Bear Tooth vs Chief Joseph

[McRuss]

Originally Posted by OrangeYZ

- You're going to Alaska, and not likely you will have time to see anything in YSNP.
Agreed
- You can save yourself the 5 or 10 dollar park entry fee
I have the 'Geezer Card', no charge
- Western BTHwy compared to East BTHwy and Chief Joseph, I would rate it a distant third out of three as far as scenery and motorcycle fun road.
OK
- You'll do a Yellowstone trip eventually, and can take a day to hit all three of those roads twice
I've already done the Yellowstone trip, no need to do it again.

So I will probably take your advice.

[InDenial]

If you're that close, ride them both. You'll regret it if you don't. What's an extra 90 miles?

[FatChance]

Originally Posted by 568V8

Ride the Chief Joseph and then the Beartooth to Redlodge and find a motel. Then in the morning ride the Beartooth back the other direction. That's what I did last June. Riding both directions gives you a better chance of getting good pictures with sun in a different position.

+1

[Dusty Boots]

I agree with most of what Hektoglider said.

Chief Joseph, the Beartooth and the Bighorns are not to be missed and you'll save yourself some coin by not having to pay the entrance fee (and traffic) to Yellowstone by following this route, where you stay a night at a nice little Nat Forest campground near Burgess Junction (Sibley Lake), where there is a good restaurant and gas close by at Burgess Junction. Next day, ride the Medicine Wheel Passage over to Cody and then pick up 276/US 212 to Red Lodge and then take 78 to Columbus, MT where there is a free city campground alongside of the Yellowstone R, just over the bridge, on your right. Then head on up to Great Falls the next day.


Dusty

[Dusty Boots]

Originally Posted by Boondox

Very timely query! On the way to the MOA rally in OR next year I was planning on taking 14A and some back roads to Red Lodge, then the Beartooth into Yellowstone, pass thru the park and exit south of Grand Tetons. On the way back Lolo, then south to the west entrance of Yellowstone and exit to the east along Chief Joseph.

Sounds like I'd hit all the good routes, but the Yellowstone traffic in mid-July has me a little worried. Is it bad all summer? Bad as in bumper to bumper or just slow and no place to pass?

Pete and Barley

There are some great roads from OR to Lolo, namely the road from Baker City OR, up through Hells Canyon Nat Rec Area to Joesph OR and The Rattlesnake, which is along the OR/WA state line, between Enterprise OR and Clarkston, WA, then head south once at Lolo and take the high route to Yellowstone. Traffic in Yellowstone is usually slow/stop n go in spots due to wildlife, unless there is an accident.


Dusty

[Alcan Rider]

Originally Posted by McRuss

In planning my route to D2D for next year, I find that I have to make a choice. The Beartooth has always been on my bucket list but I've heard that Chief Joseph is not to be missed.

Neither is to be missed.

Having just ridden both again four months ago it would be a no-brainer for me if I were riding north from Colorado. In addition to Beartooth and the Chief Joseph, any time I am in that area the Big Horns are a must-do for me. You're going to D2D? I would suggest you follow my exact route in reverse, being that I rode down from Alaska to Denver by way of about the most scenic, most fun (on a bike) route available while sticking to pavement.

Ride north on I-25 to Ranchester, WY, turn west on US14 and follow it over Granite Pass and down Shell Canyon, on across to Cody. Turn north on 120 to where 296 turns off to the left, and follow that. You'll soon be enjoying the twists and turns of the Chief Joseph Hwy. When you get to US212, turn right and climb on up to the top of the Beartooth Plateau, and get ready for a great ride down to Rock Creek at the bottom. You might even feel like going back to the top and doing it again. I have. Then up through Red Lodge to 3rd St/78 and turn left onto that highway. Follow it to Columbus and I-90. There are a variety of routes by which you can get north into Canada, but if I'm in a bit of a hurry I'll usually stick to I-90 and I-15, as there are some really nice passes along the way, with lots of twists and turns, and traffic doesn't bother me as long as it is disappearing in my mirrors.

Again, there are various routes to get there, but your next destination should be the south end of the Icefields Parkway near Lake Louise, Alberta. North on that highway to Jasper, then east almost to Hinton, and the Big Horn Hwy north to Grande Prairie. Time it so you can get from Grande Cache, through Grande Prairie and Dawson Creek, and on north of Fort Nelson in one rapid push, as that whole area has become too industrialized in the past 20 or so years so there is really no reason to tarry. But once north of Fort Nelson you'll be climbing into the Rockies again, starting with Steamboat. From there on you should be able to enjoy the Alcan all the way up to the turn-off onto the North Klondike Hwy just out of Whitehorse. As far as that highway goes... be prepared to find yourself bored after the first few hours. But the destination makes it worthwhile.

