oujeep1

If anyone is looking for a tour to do next year, let me HIGHLY recommend this. I just returned, 6 days of cycling with a rest day in the middle. Started in West Yellowstone, ended in Red Lodge Montana. Great rides, great people, well supported. Option of camping with your own tent, using tent sherpa, or hotels. Next years route will be different, not set yet. Don't actually ride in yellowstone but in areas around it. Had a great time, will definitely be back. cyclegreateryellowstone.com. Daily mileage variable, as long as 116 mi and as short as 52. All meals included and food was great. Awesome scenery. Take a look

kaisersling

I actually stumbled upon this ride while I was riding to bridger bowl. The folks running it seemed very nice and I heard mostly good things. One of the volunteer said there were some minor glitches (mechanics were MIA one day) but considering it was the first year it went well. I may time my next MT visit for this ride

oujeep1

Tentatively next years ride is supposed to start and end in Jackson, Wyoming. That would be awesome, one thing I would do differently from what I did this year is fly instead of drive. Took two days going and two days returning to Oklahoma. Seriously thinking about doing it again.

kaisersling

Aside from the smoke, you guy's had really nice weather.

oujeep1

So I thought I would bump this just in case anyone's looking . Its now 7 years later I have done CGY 4 times. I did the start and end in Jackson, very nice tour, mostly in Wyoming, a little Idaho. Then the next year started and ended in Red Lodge, the famous snow on Bear Tooth Pass in August ride. And ended riding 50 miles to red lodge into a cold 20 mph north wind. Skipped two years, then went last summer, started in Cody Wy and ended in Lander Wy, again a wyoming ride.

Currently planning on going this August, starts and ends in Butte, will be totally new scenery. If you are interested it's close to sold out but likely there will be some people wanting to sell their registration

indyfabz

Butte's an interesting town. I've stayed there three times during tours. Some neat, old architecture. Try to walk around the old part of the city. On Mercury Street you will find the building that served as the last house of prostitution. And if you want a good steak go to Cassagranda's.

Just looked at the map. I have done most of that mileage. Some of it more than once. Jackson Hot Springs was nice when I was there in 2014. I know the owner died and it was closed for a while. Hopefully it's still a decent place. Definitely stop at the top of Big Hole Pass and make the short walk out to the interpretive signs. Great view of the valley below. Just too bad there likely won't be any snow left on the peaks in August. The Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway is a neat ride. Grasshopper Valley is pretty and gentle. One you pass the road for Eklhorn Hot Spring you have only about five or six miles of climbing. After you reach the summit and descend for a while towards Wise River you pass through a very pretty alpine meadow section. Big Hole Canyon east from Wise River is nice, but be careful as there is little or no shoulder and you may encounter people towing float boats. The city park/Bike Camp in Twin Bridges is in a nice setting along the Beaverhead River. Note that the actual caverns at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park are a three+ mile climb up from the park office. Grades up to 9%, and there is no shuttle. That was my biggest disappointment during the trip that took me there. I had a hard day getting there from Ennis, and the afternoon winds were so strong there was no way I was going to attempt that climb. That area of MT 2 is pretty. Saw a couple of American White Pelicans fly overhead. Pipestone Pass is not that bad of a climb. There is no pass sign at the top, but you will know you are there when you see the pedestrian crossing signs for a trail that crosses the road. The descent is well engineered, with sweeping curves. Let me know if you have any questions. And definitely bring bug spray. Skeeters in places like Jackson and Wisdom were off the hook. In mid to late June.

Planning to be back on some of your roads in June during a loop from/to Missoula that will include the Pioneer Mountains and Twin Bridges. I take a rough, unpaved shortcut from Melrose (which you will pass through) to Twin Bridges. Defintiely not suited for road bikes.


Took this in 2016 just east of Wise River.

WIshMater

I was always afraid of steep drop-offs immediately off the edges of some roads.

indyfabz

No way was I going to cycle passed those ladies and gents. Pulled over and let them pass.