Leaving Orange County, Ca. to Great Falls, Mt to see family. The choices were fly, drive or ride. Well, now the I solved that mystery I normally take 15 straight north which is a nice ride but need to change it up. Looking for advice through Wyoming via 89/191, I can hit the Grand Teton and Yellowstone Park. Of course time is limited (damn job) but willing to take the detour if I don't lose to much time.Total days round trip 8 or 9. I know the ride back I will be pressed for time but need to leave the concrete jungle behind for a bit. If you have been through the west part of Wyoming feedback would be appreciated.
Route advice through wyoming
- Thread starter OCBADGER
- Start date
I'm not familiar with coming into that area from the southwest, but can highly recommend the route you're considering via 89 to 191 and on through the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone NP.
As you probably already know; 89 from Logan Utah to Garden City Utah takes you to Montpelier Utah. Staying on 89 takes you into Wyoming and north to Alpine Wyoming.
Don't know if you're a shooter, but along the way to Alpine is the nearby town of Freedom Idaho/Wyoming (yes, it sits on the border of both states). This very small town is the home of Freedom Arms, which is a manufacturer of high quality hanguns. If you're into it, then it might be worth a visit to check them out.
Turning east/north on 26 at Alpine takes you on a beautiful ride along the Snake River. Many miles up it turns into 189 to Jackson Wyoming (Jackson Hole). Then it's 191 north through Grand Tetons and on into Yellowstone.
It looks like about 23 hours riding time. At 7-8 hours per day in the saddle that's 3 days each way, leaving you 3 days to visit when you get there.
I feel pretty sure that you would not regret taking this route. It is an awesome area to see.
Not sure what sort of recommendation you're looking for, and not sure what else I might be able to add. But if you have specific questions then I'll do my best to answer.
As you probably already know; 89 from Logan Utah to Garden City Utah takes you to Montpelier Utah. Staying on 89 takes you into Wyoming and north to Alpine Wyoming.
Don't know if you're a shooter, but along the way to Alpine is the nearby town of Freedom Idaho/Wyoming (yes, it sits on the border of both states). This very small town is the home of Freedom Arms, which is a manufacturer of high quality hanguns. If you're into it, then it might be worth a visit to check them out.
Turning east/north on 26 at Alpine takes you on a beautiful ride along the Snake River. Many miles up it turns into 189 to Jackson Wyoming (Jackson Hole). Then it's 191 north through Grand Tetons and on into Yellowstone.
It looks like about 23 hours riding time. At 7-8 hours per day in the saddle that's 3 days each way, leaving you 3 days to visit when you get there.
I feel pretty sure that you would not regret taking this route. It is an awesome area to see.
Not sure what sort of recommendation you're looking for, and not sure what else I might be able to add. But if you have specific questions then I'll do my best to answer.
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CoHam,
Thank you - Exactly the advice I am looking for. I will ride 15 north through Las Vegas on to Salt Lake than Logan. The 89-191 will be my route - just will need to decide where and when to stop for the night. Yes I shoot (CCW FrontSite) so Freedom Arms will be a cool place to stop. Looking forward to riding next to the snake River, rode the other part of the Snake last year through Idaho Falls. Your area is pretty awesome as well, rode the 70 to the 25 to Sturgis 2016. I am fired up now I have a route - just got the Bike back from the 10,000 mile service so should be leaving soon.
Any more advice is always welcome. Thanks again
Thank you - Exactly the advice I am looking for. I will ride 15 north through Las Vegas on to Salt Lake than Logan. The 89-191 will be my route - just will need to decide where and when to stop for the night. Yes I shoot (CCW FrontSite) so Freedom Arms will be a cool place to stop. Looking forward to riding next to the snake River, rode the other part of the Snake last year through Idaho Falls. Your area is pretty awesome as well, rode the 70 to the 25 to Sturgis 2016. I am fired up now I have a route - just got the Bike back from the 10,000 mile service so should be leaving soon.
Any more advice is always welcome. Thanks again
Back from montana via wyoming
Back from montana via wyoming
Back from Montana via Wyoming
CoHam thank you for the advice, gave me some confidence before I began my trip. I have a shirt or pin for you.
Monday 7/24 Left Orange County, Ca. at 7pm to spend the night in Vegas, received a “leaving California” express way ticket – arrived 11pm (252 miles)
Tuesday 7/25 730am on the road via 15N traveled thru Mesquite, St. George and Salt Lake.
