Yellowstone, Etc.

[kballowe]

Took a little trip to Yellowstone National Park.


The weather was nice.  It stormed here and there, but we magically missed most of it.  There was road construction in the park.  Some gravel (sorta), some dirt, and some VERY fresh and slippery oil.  They had big tanker trucks to "water" the dirt, in order to keep down the dust.  That was fun.





These little guys were at many of the overlooks.  Begging snacks.  One climbed right up the wife's boots.





Day one was a ride from Cody 52 miles to the park entrance and a left turn down around Yellowstone Lake enroute to Old Faithful - arriving three minutes before it erupted.



https://youtu.be/uLsB99QLJTI



Continued around "Geyser Basin" and completed the "loop" and headed back to Cody.

[Ncdan]

Nice, I would like to go back sometime. Are y’all on the bike in there?

[kballowe]

Nice, I would like to go back sometime. Are y’all on the bike in there?

Yes.   
 

[Vagrant]

so were we right about the traffic and idiots.

[twowheeladdict]

Nice.  So, which bike did you bring out there?

[vstevens]

Gorgeous landscapes, great photos 

[kballowe]

Nice.  So, which bike did you bring out there?

We took this VStar1300.

[kballowe]

Day two was a ride up Chief Joseph Highway from Cody to the Yellowstone Northeast entrance and a ride around the upper loop.



1st stop was Mammoth Springs.  There wasn't much "springs" that day.





I think these Elk were looking for snacks

https://youtu.be/RkiAp1lfjag

This one must have been in the landscape business - a tree trimmer, I think.

https://youtu.be/g5_7QSSMVV4

Tower Falls

https://youtu.be/NOz5ccvq-38

Firehole Falls

https://youtu.be/qm4dyO0OBzE



There were a LOT of bison





THIS ONE seemed particularly interested in us



Some elk




This one was guarding the restroom

[kballowe]

Day 3 was a ride from Cody to Red Lodge, Montana - up over Beartooth Pass and return via Chief Joseph Highway. 

The day started at 60 degrees and clear skies.  It was 34 degrees and 50 mph wind gusts on top - and then the storm clouds moved in.
It was an interesting ride, and would you believe that we managed to miss all of the more wicked weather ?  Just some light rain, here and there.

[twowheeladdict]

 

[chuck peterson]

 :bike-037:d

Fantastic! Dream ride for me trapped on the east coast! Thanks!

[kballowe]

Next day was a ride along the Big Horn Mountain Scenic Byway (highly recommend this) and then a visit to Devil's Tower and then straight east to Wall, SD for lodging.

An early rise the next day and a loop thru the Badlands, then west to Sturgis and lunch.

After that, we rode Iron Mountain road to Custer State Park, looping around and up on Needles Highway and then back to the hotel in Wall, South Dakota.


I must say that we had good service and good food in all of the restaurants.


We don't normally vacation during this peak vacation time and were surprised to discover that traffic was decent and most everyone was courteous and friendly. We rose very early and took much patience with us.


Riding a motorcycle thru Yellowstone worked out well for us - with but a single incident where a lone bison bull took an "interest" in us.

[twowheeladdict]

:bike-037:d

Fantastic! Dream ride for me trapped on the east coast! Thanks!

We are only trapped by the cages we create.

[bobrebos]

Looks like a great trip!!!   

[tris]

THIS ONE seemed particularly interested in us

My wife has a burning desire to see Bison (preferably in the winter) after watching the Yellowstone natural history program by the BBC a year or 2 back

I know we can't do winter but what are the best dates, etc. for visiting Yellowstone and seeing Bison?

Cheers

Tris

PS - cool pics KB

[Ncdan]

My wife has a burning desire to see Bison (preferably in the winter) after watching the Yellowstone natural history program by the BBC a year or 2 back

I know we can't do winter but what are the best dates, etc. for visiting Yellowstone and seeing Bison?

Cheers

Tris

PS - cool pics KB

When we went a couple years ago we were told that the only month there is no snowfall is in August. We went in middle June and saw snow which stuck to the grass.

[twowheeladdict]

My wife has a burning desire to see Bison (preferably in the winter) after watching the Yellowstone natural history program by the BBC a year or 2 back

I know we can't do winter but what are the best dates, etc. for visiting Yellowstone and seeing Bison?

Cheers

Tris

PS - cool pics KB

I saw more at Custer State Park than at Yellostone. I was at Custer in June and there were young bison with the herd so it made it sketchy on the bike. Yellowstone on the 4th of July.

[rocker59]

My wife has a burning desire to see Bison (preferably in the winter) after watching the Yellowstone natural history program by the BBC a year or 2 back

I know we can't do winter but what are the best dates, etc. for visiting Yellowstone and seeing Bison?

Cheers

Tris

PS - cool pics KB

Sure, you can do winter.  One of the lodges at Old Faithful stays open year 'round.  You go in the north entrance and ride a snow cat to the lodge.

Otherwise, I'd recommend mid-May or Mid-September.  Fewer people to deal with.

The bison are everywhere, but when it's cool, they seem to gravitate towards the geyser basins where it stays warm.

[rocker59]

Pretty cool idea, basing in Cody and riding 200-300 mile days into and around the park.

Curious, though, why you didn't stay in the park?  When we were there, we stayed at Old Faithful.  It was pretty fun.

[Lannis]

Sure, you can do winter.  One of the lodges at Old Faithful stays open year 'round.  You go in the north entrance and ride a snow cat to the lodge.

