Eifelrider goes Rockies (CO, WY, MT, ID, UT)

[Eifelrider]

Hello pashnites!
I just started planning my next vacation which will lead me to Denver in 2008. I know, 2008 is still far away, but I love to plan road trips so I´ll start early.
I´ll visit the states together with a friend of mine (who doesn´t ride) and we´ll either rent an RV or more likely a convertible. Maybe I´ll throw in a day of riding on a rental bike, like I did last year.
On the pics below you see the general route with all the National Parks and other places we plan to visit. What I´d like to get from you is some kind of "insider information" about places, towns, eats, roads or other attractions which are "must sees", but not commonly known as tourist attractions. Just like the places I visited in California (e.g. Ice House Road). I know some of you travelled through or live in those states (Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Utah). And which time of year will be best?
I´d really appreciate your help. Thanks in advance!

[bftownsend]

I would highly recommend coming north across WA through the Northern Cascade Highway.,. truely lovely .. then you can drop south to pick up I-90 - doing this you might be able to arrange for a bike ride out of Seattle to Mt Rainier and Mt Saint Helens... nice full day ride or take it easy and do an over night ride.

[Eifelrider]

Hello Bradford!
I drove Highway 20 in the year 2000 on my tour through the pacific Northwest. I´d love to see Seattle again, but I fear thats a little bit too far off from my planned route. We only have three weeks for this trip. But I like your Idea, maybe I change the route...
Thanks

[akfxdl]

Make sure not to miss Beartooth pass near Red Lodge Montana
From the Beartooth you can then head over to Cody Wyoming on I believe it is called the trail of tears route. If you spend the night in Red Lodge Thursday through Sunday you can head over to a small town about 15 miles away, have dinner and go to the pig races.
From either Red Lodge or Cody it is an easy drive into Yellowstone Park....give yourself a couple of days there.
Good place to stay if visiting Yellowstone is Gardiner Montana at the North Entrance to the park, if you are thinking of camping in the park now is a good time to reserve space for 2008!
Three weeks for the trip.....are you planning on starting and ending in Denver?

[Eifelrider]

Thanks Jeff,
those are some good tips. But where exactly is Beartooth pass. I found Red Lodge on my map, but the pass isn´t marked.
Pig Races sounds like fun. Which small town would that be?

The starting and ending will be in Denver. I guess one way rentals are too expensive. I´m not shure how many miles we can drive in those three weeks, but I hope it will be around 5000. Of course we don´t want to drive all the time and do some hiking/sightseeing too.

Do you have any recommendations about good hikes in Yellowstone? I´m thinking about a 5 to 6 hour hike thats not too difficult but provides some nice scenery.

Thanks!

[akfxdl]

Originally Posted by Eifelrider

Thanks Jeff,
those are some good tips. But where exactly is Beartooth pass. I found Red Lodge on my map, but the pass isn´t marked.
Pig Races sounds like fun. Which small town would that be?

The starting and ending will be in Denver. I guess one way rentals are too expensive. I´m not shure how many miles we can drive in those three weeks, but I hope it will be around 5000. Of course we don´t want to drive all the time and do some hiking/sightseeing too.

Do you have any recommendations about good hikes in Yellowstone? I´m thinking about a 5 to 6 hour hike thats not too difficult but provides some nice scenery.

Thanks!

Daniel...just did somewhat of that route this year on my bike. Ended up in Colorado Springs. I will get you road numbers and the Pig Racing resturant name later tonight when I get off work.
To travel from Denver to Yellowstone you could could head up to Steamboat Springs, then over through Dinosaur and Vernal Utah. From there up through Flaming Gorge, into Wyoming then Jackson and Yellowstone.
I will check when I get home and see if I kept any of my Yellowstone information on hikes.

[Eifelrider]

I too thought about taking the route through Steamboat Springs and Dinosaur. Is Dinosaur Natl. Mon. worth a look?

[akfxdl]

Originally Posted by Eifelrider

Thanks Jeff,
But where exactly is Beartooth pass. I found Red Lodge on my map, but the pass isn´t marked.
Pig Races sounds like fun. Which small town would that be?

Originally Posted by Eifelrider

I too thought about taking the route through Steamboat Springs and Dinosaur. Is Dinosaur Natl. Mon. worth a look?

Beartooth Pass is US 212 out of Red Lodge Montana. You can reach it from the North East entrance of Yellowstone.
The small town with the Pig Races is called Bear Creek Montana, it is on highway 308.
The other exceptional highway in the area is The Chef Joseph Scenic Highway A.K.A. Wyoming highway 296. It takes you to Cody Wyoming. Cody has a great Museum, could spend a couple of days at the Museum alone.
Do a google search on Beartooth Pass, Cheif Joseph Scenic Highway, and Bear Creek Montana.
As to Dinosaur Natl. Mon. I am not sure, I only stopped at the visitor center. It looked real interesting to me, but I like geology and Dinosaurs....my wife would tell you I resemble that remark...
Anyway when we stopped it was about 100 degrees F and the wife wasn't in the mood for a hike, we also had about 150 miles to travel.
Hope this helps.....

[Eifelrider]

Hi Jeff,
I looked up all those places in google Earth. Highway 212 looks really promising. I can´t wait till I get there!!! Thanks again for your Help!

[bftownsend]

Originally Posted by Eifelrider

Hi Jeff,
I looked up all those places in google Earth. Highway 212 looks really promising. I can´t wait till I get there!!! Thanks again for your Help!
Attachment 34708

all I can say WoW --- looks really nice