Picked up the 89 (91) ended the day in Logan, UT –very nice small college town. (516 miles)
Wednesday 7/26 left Logan at 730 am started raining hard at 731am traveled thru Montpelier and Afton riding next to the Snake River before stopping in Jackson to dry out and short break. Talked to a few groups of riders on their way to Sturgis before Continuing on the 191 to Moran which is the gate keeper to Grand Teton Park. It rained on and off thru out the day, just as soon as I took the gear off it was time to don it again. Grand Teton has majestic views, a nice ride adjacent to Jackson Lake. The end of the Grand Teton park is the beginning of Yellowstone Park which provides a great ride at 40 mph. Continued on Grand Loop road (89), I stopped to see Olé Faithful for a few, lots of hot spots thru out the area and much busier with tourists. Some road construction proved to be a challenge with the rain and mud. Made it to the North entrance to Yellowstone (Gardiner) to stretch the legs, piss and enjoy a local Montana pale ale (mud induced), before riding on to Livingston, Mt for the night. (453 miles)
Stayed in Livingston, MT at the Murray Hotel (120 years old) definitely worth the price, finished off the night with more of those great native micro beers in the hotel bar!
Thursday 7/27 Left Livingston at 730am via the 89 to enjoy a scenic ride thru the Lewis and Clark National next to Belt creek and all the ol’ mining properties to ride thru Rode to Great Falls, MT to spend a couple of days with Mom. (170 miles)
Sunday 7/30 Headed back home, I Left Great Falls, MT on the 15s which travels along the Missouri River thru Wolf creek toward Butte, MT. Waved to the Lady of the Rockies (90’ tall on to ridge of the Continental Divide) before stopping to see my ol’ Navy Buddy. I had to press on to Pocatello, ID for the night. (410 miles)
Monday 7/31 departed Pocatello, ID, on the road at 730am, the 15s is rather an uneventful ride, (Hwy 93 next time) but needed to make some good time; Traveled thru Salt Lake and arrived in St. George, UT in the late afternoon to have dinner with a retired work buddy. Decided to press on from St. George, UT to Mesquite, NV and then finished off the long day (930pm) in Las Vegas, NV. (603 miles)
Tuesday 8/1 Left Las Vegas at 730am to Baker, CA. where I filled up and grabbed some alien beef jerky. The legendary thermometer approaching 100 degrees, already! The rest of the leg thru the California desert is rather boring except for trying to avoid those impatient drivers - who left all their money in Vegas. “Welcome back to California”, transitioning from the 57s and 60w the Highway patrol greeted me with a ticket “driving on the shoulder”, which in fact the lane had ended and the semi-trailer squeezed me on to the shoulder. 10 miles from the house, damn! (252)
7 days on the road 2700 miles to see some great country, last year was 4300 via CA to Sturgis. It seems we always need a couple extra days for the trip but do not have the time on the books. 2016 SGS has 13,800 still a little light compared to some of you boys. Can’t wait for the next trip!
Back from montana via wyoming
Back from Montana via Wyoming
CoHam thank you for the advice, gave me some confidence before I began my trip. I have a shirt or pin for you.
Monday 7/24 Left Orange County, Ca. at 7pm to spend the night in Vegas, received a “leaving California” express way ticket – arrived 11pm (252 miles)
Tuesday 7/25 730am on the road via 15N traveled thru Mesquite, St. George and Salt Lake.
Picked up the 89 (91) ended the day in Logan, UT –very nice small college town. (516 miles)
Wednesday 7/26 left Logan at 730 am started raining hard at 731am traveled thru Montpelier and Afton riding next to the Snake River before stopping in Jackson to dry out and short break. Talked to a few groups of riders on their way to Sturgis before Continuing on the 191 to Moran which is the gate keeper to Grand Teton Park. It rained on and off thru out the day, just as soon as I took the gear off it was time to don it again. Grand Teton has majestic views, a nice ride adjacent to Jackson Lake. The end of the Grand Teton park is the beginning of Yellowstone Park which provides a great ride at 40 mph. Continued on Grand Loop road (89), I stopped to see Olé Faithful for a few, lots of hot spots thru out the area and much busier with tourists. Some road construction proved to be a challenge with the rain and mud. Made it to the North entrance to Yellowstone (Gardiner) to stretch the legs, piss and enjoy a local Montana pale ale (mud induced), before riding on to Livingston, Mt for the night. (453 miles)
Stayed in Livingston, MT at the Murray Hotel (120 years old) definitely worth the price, finished off the night with more of those great native micro beers in the hotel bar!
