Touring - TransAmerica Trail MO-Yellowstone. Start now?

I've been putting this trip off for two weeks. I had some things I was still waiting on... plus the 100+ degree heat was not very inviting.

My plan is to start in Springfield Missouri and ride to Yellowstone National Park... spend a week there and come back the same way. I knew I was going to have to deal with big temp. changes, but now that I have waited an extra few weeks it has got a little more serious.

I know the Rockies are already seeing temps. as low as 35 degrees, while Kansas hit 106 today. I was really hoping the temps. in KS. would drop, but it doesn't look like they will...... not to mention the fact that I understand some of the passes in CO. close in Sept./Oct.

So, did I wait too long? Would you go ahead and do it or change things up a little?

One can safely bike tour in Yellowstone until late Sept. You may need to wait a day or two in Jackson if there's a cold snap before heading up into Yellowstone, but the Tetons are fabulous and easily can keep you occupied. You could actually wait until mid-August - even late August - if it would take you 3 weeks to bike to Yellowstone. By the way, 34 is the low and takes place while you are snuggled in your tent. The daytime highs are in the 60s or low 70s - perfect cycling weather.

As for your return, I'd like to suggest heading due east from Yellowstone thru the Bighorns and Devil's Tower - then the Black Hills in South Dakota - then take Hwy 2 across most of Nebraska and Hwy 99 thru the beautiful Flint Hills in Kansas. If you delay the trip until mid/late August the return portion will be incredible. Feel free to ask me questions - I live in Wyoming and know nearly every inch of road.

That's nice to hear. Your idea about heading East sounds like it would be nice. Do you have a few more details about which roads to take? I've spent 5 months planning this trip and a change right now would be pretty big. Any detailed information you could give me would be awesome!

Sometimes I really hate this website -
I've spent an hour with a detailed route and it lost it!!!
I'll get back soon.

Indeed. They seriously need new servers...

I really appreciate your help man. I need it. lol

For starters - -

Here are some traffic volume maps -

Wyoming:
http://www.dot.state.wy.us/Default.jsp?sCode=hwyta
(This site really sucks - I have a data file I can e-mail you - generally, Wyo traffic is low.)
South Dakota:
http://www.sddot.com/pe/data/Docs/trafficmaps/Traffic2005.pdf
Nebraska:
http://www.dor.state.ne.us/maps/Statewide%20Traffic%20Flow%20Maps/2004%20Statewide%20Traffic%20Flow%20Map.pdf
Kansas:
http://www.ksdot.org/burTransPlan/maps/mapstrafficdist.asp
(Kansas has a state traffic map - plus local area maps.)
Missouri:
http://www.modot.org/safety/trafficvolumemaps.htm
(Missouri has a state traffic map - plus local area maps.)

Also, I have a traffic map for Colorado at Crazyguy - click to enlarge -
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/resources/?o=lt&resource_id=846&v=n&term=colorado%20traffic&context=all

You'll notice that there aren't many low traffic volume roads left in Colorado. Anything tan or higher is tricky. If you ride after Labor Day, the traffic is much less. Be especially careful on Hwy 9 around Silverthorne and Breckinridge.

Part 1
From Yellowstone Northeast Entrance –

MT:
US 212 East to WY border – 9 mi

WY:
US 212 East to WY 296 – 9 mi
WY 296 East to WY 120 – 46 mi
WY 129 South to Cody – 17 mi
(Or you can take US 14/16 from Yellowstone East Entrance)
US 14/16 East to Emblem – 34 mi
WY 30 East to Basin – 24 mi
US 16/20 East to Manderson – 11 mi
(Back road available)
WY 31 East to Nowood Rd – 12 mi
Nowood Rd to Ten Sleep – 19 mi
US 16 to East Buffalo – 67 mi
US 16 to East Ucross – 18 mi
US 14/16 East to Gillette – 80 mi
(Don’t take I-90 – it’s ugly.)
Old 14/16 to Moorcroft – 27 mi
US 14 East to Devil’s Tower Jct – 27
WY 24 East to SD border – 48 mi

