Advise please- heading to Billings, Mt

[Lone Eagle]

I am going to be heading to Billings Montana for Star Days, leaving July 17th returning July 26th. I am "soliciting" possible routes to get there and head back (I would like to go there one route, come back another route) - planning three days to go there - 3 days to come back. Any ideas? While in Billings, we will ride the Beartooth, and probably hit Yellowstone with the group I am taking back there.

 

Also, what type of weather issues might I run into that week? I have heard conflicting reports - great weather (could get warm) to hail / thundershower activity. I'm .

 

Thanks for any suggestions and advise.

[BJB]

I know this spot is further west and north than you were planning, but if you could make the 'Going to the Sun' highway between Kalispel and St. Marys, Mt it would be a memorable trip. It is in the Glacier Park, part of the Montana, BC, Alberta border area.

[Lone Eagle]

Thanks, BJ - I have heard a lot about that highway - and that it is only open certain times in a year. While I haven't given anything any thought - hence asking for the assistance - that is one ride I might try and incorporate - I'll have to start looking at maps - maybe I might incorporate this on the way to Billings.

[utadventure]

Vic- My son and I went to Billings the first week of July in 2007. We went through West Yellowstone (West Gate), through the Park (stopping at Old Faithful etc) and out through the NE gate. We fueled up in Cooke City, up over Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge and then on to Billings. We hit rain going over Beartooth Pass on the way and stopped at Top of the World for a little bit. We finally decided that riding in the rain was preferable to the mosquito attack we were under.

 

We road Beartooth again on the way back, the weather was great and so was the scenery!!

 

I'm excited to ride it again in September. Most riders I know, stay in West Yellowstone the night before (or in the park, there are camping spots if you are so inclined) and then you can take your time visiting the Park and still get into Billings the next evening.

 

Dave

[Tatonka]

Hi Brother Vic,

 

Hope you have a great ride there.

I came through Billings in September 2008 during my trip from Phoenix (Hoover Dam, LV to Barstow-Majave 395 to Yosemite, Klamath Falls then coast to Washington State and over to Glacier N.P. before heading to WY-SD-CO-KS-OK-AR-TN-KY-IN on to DC). Glacier N.P. and Going to the Sun (I was going east to west) are normally great trips, but there was so much construction going on that it wasn't much fun with the miles of gravel and one lane traffic regulated traffic heading over the pass. According to the workers, this will continue for the next three years.

 

I believe the ride at Star Days will be Bear Tooth pass, so you might want to miss it on the way there.

 

When I was doing my planning for Aug 2005, my shortest route from Foster City was I-80 to Elko, Rt 93 to I-84 into Idaho Falls and then Rt 26 Grand Teton and Jackson before heading into Yellowstone. I stopped in at Old Faithful again too before heading to Billings. I left there heading for Theodore Roosevelt N.P. (North and South units), but you won't be going that way. The distance I had noted was almost 1300 to Billings which should make a nice 3 day trip since you aren't only doing interstates.

 

Unfortunately the above is almost the shortest way coming back for you.

 

Other possibilites coming back could be:

1) Lewis Clark Trail, Crater Lake and Klamath Falls and then back on the I-5. That is a lot of side roads although it is a pretty ride. (I had planned to head east from Crater Lake but there was a fire on the road to Eugene so I had to take Rt 97 to Rt 20 to hit the Oregon coast).

or

2) drop down through Denver on the I-90/I-25 and take the I-70W and then I-15N to Rt 50 and come in over Lake Tahoe. I tried riding the Rt 50 in the evening from Lake Tahoe, but the signs to watch out for bear crossing the road, made me pick a place to sleep for the night. If you stayed on the interstates on this route instead of Rt 50, it's about 1270 miles back to Concord from Billings except you would stay on the I-80 at Cheyenne. If you go that way don't forget to tank up before crossing the Salt Flats (I only pushed 1 1/2 miles to the gas station).

 

Lovely country up there in the Big Sky, but be sure to have enough warm clothes even in summer. I won't even try to tell you about the weather because it can change so quickly depending on the highs out of Oregon and Washington.

 

Ride hard, but ride safe and with God.

[GeorgeS]

I-5 North to Seattle, ( Or U.S. 101 ) Stop at my place for a Beer, Head north for 6 miles, then Turn Right on I-90, enjoy the Scenery till you get there.

 

There are Alternate Sienic Routes parallelling the Interstates All the Way !!!

 

What the Heck, I might just supply a motorcycle Escort from Seattle to Billings. !!

[Tatonka]

I-5 North to Seattle, ( Or U.S. 101 ) Stop at my place for a Beer, Head north for 6 miles, then Turn Right on I-90, enjoy the Scenery till you get there.

 

There are Alternate Sienic Routes parallelling the Interstates All the Way !!!

 

What the Heck, I might just supply a motorcycle Escort from Seattle to Billings. !!

 

I knew I missed somebody up there.

I took such a beating from the wind on Rt 101 from Newport OR and across the bridge from Astoria into Washington, that I decided to skip Olympic National Park and got off on Rt 12 and rode to Yakima and then got on the interstate before heading north from Coeur d'Alene. Had to make a repair stop in Spokane at Westside Motorsports and they got me in and out, as well as treating me royally. Bonners Ferry ID is also a nice place to visit and I can only recommend the Bear Creek Lodge for nice folks, quarters and good food at reasonable prices.

