Need a little advice ...

Doing a motorcycle trip in August - starting in Spokane, WA, on a Friday morning ( August 3 ). What's the most scenic way to get to Yellowstone area? I'm looking for a good route and our plan is to stay in Jackson Hole on Sunday night ( August 5 ) - room is booked.

I thought about just heading from Spokane, WA, to Coeur D'Alene and then spending the day there ( have room booked in Coeur D'Alene on Friday night ). I do not have a room booked anywhere yet for Saturday - was thinking Missoula or Butte area.

Having said that, I wonder if we should cover more miles on Friday - like heading South to Lewiston / Kooskia area and spending the night there so we can take 12 up to Missoula and hit LoLo Pass and then head for Butte, MT ? Or head for Missoula or farther on Friday ?

Any ideas ?

MDS

quote:

Having said that, I wonder if we should cover more miles on Friday - like heading South to Lewiston / Kooskia area and spending the night there so we can take 12 up to Missoula and hit LoLo Pass and then head for Butte, MT ? Or head for Missoula or farther on Friday ?

I was born and raised in Lewiston. Have spent a lot of time along that stretch of route 12. Great trip, incredible scenery. Great possibility to see some WILDlife, like deer, bears, elk. That is the route I would take to get where you want to go. If you want a nice little side trip, take a short tour up the Selway river out of Kamiah/Kooskia.

The Hwy 12 Lolo Pass ride is a good one, however the last few years it has been miserable in August because it's the start of the fire season and it gets very smokey. It's more of a Spring and early Summer run.


You can get to Jackson Hole in the three total days you've set aside without having to use an Interstate highway and do a lot of sight seeing along the way in that time frame. Get a couple of paper maps of the area and pick your route with those.

Jim

It would be nearly impossible to choose at this time of year on a bike through that area any route without having scenic wonders to enjoy.

You should look at the possibility of including 12 to Missoula then South to summit of Lost Trail Pass turn East to Wisdom (along edge of Big Hole Country) and then south as you want.

Consider the "Bear Paw Pass" option as well. I haven't been over it in the years since major road repair due to slide. It enters on the N side of Yellowstone IIRC.

There's a return route from Jackson Hole across to the Victor Idaho via ?route 33? that has a magnificent 10% grade scenic pass worth traveling at least once. They have road bicycle races annually so it isn't too steep....

A ride N toward Salmon thru the very backside of Mt Borah is a great motorcyle route too IMHO. In a pinch, Salmon is only about 6 hours from Spokane.

Enjoy.

Easily one of my all time favorite road trips.

quote:

take 12 up to Missoula and hit LoLo Pass and then head for Butte, MT ? Or head for Missoula or farther on Friday ?

years ago our own tour up 12 found a marvelous tiny gas stop/old motel cabins to stay near the Idaho summit side of Lolo, named something like "Bear Lake/Creek/Pass?" motel.

Simple, clean, elegantly in the last century, just the right distance over the top & in to breakfast in Missoula for our group.

The Big Hole Memorial has a marvelous Chief Joseph massacre & historical site near Wisdom if you're in to that kind of thing. It was the next-to-last battle location before he surrendered near Canada a little farther east.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo54:
The Hwy 12 Lolo Pass ride is a good one, however the last few years it has been miserable in August because it's the start of the fire season and it gets very smokey. It's more of a Spring and early Summer run.

It's been a few years since I've been over it, but windy and slow going comes to mind. In addition, last time I was over they had installed rumble bumps down the center of the road over a portion of it. I've not hit those on a motorcycle, but I can't imagine it would be too fun.

The rumble strips aren't a problem... just "Brrrppp" each time you cross them.

They ARE a PIA though, as are the miles long double yellow lines that totally screw up any chance of enjoying nice curves, while staying
"Legal"
Don

It's been a couple of years for me and the last time was in August. Too smoky to enjoy. I typically like the trip in the spring before school lets out and the river is closed to kayaks and rafts because of the spring runoff. Really cuts down on the traffic.


You might consider linking up with hwy 75 in Stanley Id. and take the Sawtooth Mtn Byway. It's around 120 mi. of some of the most beautiful scenery in the state.

Jim

Good tips ... Thanks guys.

MDS

quote:

Originally posted by dsmack:
The rumble strips aren't a problem... just "Brrrppp" each time you cross them.

As I recall, they were the actual bumps and not the strips cut in. Like halves of a grapefruit.

Could be wrong, as I said it's been awhile since I've driven it.

This a trip I’ve done from CDA on a ‘82 FXWG

This off the top of my head right now but will double check and edit....

