Beartooth highway

[Go_Green]

Anyone ever ridden this stretch of road? Looks pretty amazing, we hope to add it to our Yellowstone trip this summer. Is there a "best" time of the day to travel it? Looks like slow going, regardless.

[Smiley]

I have ridden the Pass, from east to west. I don't know what day of the week it was, but it was not on a weekend. There are many pull-off lookout sites so you can utilize them to find a break in traffic. Yellowstone is worse for traffic. The views really are worth stopping for and of course you will want the photo of your bike at the top with snow banks at the side of road. Another thing to explore is the alpine meadows above the tree line. I was there in July and the flower show was good.

I remember stopping on the way up and removing my earplugs just to hear the sound of 4 cylinders at full howl. I think it was mostly 3rd gear and 6500 rpm and up. Carbureted bikes lose power at altitude so they need to rev. That was my excuse anyway! Sure was fun.

A buddy of mine was there 4 days ago, here's a shot he sent me, I have lots more of my own plus the ones he sent, if you need more.

[Go_Green]

Thanks Smiley, good to remember about weekends. Sometimes when we are traveling I can forget what day of the week it is! Awesome photo, BTW.

[Go_Green]

Well, I just rode it yesterday, it was spectacular! We did it east to west, and stayed in Cooke City, what a quaint little place. They really like their quads here! I will post some pics when we get home, for now we have lots of roads ahead of us yet.
Stay tuned.

[Black Lightning]

Well, I just rode it yesterday, it was spectacular! We did it east to west, and stayed in Cooke City, what a quaint little place. They really like their quads here! I will post some pics when we get home, for now we have lots of roads ahead of us yet.

I can recomend Tensleep canyon. Cody Wyoming has, or used to have at least, a mini rodeo every night of the week but Sunday through the summer.

[Smiley]

BL, funny that you mentioned Tensleep, I had the best breakfast burrito ever there. So good and so much that I couldn't eat again until late afternoon!

[Black Lightning]

BL, funny that you mentioned Tensleep, I had the best breakfast burrito ever there. So good and so much that I couldn't eat again until late afternoon!

It's been over 30 years since I was through that part of Wyoming/Montana but I do remember the roads.

Food perveyors in the US are very generous. Back when I was younger I could eat all the stuff they gave out. Now of course, I have to be more careful. sometimes it sucks getting old. The alternative however, sucks even more.

[Go_Green]

Yee haw we're now in Cody, Wyoming. We were going to go further but decided it looks like a neat place and this is what holidays are about. The Chief Joseph highway was awesome, except for all the tar snakes on the final stretch. They even warn you that the road is slippery. Yup it is. Ten Sleep is already in the plan...

[Smiley]

Go Green, if you are so inclined, the Snake River Pale Ale is a fair local brew. Dubois (pronounced DewBoys) is an interesting cowboy redneck town, avoid Jackson Hole, it's a $$$ tourist trap. BL was right about the road from Buffalo to Ten Sleep, you won't be disappointed. Enjoy!

[Black Lightning]

Go Green, just for historical purposes check out the Irma Hotel. It was Buffalo Bill's own. The food wasn't bad either as I remember it. Also, check out the Winchester museum. it is predominantly firearms but there is some neat historical stuff too.

[Go_Green]

Thanks Smiley and Black Lightening, for the tips for Cody, we followed your suggestions, except went to the museum with all the Buffalo Bill displays and information, enjoyed that.

Now we're in Frisco, Colorado and just rode Independance pass, wow, that was a great ride, even the interstate was good, through the canyon.

Next goal is Durango...

[Smiley]

#92 through Gunnison Nt. Forest, #160 Molas Divide Pass, also Cordova Pass excellent.

[Black Lightning]

If you are going south from Durango Taos Pueblo is worth a stop. If you go over to the 4 corners then Mesa Verde is neat too. I spent a whole day walking through the cliff houses. If you do Mesa Verde the campbrpound there is nicer than the KOA in Cortez. Also, the Galloping Goose cafe (or restaurant, I never remember which it is), in Montrose, Colorado is quite famous among travelling "bikers".

[slomoshun]

If you go over to the 4 corners then Mesa Verde is neat too.

These recent posts from Black Lightning, Smiley and Go Green have me thinking back to a trip I took to the US Southwest a few years ago and I must say that the ride was one of the best i've ever had. I rode through the Michigan UP then south through Wisconsin before beelining it west on I80 to Colorado and into the mountains. Over the next couple of days I enjoyed one pass after another was really lothe to head south and into Arizona. One thing about the mountain passes I should mention is that even though it was in early july there was lots of sand left on the road, especially where there were passing lanes, and there was still some snow in the high ground.
No snow in Arizona just triple digit heat.
I went to the Four Corners but apart from watching people playing twister while getting a photo of themselves touching four states at once there is not a lot to see. Mesa Verde, on the other hand is a must see but I must admit that I got there too late in the evening to take the tour. One benefit of being late was that I got some nice pics of the site when it was empty of tourists and I had the road back down through the park all to myself. By the way the road through the park is quite something.
Next must see has to be Monument Valley and, of course the Grand Canyon.
slo.

[Black Lightning]

I enjoyed one pass after another was really lothe to head south and into Arizona.

One must-do road in Arizona has to be highway 191 between Alpine Az and Morenci Az. They tell you right in Alpine that if your vehicle or combination exceeds 40 feet you cannot make some of the corners. They mean it too. There is one stretch that is 11 miles of 10 mile per hour corners. (It didn't take me an hour to do it but they weren't kidding if you had happened to be in a cage). Parts of Arizona are indeed like Saskatchewan with cactus but there are some really neat roads too.

[Go_Green]

Thanks guys for all the extra info. We are not going south from Durango, as it's time to start heading back. However, we are in Durango for a few days, tomorrow we will see Mesa Verde and four corners, the next day will be a non-riding day, as we are boarding the train to Silverton. And then, the Million Dollar Highway as we start for home. Hope my expectations aren't too high after all these passes in Colorado!