SD:
SD 34 East to Belle Fourche – 10 mi
US 85 South to Jolly Dump – 4 mi
(Watch for turnoff at bottom of hill by canal.)
Old Belle Fourche Highway to Spearfish – 6 mi
Hillsview Dr/Utah Blvd East – 1 mi
Spearfish Trail to Campground – 2 mi
Campground Rd to US 14A – 1 mi
US 14A South to Cheyenne Xing – 20 mi
(Beautiful canyon – all the traffic is over in Deadwood.)
US 85 North to Sugarloaf – 7 mi
Mickelson Trail South to Hill City – 43 mi
(One of the most incredible rail trails in the country.)
Mickelson Trail South – 2 ½ mi
SD 87 South to Custer Park – 20 mi
US 16A East to East Entrance – 8 mi
SD 36 East to SD 79 – 9 mi
SD 79 North to Hermosa – 1 mi
SD 40 East to Red Shirt – 25 mi est.
IR 41 South to Oglala – 34 mi est.
(Don’t camp in Pine Ridge Res. – motel in town.)
US 18 East to Pine Ridge – 15 mi
SD 407 South to NE border – 2 mi

Hey John, you just described my route from Yellowstone to Spearfish Canyon.... I second that recommendation, it was fantastic.

If you stop at the Devil's Tower, as the gate guard for how to get to Frank's / Devil's Tower Lodge. Frank will let you camp on the lawn for a donation. He's a good person. Feel the power of the tower.

Cheers,
Anna

One can safely bike tour in Yellowstone until late Sept. You may need to wait a day or two in Jackson if there's a cold snap before heading up into Yellowstone, but the Tetons are fabulous and easily can keep you occupied. You could actually wait until mid-August - even late August - if it would take you 3 weeks to bike to Yellowstone. By the way, 34 is the low and takes place while you are snuggled in your tent. The daytime highs are in the 60s or low 70s - perfect cycling weather.

As for your return, I'd like to suggest heading due east from Yellowstone thru the Bighorns and Devil's Tower - then the Black Hills in South Dakota - then take Hwy 2 across most of Nebraska and Hwy 99 thru the beautiful Flint Hills in Kansas. If you delay the trip until mid/late August the return portion will be incredible. Feel free to ask me questions - I live in Wyoming and know nearly every inch of road.

I've never ridden it but spent time in the region during grad school....what a fabulous part of the world! I've always wanted to mtn bike tour on the FS roads around the Henry's Fork and Teton areas. Devil's Tower, Bighorns, YNP and Tetons...the Tetons are probably still #1 on my list of mtn horizons, right up there with Mt Rainier.

Sigh.

subigo---if you don't go, we will have to beat you up*!



*Not literally. I wouldn't hesitate to harrass you verbally if you don't do this trip, though.

Part 2
Nebraska and Kansas to Fort Scott

NE:

NE 87 South to Rushville – 21 mi
US 20 East – 1 mi
NE 250 South to Lakeside – 49 mi
(Empty and lovely road thru the Sandhills.)
NE 2 East to Hyannis – 38 mi
NE 61 South to Arthur – 32 mi
(You can ask to camp in any of these little towns.)
NE 92 East to Stapleton – 64 mi
US 83 South – 4 mi
NE 92 East to Arnold – 18 mi
Loup River Road to Callaway – 24 mi est.
NE 40 East almost to Sumner – 30 mi
(Or you can continue on into Kearney and Minden – busy)
CR 444 South to Overton – 15 mi
L248 South across Platte River – 5 mi
CR 748 East – 1 ½ mi
CR “G” South to Loomis – 13 mi
NE 23 East to Holdrege – 7 mi
US 6 East – 1 ½ mi
E 4th Ave – 1 mi
Polyline Rd to Wilcox – 10 mi
NE 44 South – 5 mi
NE 4 East to US 281 – 34 mi
US 281 South to Red Cloud – 14 mi
US 136 East to Guide Rock – 10 mi
NE 78 South to KS border – 6 mi