Thursday 7/27 Left Livingston at 730am via the 89 to enjoy a scenic ride thru the Lewis and Clark National next to Belt creek and all the ol’ mining properties to ride thru Rode to Great Falls, MT to spend a couple of days with Mom. (170 miles)
Sunday 7/30 Headed back home, I Left Great Falls, MT on the 15s which travels along the Missouri River thru Wolf creek toward Butte, MT. Waved to the Lady of the Rockies (90’ tall on to ridge of the Continental Divide) before stopping to see my ol’ Navy Buddy. I had to press on to Pocatello, ID for the night. (410 miles)
Monday 7/31 departed Pocatello, ID, on the road at 730am, the 15s is rather an uneventful ride, (Hwy 93 next time) but needed to make some good time; Traveled thru Salt Lake and arrived in St. George, UT in the late afternoon to have dinner with a retired work buddy. Decided to press on from St. George, UT to Mesquite, NV and then finished off the long day (930pm) in Las Vegas, NV. (603 miles)
Tuesday 8/1 Left Las Vegas at 730am to Baker, CA. where I filled up and grabbed some alien beef jerky. The legendary thermometer approaching 100 degrees, already! The rest of the leg thru the California desert is rather boring except for trying to avoid those impatient drivers - who left all their money in Vegas. “Welcome back to California”, transitioning from the 57s and 60w the Highway patrol greeted me with a ticket “driving on the shoulder”, which in fact the lane had ended and the semi-trailer squeezed me on to the shoulder. 10 miles from the house, damn! (252)
7 days on the road 2700 miles to see some great country, last year was 4300 via CA to Sturgis. It seems we always need a couple extra days for the trip but do not have the time on the books. 2016 SGS has 13,800 still a little light compared to some of you boys. Can’t wait for the next trip!
Wow....sounds like a great trip! I'm ready for one like that but I think I will hit the Canyon Lands in Utah during mid September...
Sounds like you had good ride. Have to add a few roads for you the next time. You need to ride highway 12 from Missoula to Lewiston Id then down 95 down to 55 to Banks (55 takes you through Hells canyon) and over to highway 21 and back over to 75 then up to Challis and 93. That is some wonderful riding and I think 12 is 2 or 3 on the bike riding have to list. Just got back from Sturgis and got lots of riding in while we were there.
TomA,
I was curious about the 12, will take that route next time. Last year coming back from Sturgis I rode thru up the 55 thru Cascade, ID and McCall - paradise! Also 21 and 75 look great, thank you for the advice, did not know that area was that high on the list.
I was curious about the 12, will take that route next time. Last year coming back from Sturgis I rode thru up the 55 thru Cascade, ID and McCall - paradise! Also 21 and 75 look great, thank you for the advice, did not know that area was that high on the list.
To be honest I have never seen the list but have been informed by several people it's on there. You could spend a good week riding those areas and seeing new country. The 12 is fun but make sure you fill up before you head down from Lolo pass or up from Lewiston not a lot of fueling spots along the way. I try and make a trip through that area once a year but sometimes it doesn't work out. We rented a house in McCall in June and spent a week riding around the area with family but the weather wasn't that great with lots of rain and the day we arrived it was snowing.
OCBadger,
It's good to hear that you enjoyed the route. Bummer about the rain, the monsoons hit the Rockies heavy this summer. The front range of Colorado has seemed like Seattle for several weeks now. I wish you'd had a chance to ride along the Snake River in good weather.
A shirt or a pin?? Awesome! You really shouldn't have, but who am I to deny you a chance to express your gratitude!
Seriously, no need to go to that trouble, but I appreciate it just the same. I'm happy to have helped the forum and a forum member in some way. I get a lot out of this forum, but rarely have a chance to give anything back. Everybody here has usually done what I've done, and long before I do it.
Your trip was epic, and included some harsh conditions. Sometimes it's this combination that will burn it into your memory, making the details last. Back in June I got out across southern Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and returned to Colorado for a total of about 2500 miles. The 115 degree temperatures chasing us out of Arizona through Winslow and the Petrified Forest is something I won't forget.
Aviator5456,
I'm in Moab, Utah right now, been here since Sunday. I might post a short blurb with a couple of photos in a separate thread, don't want to hijack this one.
It's good to hear that you enjoyed the route. Bummer about the rain, the monsoons hit the Rockies heavy this summer. The front range of Colorado has seemed like Seattle for several weeks now. I wish you'd had a chance to ride along the Snake River in good weather.
A shirt or a pin?? Awesome! You really shouldn't have, but who am I to deny you a chance to express your gratitude!
Seriously, no need to go to that trouble, but I appreciate it just the same. I'm happy to have helped the forum and a forum member in some way. I get a lot out of this forum, but rarely have a chance to give anything back. Everybody here has usually done what I've done, and long before I do it.
Your trip was epic, and included some harsh conditions. Sometimes it's this combination that will burn it into your memory, making the details last. Back in June I got out across southern Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and returned to Colorado for a total of about 2500 miles. The 115 degree temperatures chasing us out of Arizona through Winslow and the Petrified Forest is something I won't forget.
Aviator5456,
I'm in Moab, Utah right now, been here since Sunday. I might post a short blurb with a couple of photos in a separate thread, don't want to hijack this one.
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