[McRuss]

Alcan Rider: pretty much my route from Denver to Cody except that I plan on getting off I25 at Ft Collins and taking 287 through Laramie and on to Casper, 20 to Thermopolis, 120 to Cody (I'll look at 14 again but I really want to get off I25 early.) Then as planned, Chief Joseph and Beartooth, 78, Columbus, etc. Once in Canada I usually stay in Okotoks. This time I'm going to cut over from there and take the Kananaskis Trail to Banff, then the Icelands to Jasper (I have photos of three of my bikes at the overlook, will add one more this time) and cut over and up to Dawson Creek via Grand Prairie. I'll camp at Jasper and make time up to Dawson Cr. Then its the Alcan (boring?) all the way to Watson Lake where I'll cut off on the Campbell and skip Whitehorse (been there, done that.) I like the Provincial campgrounds, not too expensive and nicely maintained.

Wait! I think I can pick up I25 at Casper and take it to I90 and Sheridan, pick up 14 from there to Cody. I'm taking it under consideration....

[eakins]

figure out a loop and do both or ride up CJ to the Beartooth and then to Red Lodge and then back up the Beartooth. Nothing wrong with back tracking for a killer road.

[gumbellion]

I am in the process of planning a trip this summer/fall and got to the point where I was debating on the Chief vs Bears tooth. So now I think I am decided that I will do the chief then turn to red lodge. I am also thinking maybe I will ride them both ways. I will be coming from the east and passing through grey bull after heading through the big horn area. Then heading back east on my way home.
So I have a few questions
1. Should I plan to do both directions of the road in one day, or try and plan to do one direction late on day, then the other direction the next morning
2. Is there gas between cody and Red Lodge (im thinking no) so that will mean getting a couple gallons of fuel on the bike since the best I can figure is 170 miles between the 2
3. If I go Cody->Red Lodge-> Cody do any of you have a route suggestion from cody to I94. This will be where I start my return trip home. And as brutal as it sounds I will be slabbing it back through ND to MN to get home a bit quicker
Thanks


Here is what I am thinking for now. I will probably trailer the bike to Fargo, leave the cage there, and trailer back home. I have ridding all over MN and that way I can get some miles behind me by leaving after work

[GrizGirl]

It sounds like you are trying to cut through Yellowstone to save miles. Keep in mind that even though it might be shorter it will take more time - maybe a lot more time. There is a 45mph speed limit that is strictly enforced in Yellowstone. The reason for that strict speed limit is sight lines are often short and animals are likely to run out in the road at any time. I spend a lot of time in the park and have seen many vehicles (motorcycles included) hit bison, elk, and deer because they were in too much of a hurry. Trust me, you do not want to hit a 2000 pound animal on your bike - you will not walk away from it. If you are going to Yellowstone to enjoy the park great. If you are going through Yellowstone and hoping to make time, find a different road. And yes, summertime traffic can be a nightmare.

The western part of the Bear Tooth from the junction with The Chief Joseph Highway is the least scenic part of the road. Chief Joseph to the Beartooth and down to Red Lodge is amazing!!! Go that way and then figure out your route either to I-90 or back roads to hwy 89. I actually prefer the interstate as it is pretty scenic in that part of the world.

[gumbellion]

I was planning to hit up yellowstone but through reading I think I will aviod it. Being bumper to bumper with vechiles and people isnt my idea of a good time and paying park entry and paying to camp if I so desire. Ide rather burn up a bush road and set the hammock out with a couple beer
Right now my route is right around 3800 km and I am looking at 8 days not counting the frst 400km from Fort Frances to Fargo that I will do after work
So 3500km in 8 days seems like I will have lots of time to explore if i even only aim for 5 hrs in the saddle a day
If the first time I am looking to go dosent work out I will have a stretch of 11 days to burn in august where I would look to expand the ride into yellow stone /utah/idahoe then to billings and home

I originally thought it was 170 miles from cody to red lodge. But its more like 170km. So with that new news from google maps I wouldnt be worried about gas. I can get 180 before the light comes on and will have 1/2 a gallon in MSR bottle just in case

[GrizGirl]

You should be fine for gas. If things get desperate you can get gas at the Top of the World Store on the Beartooth.

http://www.topoftheworldresort.com/tow_store_1.htm

It's fun to take some of the dirt side roads off the Beartooth and park and explore a bit. Red Lodge is a great town as well - good restaurants. It is a great overnight destination!

If you've never been to that part of the world prepare to be amazed. Even after going to the area for a few decades now I always find myself stopping to just take a moment to be in awe.

[red1100cc]

Originally Posted by InDenial

If you're that close, ride them both. You'll regret it if you don't. What's an extra 90 miles?

he's right. ride them both. i do it a couple times a year. best roads in the country as far as im concerned.

[WAH III]

What Ekins said. Do both. I did the backtrack last year. The best part about getting to Red Lodge is that you get to turn around and ride one of the best motorcycle roads in the US AGAIN! Oh, and CJ has tar snakes, once you get used to sliding on them it's sorta fun.

[eakins]

Both!!!
...Beartooth if forced to choose only 1.