Spring Fever....."are we there yet?"

[creole]

So this weather thing is driving me nuts.....No rain, sleet, snow, etc. By looking out the window here in NW Oklahoma, it looks like it should be 75 Degrees. The ground color and leafless trees aren't even a giveaway, because in this drought everything is the same dull brown color year round anyway.

However, the real temp is about 35-65 Degrees with a knife sharp breeze it feels like about 15, but with the occasional day thrown when it really is nice enough to go for a ride on the bike.

I guess the point of all this is that we, and a small group of friends are planning a ride through the Tetons and Yellowstone sometime around June. We're not sure what the loop is going to look like, but we might hit KS, NB, SD, WY, ID, UT, CO and NM (did I get those right?)all in the same trip. Besides the usual well known things like the badlands, devils tower, Mt Rushmore.... I'm looking for things of interest that maybe you couldn't find with a google search of "attractions in ______".

It seems the more planning I do for this trip, the longer Winter is taking......

All thoughts appreciated as always.

 

Creloe

[meach]

It's fun planning a long trip like that. Did a big circle a few years ago on my VTX in late July thru the west and back to GA. Did most of the big tourist things. Part of our route was to hit the highest point in each state and then some other things we wanted to do/see along the way. Traffic at times was a drag due to a lot of stimulus money into road construction for example it seems most of our time it seems in Yellowstone was sitting in traffic. If you are going over Independence Pass (we ate lunch in Leadville, CO which is highest city in US on the way to IP) into Aspen a nice little break is to stop at the John Denver Sanctuary which is right in town next to a art museum where you can also park.

[creole]

Thanks Meach. I had some points in Colorado picked to see, such as Pikes peak and the Royal Gorge. I didn't know anything about Leadville or the John Denver museum. I'll throw them on the list for the group to consider. I had heard the touristy traffic could be a drag in Yellowstone if you went at the wrong time, I just don't know what the right time is (probably prime riding time).

[meach]

.... the John Denver museum.....

 

Just to clarify, the JD Sanctuary is not a museum, its an outdoor area (you can google and read/see it) along a creek/river. It's just near a city art museum. We were going thru Aspen anyway. Yea some of the sites depend on your route and if its worth it to go out of your way. We did the Pikes Peak thing since it was on our route which wasn't that much fun. We had nice weather but road construction at the time near top had traffic a mess (now paved all the way to top). Hope to take RSV with wife along sometime soon on a western road trip, probably more toward Idaho (visit family) and Montana seeing other states along the way for her sake, I've been to CO several times (used to live in KS many years ago). Out west it seems to be either feast or famine. Beautiful in/near mountains and desolate everywhere in between, nothing like riding for hours across some of the high deserts of WY with strong crosswinds and nothing but sage brush as far as the eye can see. You realize pretty quick where the Wind River got its name.

[OB-1]

Early June can be cool and snowy in the mountains of WY & MT.

 

As far as places to see on your general route, here's a few suggestions:

1. The Needles Highway through Custer State Park. It's near Rushmore.

2. Iron Mountain Road, also near Rushmore.

3. Spearfish Canyon.

4. Bear Tooth Pass, Northeast of Yellowstone. It's worth riding in both directions.

5. Glacier National Park and Going To The Sun Road if you're going that far north.

6. Salmon ID.

7. Almost any part of US 93, US95, & US 12 in ID.

[CaptainJoe]

Three of us are heading to Seattle WA. from WV in june also, then head south following the mountains to texas then back home ... going to be a three to four week trip.

 

will do sturgis the black hills etc so on and so fourth..

 

Keep the suggestions coming...

 

[playboy]

Pike peak is one of those things just to mark off your bucket list we drove up there in Sept. last year $10 bucks a head I think just to drive and a lot of Lance Armstrong wanna be's . sry couldn't help it.

 

Aspen, Durango, Siverton, Mesa Verde, all beautiful Million Dollar Hwy.

 

If you go through 4 corners Mesa Verde but would be a good ride and very interesting.

 

Rocky Mtn.National park is Great for riding and sight seeing.

 

There is a neat Castle kinda in the south east corner of CO. cant remember the name just Google castles in CO. and it is free and worth a look.

[creole]

Thanks everyone....great suggestions!

[OB-1]

Three of us are heading to Seattle WA. from WV in june also, then head south following the mountains to texas then back home ... going to be a three to four week trip.

 

will do sturgis the black hills etc so on and so fourth..

 

Keep the suggestions coming...

 

 

IMHO, if you want to see and ride the Black Hills come before or after the Rally. Rally time is party time and there's simply too many other bikes and traffic to enjoy riding the Black Hills. If you want the vendors, bikes, and party time, then be here for the Rally. You just can't enjoy the Black Hills with all the traffic.

[Howard B]

Sounds like a great trip. Slow down a bit in the tetons, its a great place to visit. I and my 88 vr will be there for the summer at Colter Bay. I work for the NPS summers only. Be sure you take the Teton Park Roadway as it is a great bike road, not real long but great twistys. Be sure to keep your eyes open, to power through a curve with a hand full of throttle only to find a large bear standing in front of you was not on my bucket list! Deer seem to ignore traffic, Elk will spook and, more times than not, jump right in your way, Bison dont pay any mind to anyone. They just do their own thing, including walking right out into traffic. The worst animal of course is the tourist!!! Days will be cool but rideable, nights will be around freezing. Some people when on vacation dont have room left in their luggage for their brains. If you are there at the right time of year you can see the great migration of Harley Davidsons going to their summer party grounds in Sturgis. So come on up, its a wonderful place to spend a few days and enjoy some sightseeing.

[Phoneman1981]

Hello: That trip sounds like fun. If you would happen to travel into Western Nebraska, we are only 4 hours south of the black hills. Might be able to help with lodging? I also have connections for lodging in Custer SD or Sturgis. Keep us posted.