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

[wheatonFJR]

Maybe I should stay up and spend more time in the GNP and sawtooth area and north to avoid hotter areas...then just zip down to northern CO?

 

[wheatonFJR]

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.

I'm easily amenable to changing plans for some good roads..and a riding partner. :clapping:

You up for that?

 

[shokdimn]

Very tempting and I do appreciate the invite. Seriously considering it.

PM sent. Did it make your inbox?

 

[okmac]

Weaton, I would make a suggestion for your day 8. You plan on taking hwy 20 and then 33 and 93. Hwy 20 and 33 are not a very interesting ride and you are doing 93 twice, which I am sure you are aware of.

I would suggest a little longer ride but a much more interesting ride.

Take 287 out of Yellowstone, then 41 to Dillion and on west to intersect 43 and take it until you hit 93 and then take 93 South to Stanley and then your route 21 to Boise.

You will have great scenery this complete route and you would not duplicate any ride.

Just my .02

Enjoy your ride, you have a great one set up. I have been on 95 % of the roads you are taking and you will have a great time.

Mac

 

[wheatonFJR]

Very tempting and I do appreciate the invite. Seriously considering it.
PM sent. Did it make your inbox?

pm sent

 

[wheatonFJR]

Weaton, I would make a suggestion for your day 8. You plan on taking hwy 20 and then 33 and 93. Hwy 20 and 33 are not a very interesting ride and you are doing 93 twice, which I am sure you are aware of.
I would suggest a little longer ride but a much more interesting ride.

Take 287 out of Yellowstone, then 41 to Dillion and on west to intersect 43 and take it until you hit 93 and then take 93 South to Stanley and then your route 21 to Boise.

You will have great scenery this complete route and you would not duplicate any ride.

Just my .02

Enjoy your ride, you have a great one set up. I have been on 95 % of the roads you are taking and you will have a great time.

Mac

Thanks Mac.

 

[Longrider]

Looks like a great trip. I have ridden most of these roads. Only comment; I prefer to travel West to East on the Going to the Sun highway. I think the views are better.

Good you have allowed lots of time each day. repairs and reconstruction happens in the Summers in most of the areas you are going.

Longrider

 

[FJRocket]

I prefer to travel West to East on the Going to the Sun highway. Longrider

That puts you on the CLIFF side of the road! :huh:

(Notice I didn't say "guardrail side of the road"... because there isn't one!)

Also, that 287 going from Butte to Yellowstone is FUN. I was on that last summer and I was about the only one on it. Granted, it's out in more or less flattish farmland, but you can clip along, in the clear, for a VERY sweet (quick) ride. If you go up the west side of the park, the road that goes back into federal land, then up toward Bozeman (191), man that road is BUSY. And SLOW (federal speed limit and lookey loos). Sure is pretty, but I'll skip that one from now on, thank you, especially at the north end. Sucks.

 

[Longrider]

I prefer to travel West to East on the Going to the Sun highway. Longrider

That puts you on the CLIFF side of the road! :huh:

(Notice I didn't say "guardrail side of the road"... because there isn't one!)

Ah, yes, but that is the best view!

 

[okmac]

Something I should have told you on my other post. When you are going from Stanley to Bosie on Hwy 21 be very very careful. The road is great with lots of curves but evidently the local crotch rockets also like it. We were stopped by the Local police who were really pissed as they pulled out two crotch rockets out of the ditch and proceded to tell me that they did not like motorcycles on this road. He was quite irate but I suspect that the two crotch rocket riders caused it . He proceded to tell me that they had all sorts of radar set up on 21 and if I exceeded the speed I would be caught. When I finally removed my helmet and he seen all the gray hair he calmed down and wished us a good ride.

So for 21, gads it is really a great road and I would love to turn it loose but unless you have some extra bucks to spend I would observe the speed limit. The terrible thing is in spots the speed limit is quite low when you would really like to turn it loose.

It is a fantastic road but just enjoy the senery not the speed.