 

I plan to do Canada east to west in the next two years. I would also like to try Alaska in one direction and ferry in the other. My dad was with the Army Corps of Engineers and worked on the Alaskan Highway, so it will be in his memory.

Wanna help me drink the single malt whisky I'll be bringing from Scotland for the purpose?

[Lone Eagle]

Just thought I would bump this back up and see if there were any more great ideas out there????? I am thinking of leaving on Friday the 17th - taking maybe 3 - 4 days to get to Billings - which might allow me a nicer- longer (i.e. alternate routes - heehee) ride getting there. The other question (though hard to predict) was would I run into any wierd weather??? Thanks for the input, thus far, I am going to have over the next couple of weeks looking at maps - yahoo.

[GeorgeS]

Just thought I would bump this back up and see if there were any more great ideas out there????? I am thinking of leaving on Friday the 17th - taking maybe 3 - 4 days to get to Billings - which might allow me a nicer- longer (i.e. alternate routes - heehee) ride getting there. The other question (though hard to predict) was would I run into any wierd weather??? Thanks for the input, thus far, I am going to have over the next couple of weeks looking at maps - yahoo.

 

Weather Late July should be no problem. ( but carry a rain suit ) !!!

 

Another good detour, between Seattle and Spokane, is the road from Moses Lake, Wa. ( dead center of state ) up to the Grand Coulee Dam, if you have never seen that. ( drive thru the canyon cut out by the great flood, about 7,000 year ago, and see the " Dry Falls " ) ( look up on google for explanation )

 

From the Dam, head east to Spokane, on the back roads, about 1/2 day drive. ( or less )

 

Or, from a little south of Seattle, take the roads thru the Mt. Rainier National Park, and then over the Cascades, to Yakima, then on to Spokane.

( No Speeding in the park, Federal Police !! )

 

On the Return trip, you might want to go thru the " Hells Canyon Area " in the N.East corner of Oregon. A very unique place.

( Also, google, Hells Canyon )

[friesman]

I went thru the Klamath Falls , Crater Lake area last summer after I left Venture West Iv and would highly recommend taking a route to get to see it if you havnt already seen Crater Lake. I would however recommend taking a warm jacket and and good rain gear, if you go . Last year it was 35f at the outlook areas and raining but it felt like snow, but at the base of the mountain it was 75 or 80f and sunny, so be prepared it can change in 5 minutes with that altitude change.

 

Have Fun!!!

Brian

[Lone Eagle]

Thanks, Brian - this is going to be fun putting something together. Gonna look at maps over the next couple of weeks and figure out a possible route - heehee.

[BuddyRich]

Hey Vic, Its only a hop,skip and a jump to go thru San Antonio..:rotf:

[Lone Eagle]

You're right, Buddy - it is only couple of inches on the map - :rotf:

[cowpuc]

Something that I have ALWAYS enjoyed about Mountaineering is the weird weather.. "riding west" has always been a yearly tradition in my life and, being a Michigan born biker, I learned early on to never travel without warm clothing. Mountains are as unpredicable as life on the road - take xtra hooded sweatshirts and a good leather jacket..

Something that I learned a long time ago and it has served me really well is that the weird weather in the mountains happens during the afternoons when the desert floor starts to get hot and then it meets up with the cool mountain air (this is my theory and that is ALL it is).. Last year my daughter and rode under a tornado in the makings just south of Rapid City SD during the second week of august - at 3 in the afternoon!!

What I do is mountain ride till noon and then come out of the mountains (if possible) and play in the desert where I can out run bad weather for the rest of the day... Of course, when I travel I usually ride "hardcore" (dont care where I am when I am) so thats easier to do than if you have an agenda...

Regardless, keep an eye on the sky in the afternoon in the mountains!!

Have fun

'puc

[Lone Eagle]

Good advise, Cowpuc, thanks.

[GB373]

Hey Vic

 

I've been looking at maps for a couple weeks too, trying to get the best routes. Should be 3 of us going so maybe we can hook up and make the trip together.

 

Gregg

[Lone Eagle]

That would be cool. I am sort of waiting for the schedule(s) to be posted. Then figure out costs, routes, blah blah. I do have some from our chapter thinking of going - hence the additional "work" figuring this out. Should be fun - and even better time getting there and back. One thing I want to try and do is save ideas for the Cody trip in Sept as well.

[friesman]

If youre looking at saving ideas, DONT save the Going to the sun highway for Sept as it wont be open when you do Cody WY. Do that one if you can for your early run up to Billings, its really worth the trip but the only time you can be sure it will be open is july and August.

 

Brian

[Kregerdoodle]

another good place is Cordilane Id. I didn`t spell that right but you get the Idea, up the Yakama river, then cut across to GNP, take 35 back through Polson Mt. and Flathead lake, then on your way to billings, be careful on hwy93 I think it has a record for most traffic deaths... the summer brings out the crazies in Mt.

 

Good luck and have fun!!

 

 

Kreg

[Condor]

If youre looking at saving ideas, DONT save the Going to the sun highway for Sept as it wont be open when you do Cody WY. Do that one if you can for your early run up to Billings, its really worth the trip but the only time you can be sure it will be open is july and August.

 

Brian

 

I agree with Brian. June..July are the best times to ride through Glacier.