, on our way to Park City we went North from NorCal and through Idaho. We didn't get to the panhandle, but we did manage to ride through the Sawtooth State Park and take Hwy 75 South through Ketchum and Halley (The Sun Valley Ski Area). Hwy 21 to Stanley, then South to Hwy 20. BUT, once you get around Hwy 20 it is desert and HOT. We headed East and stopped at Craters of the Moon Nat'l Park.

But you're going to be seeing plenty of scenery....at least enough to make this member jealous envious!

Thanks Mikey, George and vandy...that's exactly the kind of info I am hoping to get from you western riders. Thanks! :clapping:

 

[wheatonFJR]

Bite me Wheaton! You really know how to hurt a guy!
Looks like a great trip. Have you looked into heading up into Canada and hitting Banff/Jasper and the Icefields Parkway?

Thats in consideration for the following year...

(sorry for the double post...guess I should use the quote button vs the reply button)

 

[FJRocket]

Wheatie, WOW! That looks like a great trip!

George is right about 12 in Idaho, it's fabulous.

When you are heading west from Sawtooth, you are missing the Banks/Lowman highway (55 to Lowman on 21). If the road is open, it's quite a treat. Desolate and scarey fun. When you go west through Stanley to Lowman on 21, just keep going west, then down to Boise. Bet you like it!

I didn't go up through the Sawtooth from the south like you are proposing. Bet that southern part is REALLY hot. Griff and I didn't use coolvests (I did have mine with me), but it's a good idea. Or just take the shorter, scarier, cooler route through the forrests and mountains. Of course you be wickin it up in da desert of Idaho.

When Griff went though SD going to Glacier last year, it was 105F all the way. It was 103 in Helena when I was there. Be prepared for the HEAT!

Man, what a trip!