Mac

 

[bikerskier]

Something I should have told you on my other post. When you are going from Stanley to Bosie on Hwy 21 be very very careful. The road is great with lots of curves but evidently the local crotch rockets also like it. We were stopped by the Local police who were really pissed as they pulled out two crotch rockets out of the ditch and proceded to tell me that they did not like motorcycles on this road. He was quite irate but I suspect that the two crotch rocket riders caused it . He proceded to tell me that they had all sorts of radar set up on 21 and if I exceeded the speed I would be caught. When I finally removed my helmet and he seen all the gray hair he calmed down and wished us a good ride.
So for 21, gads it is really a great road and I would love to turn it loose but unless you have some extra bucks to spend I would observe the speed limit. The terrible thing is in spots the speed limit is quite low when you would really like to turn it loose.

It is a fantastic road but just enjoy the senery not the speed.

Mac

Can't speak about the police issue, but damn, this is one of my top 5 favorite rides and no one should miss it.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Based on some of these comments, I'm thinking of revising my route to take more time in northern Montana and Idaho...and go through the sawtooth on my down...then zip on down to the north east side of RMNP.

 

[AethonFJR]

Awesome itinerary!!!!

Day 3 on the Going to the Sun Highway in Glacier will be a beautiful ride, but you will probably have lots of company on the road.

Day 5 Highway 12 is a great ride!!

Your ride from Boise is very tempting.

Ken

 

[Sully1300]

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

Wheaton,

Oh, c'mon. 161 miles is the best you got for day 7. Is this a day of rest from all the hard work you will've done the first 6 days. A time to reflect back on the first six and say, "All is very good".

But seriously, what a trip. Depending on how many hard miles you put on at NAFO then your trip home - this could be a two-time tire change trip (TTTT). I would love to join you for this being that you are just a short 230+/- miles away from me here in Indiana, but my schedule won't even come close to allowing this, though. It's tough enough trying to get a week for NAFO.

I wish I could offer you some advice to the choice roads but I have not been out that way either. Enjoy your trip and take plenty of pictures. Let's have a look at them with a ride report when you get back. Ride on brother.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I've been on enough trips to know you gotta have a day to just kick back...plus riding through YStone takes forever. This actually may be too many miles for this day-believe it or not.

I may change my trip to avoid Yellowstone-I've already been there and followed the slow moving train of cars around the park before. My hope for this leg was to get to the pass just west of Red Lodge. I may rectify this by going through the Bighorn MTs and west to this pass on the way up to Glacier NP.

 

[FJRocket]

I've been on enough trips to know you gotta have a day to just kick back...plus riding through YStone takes forever. This actually may be too many miles for this day-believe it or not.
I may change my trip to avoid Yellowstone-I've already been there and followed the slow moving train of cars around the park before. My hope for this leg was to get to the pass just west of Red Lodge. I may rectify this by going through the Bighorn MTs and west to this pass on the way up to Glacier NP.

One of the most fabulous slow rides I've EVER had was in Yellowstone this summer past. I was riding through the park at sun up, before all the lookey loos start the abrupt stupidity along the roads. I was actually able to do the full speed limit and only passed by 4 or 5 cars (mostly rangers). And that was almost 1.5 hours through the park (from lake lodge out the north gate). The wildlife was out EVERYWHERE! Spectacular. Definitely worth the early start to see all the critters, let alone beat the traffic.

Is that construction on the road in the NE corner of the park, or the road just closed for the winter? Those construction zones inside the park can sure cost a couple hours. Unless you are the first one there, or slip to the front of the line.

Mark, you are going to have one heck of a trip!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for the comments Matt.

 

[fjrob1300]

Hey Mark I like the sound of your ride. I'm off to bike week and points beyond starting Mar 1st. We're looking at hugging the Gulf o Mexico for the next 2-3 weeks. We're dropping a truck in Virginia so we'll try and hit the Dragon on the way back from Texas.I'll check in when I get back and maybe hook up with you for your ride. Camping is fine with me.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Hey Mark I like the sound of your ride. I'm off to bike week and points beyond starting Mar 1st. We're looking at hugging the Gulf o Mexico for the next 2-3 weeks. We're dropping a truck in Virginia so we'll try and hit the Dragon on the way back from Texas.I'll check in when I get back and maybe hook up with you for your ride. Camping is fine with me.

Let me know when you do find out...have a great trip. :clapping:

 

[escapefjrtist]

Mark, sounds like you have things all figured out. Sorry for the post and run, this has been hell week at work. When Chooser and I came west a couple years ago the temps across ND and MT were well into the 100's. IIRC 103 in Havre MT.

And...for your trip west next year, remember my door is always open.

Be safe, have a great ride and talk to you soon.

--G