Lewiston Hwy 12 along Clearwater/ Lochsa rivers over Lolo Pass
Sth on 93
East on 43 through Big Hole
278 to I-15

Edit.......

This is the part I’d not recommend on a street bike
I-15 to spencer to West camas creek rd to Antelope rd to Kilgore to Kilgore- Yale Rd pick
Up hwy 20 at island park to West Yellowstone. LOTS of washboard dirt rd on this stretch. I’d not do it again

I continued through Cook City over beartooth Pass. Picked up I-90 in Laurel back to CDA

Keep in mind Yellowstone and Teton NP now have separate entrance fees. $35 each park

Buy an annual pass from USGS for $80

https://store.usgs.gov/pass

This message has been edited. Last edited by: snwghst,

Did a 2-week roadtrip from northern CO to CDA (and back) a couple of years ago. One of the most scenic stretches of road was from Jackson, WY to Bozeman, MT.

Took WY 22 (Teton Pass Hwy) west out of Jackson, into ID. Just outside of Tetonia, we switched to secondary roads (ID 32). Beautiful country! Then through the Caribou-Thargee National Forest, finally joining up with ID 20 into West Yellowstone. Spent a couple of hours at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.

Then took Hwy 191 north to Bozeman. Where 191 joins up with the Gallatin River (WY/MT border), through the Gallatin Valley, past Big Sky and all the way to Bozeman, is just God's Country. Most scenic drive I've been on, and we have a lot of great scenery out here.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

quote:

Originally posted by dsmack:
The rumble strips aren't a problem... just "Brrrppp" each time you cross them.

As I recall, they were the actual bumps and not the strips cut in. Like halves of a grapefruit.

Could be wrong, as I said it's been awhile since I've driven it.

I've never seen the type you've described used up in the NW, because they won't survive one season due to snow plows. Too expensive to have to replace yearly. However, they could certainly upset a m/c suspension!!

I wonder if it was a "test section" of road?
Don

OK -

We made some changes last night and added a day of travel to get to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Starting in Spokane, WA, and heading to Coeur d'Alene. We were going to stay there overnight, but now we're going to keep going South to Grangeville, Idaho, and spend the night there.

From Grangeville, Idaho, we're either going to take 12 to Lolo, MT, and then head South on 93, then 43 to Wisdom, MT, and spend the night ...

OR

Head South out of Grangeville towards Boise and then turn NE and hook up with 21 / 75 / 93 / 43 and end up in Wisdom, MT.

*** Can anyone comment on the two routes ? How much am I adding by heading towards Boise ? Is one way more scenic than the other?

Anyway, from Wisdom, MT, we'll head towards Bozeman for the night. Then head South to Jackson Hole for two nights. Going South we'll enter Yellowstone from the West. When we leave Jackson Hole, heading to Beartooth Pass and Red Lodge, we'll exit to the East.

After Red Lodge, head to Black Hills ( Sturgis Rally ) and then home to MN.

Any must see roads that I'm missing ?

MDS

quote:

Can anyone comment on the two routes ? How much am I adding by heading towards Boise ? Is one way more scenic than the other?

much approve your amended itinerary;
I'd modify further the "21" route thru Idaho City, as the Idaho City-Lowman side of the route is in sad shape due to road repair priorities;

far better : IF you're anywhere near the Hwy 55 Banks-->Crouch-->Garden Valley-->Grimes Pass (more a scenic bump than 'pass') Hwy 17 route to Lowman then 21 to Stanley, you're in heaven.

Hwy 17 is paved & a most scenic "about an hour" route that makes Banks-Salmon about 5 hour ride thru mostly the wonders of the State. Stanley Basin will have your attention for sure.

Little advantage of including Boise in your scenic trip, unless you want Idaho City in additional loop via 21 to Stanley. That loop will require 2-3 hours more than the Banks-Lowman segment. I'd take the Banks-->Lowman--Stanley-->Salmon-->Wisdom if I wanted the wonders.

I'd rather do Glacier NP than Yellowstone ANY day. Though Yellowstone does offer far more opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Whatever route You take...Be VERY ALERT for deer. They are suicidal, same for the occasional deer or bear. I always suggested to out of Staters on bikes, not truly accustomed to watching for deer....To limit their travel to daytime only.

Believe me I know about this...I did the Hwy Patrol job here for 20+ years.

I don't recall there being many rooms available in Wisdom. You might want to call ahead if you're planning on spending the night there.

Also, the Antlers bar has pretty darned good pizza.

Have a room at Montana Lodge in Wisdom - booked it last night

MDS