Another Yellowstone trip question
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Nomad
there is likely more stimulus money going to be spent summer (repairing roads that don't need it yet), so be ready. even if you wear a full face, wear a bandana or something so you aren't choking on dust.
Last edited by faber; Nov 2, 2009 at 09:42 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 326
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From: Salt Lake City, UT
awesome place!!!
If you go to Cody, make sure you go to the Buffalo Bill museum
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Joined: Sep 2009
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If you possibly can, you want to stay just outside the east entrance. I'll try to remember the name of the place and post later, but its SUPER COOL! 3 miles outside of the entrance though, log cabins. Stayed there as a kid and again with my son a few years ago.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 507
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From: 2 miles from the Sun!
We went there this past August. Had rain one day was cool in the am. warm in the afternoon. Check with the parks service on the road closure's it killed us on getting around. The south entrance (to Grand Teton's Jackson was all under construction be carefull) Try to not ride thru the park at night as the buffalo will wander on the road, Honking they are skiddish and have horned bikers, never made it to Cody ,was told you need 2 days to see it all. Yes Jackson is pricey worth the stop! We had a Dyna at the time and trailered up and met the rest of the group and made our base in west yellowstone the people were great and appreciate your bussisness plenty of good room's. Rode north one day to Harley dealership Bozeman up 191 then back on 84 and 287 (rained that day) and it was the best ride of the trip, scenic with good roads ennis is a bit far from the park entrance there is so much to see in the park and we spent 3 days riding aroud. There is camping park and hotel in the Old Faithful area! Have a great time we did.
Russ
Russ
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Nomad
And, yup, I love it!
191, 287, and 89 are three of my favorite roads to ride.
Ennis isn't too far from the Park, by Montana standards, and far fewer meth addicts and illegals working there in the restaurants and hotels.
But, yes, I do love riding the Canyon (US 191). Most Sunday afternoons I ride down to Big Sky and watch football at the Lone Peak Brewery, eating hot wings and drinking some great beer.
Most folks coming to Yellowstone never ride up the Canyon.
If you're ever back this way...PM!
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 507
Likes: 3
From: 2 miles from the Sun!
Thanks Faber I will. Living there you'd know about the problems there. I just thought the the people that I met were nice and really did not get rubbed the wrong way by anyone! Just that staying in Ennis then heading to the park added more travel time for the day!
Russ
Russ
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Nomad
You couldn't pay me to eat anything in West Yellowstone.
I go down there Thanksgiving Week for the ski races--and I go up to Big Sky for dinner (the Half Moon, Choppers, etc.)
Gardiner is the most interesting Park town, IMO. That's where all the scientists, rangers, and Mammoth resort crew live, as well as lots of local characters. West Yellowstone is a town of drifters--national park "carnies." Drugs are a serious problem there (meth), as well as the creeps trading in illegals for cheap backdoor labor. Some kids can get themselves together, move to Bozeman and go to school or something. But most will rotate between Cooke City and West Yellowstone.
To stay closer to the Park than Ennis, I'd recommend Gardiner. Jackson is pretty far south, and Cody is 60+ miles from the Park.
I go down there Thanksgiving Week for the ski races--and I go up to Big Sky for dinner (the Half Moon, Choppers, etc.)
Gardiner is the most interesting Park town, IMO. That's where all the scientists, rangers, and Mammoth resort crew live, as well as lots of local characters. West Yellowstone is a town of drifters--national park "carnies." Drugs are a serious problem there (meth), as well as the creeps trading in illegals for cheap backdoor labor. Some kids can get themselves together, move to Bozeman and go to school or something. But most will rotate between Cooke City and West Yellowstone.
To stay closer to the Park than Ennis, I'd recommend Gardiner. Jackson is pretty far south, and Cody is 60+ miles from the Park.
Stage II
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2
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faber has nailed it IMO - he knows as do I - that Ennis, Virginia City, Gardiner etc are great places to check out - but STAY OUT of West Yellowstone unless you like Knotts Berry Farm full of meth heads and drunk tourists from the world over. You are better off watching a video of the Griswolds in European Vacation from the safety of your home and avoiding tainted restaraunt food and bed bug hotel rooms! BTY - it is a little late in the season for a Yellowstone trip????
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 59
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From: Eastern Washington state
Been to Yellowstone three times now on the bike ('99, '04, and '09) and have either stayed in or passed through Gardiner all three times. Helen's "Home of the hateful burger" rocks. Great burgers, shakes and fries. Don't stay at the Jim Bridger motel unless you're looking for a truly "rustic" place to sleep at. We've had major disappointments and problems every time in West Yellowstone. I agree with the comments above. That town needs some cleaning out. The road closures in the park were a bit of a pain (we went over Labor Day weekend this year) and definitely needed our rain gear at times. Instead of going south out of the park we went west and then south through Idaho up and over Teton Pass into Jackson. Rode through Jackson (horrible traffic jam). Rode noth out of Jackson a few miles to check out the Tetons (photos for the wife's scrapbook). Speaking of road construction, I don't know if it's the luck if the draw or what, but all three times we've been to Yellowstone the road south out of park has been torn up. Has anyone been on that stretch of highway and actually riden on pavement the whole way?
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 471
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From: Salt Lake City, UT
The south entrance road (HWY 89/287) to Jackson was great back in 2007!
I was there this year over July 4th weekend and about 18 miles into the park from the south entrance was dirt and gravel...at least it was dry!
I was there this year over July 4th weekend and about 18 miles into the park from the south entrance was dirt and gravel...at least it was dry!