KS:

KS 128 South – 16 mi
US 36 East to Mankato – 7 mi
KS 14 South to Jewell – 8 mi
KS 28 East – 6 mi
KS 148 East past Agenda – 37 mi
CR 654 to Clifton – 10 mi
KS 9 East – 1 mi
CR 1335 to Morganville – 9 mi
KS 80 East – 4 mi
KS 15 South to Clay Center – 7 mi
CR 130 Southeast – 5 mi
CR 124 to Wakefield – 8 mi
CR 124 South to County Line – 7 mi
CR 124 South to Upland – 3 mi
CR 200 East to County Line – 5 mi
CR 200 / KS 244 East – 5 mi
KS 57 South to Junction City – 3 mi
Adams St South – 1 mi
8th Ave East – 1 mi
East St South – 2 blocks
US 40 Bus East – 1 ½ mi – Very Busy
KS 57 South to Dwight – 20 mi
KS 4 East – 5 mi
KS 177 North to Alta Vista – 1 mi
KS 4 East to Eskridge – 22 mi
KS 99 South – 23 mi
KS 170 East – 13 mi
Hoch Rd / KS 131 South to Lebo – 8 mi
Old US 50 East to Waverly – 14 mi
KS 31 East to Garnett – 25 mi
Park Rd East – ½ mi
Prairie Spirit Rail Trail South – 4 mi
NW 1450, NW Morris, & NW 1400 Rds – 1 ¼ mi
(Or you can take US 59 but very busy.)
CR 13 East to Bush City – 6 ½ mi
CR 14 South – 10 ½ mi
KS 31 East to Blue Mound – 4 mi
CR 1481 East – 9 mi
KS 31 East thru Mapleton – 6 mi
KS 7 South past US 54 – 15 mi
Old US 54 East to Fort Scott – 4 mi

If you have questions about getting to/from Fort Scott ask me - - there are traffic volume maps for Missouri county roads on the website above.

General Info (Not to be confused with General Patton)

Still using the Specialized?
I've been touring for 20 years and have seen everything out there. I've seen people crossing the country on 3-speeds. So you can do it with most bikes as long as yours is in good repair. Get a better back wheel since it carries most of the weight - - and keep your luggage to a minimum.

As for the route - wind directions make a counter-clockwise route more likely to have tailwinds and fewer headwinds. There are, however, no guarantees when it comes to wind. Still - cycling west on the Trans Am from Springfield you will likely have bad headwinds in Kansas, eastern Colorado, and definitely Wyoming. Also winds in the Plains tend to be southerly in summer/early fall so coming back via Nebraska will put you against the wind there, too. But if you head northwest thru the Black Hills and return on the Trans Am you should have better winds.

As for temps - remember that the 34 low is just that. You will be burrowed in your sleeping bag and toasty warm. Daytime temps in the high country in late summer are in the 60s and 70s - perfect cycling weather. If you hit an early cold snap or storm, just wait it out at lower elevations. Jackson Hole is 2000 feet lower than Yellowstone - and you'll have plenty to do if you need to wait a day or two. Same goes for Cody and the Wapiti Valley. If you have an itinerary, use it only as a guide. Nothing is worse than having a straight-jacket schedule on a tour. Almost everyone who posts will agree that the best plans change early and often. Planning is essential - but only in terms of broad parameters. Let the little stuff happen on its own and you will enjoy your trip far more.

Best - J

Jamawani: You are the greatest poster in the history of the Bike Forums. This is probably the most help I have ever had here.

Oh I will be going, no question about that. I leave Tuesday.

I'll be using a Windsor Tourist (Fuji Touring) with Lone Peak panniers. I just finished putting them on the scale and it comes to 30.4 lbs. without food.

I have had so many people tell me how awesome this route is... I can't wait!

Be good, eat a lot of cookies, and post some great photos at Crazyguy when you get back!