Otherwise, I'd recommend mid-May or Mid-September.  Fewer people to deal with.

Fay and I rode into Yellowstone on 25 - 27 of September last year as part of our tour of the country.

September, middle of the week, schools in ... and Yellowstone was packed out, into the overflow lots.   No motel rooms in West Yellowstone, lines waiting to get into Old Faithful and Crystal Springs, the walkways jammed with people.     

And not a word of English spoken anywhere.   All Asian tourists, 60 or so to a bus and hundreds of buses, and Europeans in rental campers and vans.   Apparently the world waits until the USA summer rush is over, and then shows up to see the natural wonders.

If I ever go again, it'll be the marginal weather in October or so and take a chance that I can get over the passes.   I've had all I want of surging, pushy crowds.

Lannis

[rocker59]

Fay and I rode into Yellowstone on 25 - 27 of September last year as part of our tour of the country.

September, middle of the week, schools in ... and Yellowstone was packed out, into the overflow lots.   No motel rooms in West Yellowstone, lines waiting to get into Old Faithful and Crystal Springs, the walkways jammed with people.     

And not a word of English spoken anywhere.   All Asian tourists, 60 or so to a bus and hundreds of buses, and Europeans in rental campers and vans.   Apparently the world waits until the USA summer rush is over, and then shows up to see the natural wonders.

If I ever go again, it'll be the marginal weather in October or so and take a chance that I can get over the passes.   I've had all I want of surging, pushy crowds.

Lannis

Interesting.  I've only been there in May.  Week before Memorial Day weekend.  Crowds were thin. 

Yellowstone Lake was still iced over and the park was not fully open, which suited me just fine.

I'll heed your advise, though, and if I ever decide to go late in the year, will make it late September into early October.

[kballowe]

I saw more at Custer State Park than at Yellostone. I was at Custer in June and there were young bison with the herd so it made it sketchy on the bike. Yellowstone on the 4th of July.

We ran the "Wildlife loop" south and up around Custer State Park and didn't even see a squirrel.   

Pretty cool idea, basing in Cody and riding 200-300 mile days into and around the park.

Curious, though, why you didn't stay in the park?  When we were there, we stayed at Old Faithful.  It was pretty fun.

We stayed in Cody because of all of the "amenities" and because my son got us free rooms at the Holiday Inn.   
It's approx 50 miles from Cody to the park gate, and that stretch of road is quite scenic.

And not a word of English spoken anywhere.   All Asian tourists, 60 or so to a bus and hundreds of buses, and Europeans in rental campers and vans.   

We discovered that many of the "notices" were written in English, and in what appeared to be Chinese.  Even the trash cans.  Odd - as I'm very accustomed to seeing English/Spanish.
And yes, there were very many Asian tourists, especially at "old Faithful" that came in on large tour buses.

[tommy2cyl]

Exactly our experience.  Used to be September was perfect, kids back in school.  Summer rush over.  Nope, not anymore.  Visited Monument Valley then onto Page, AZ.  Arrived in town around 4:00 on a week day and thought with 30 plus hotels in town, shouldn't be a problem.  After trying about 7 hotels and all sold out, we talked to the owner of an older nice place on the little side street in town.  He said Sept. is no longer down time, hasn't been that way for quite awhile.  He said he was booked a year and advance and helped us secure a room in a B&B and we were lucky to get that.  A little confusing when you look at the parking lots at 5:00 and they are maybe a third full of cars.  Then around 6:30 the tour busses start rolling in and hundreds scurry to their rooms. 

[twowheeladdict]

Pretty cool idea, basing in Cody and riding 200-300 mile days into and around the park.

Curious, though, why you didn't stay in the park?  When we were there, we stayed at Old Faithful.  It was pretty fun.

When I went through that area in '12 I was mostly camping.  Stayed in Sheridan and explored the roads through Big Horn National Forest.

Then rode over to Cody and up to Red Lodge where we went up Beartooth to the state line and came back down and camped in Red Lodge.

Then we rode back over Beartooth pass into the North entrance of Yellowstone toured around and then went out to West Yellowstone to camp.

Then came back in Yellowstone on the 4th of July and toured around some more and watched Old Faithful erupt in a 4th of July celebration.  Then rode out the south entrance to the Grand Tetons.

The park campsites were all first come, first serve and the ranger said unlikely so we didn't try. 

[twowheeladdict]

Custer State Park...

[Ncdan]

Custer State Park...

We went in the first week of June a few years ago. Not crowded at all, beautiful weather including a nice snowfall. We saw two Grizz’s two black bears, elk, two wolves crossing a bottom and hundreds of big Wooley’s and two BIG moose’s Id love to go back someday.

[Motormike]

It's been about 18 years since my last trip through Yellowstone.  I'm sure the crowds (especially the foreign tourists) have gotten a lot worse in that time.  I went several times, and always liked mid-to-late May the best.  Although it can get cold, especially at night due to the elevation.  The spring snow melt means all the Yellowstone waterfalls are at their raging best! By Aug. or September, not so much.

[oldbike54]

 Keep it up folks , thanks .

 Dusty

[nick949]

Wow - great pictures and a great trip. 

Yellowstone and environs looks like quite a place.

Nick

[Sheepdog]

My wife has a burning desire to see Bison (preferably in the winter) after watching the Yellowstone natural history program by the BBC a year or 2 back

I know we can't do winter but what are the best dates, etc. for visiting Yellowstone and seeing Bison?

All of the US National Parks are crowded during the summer months as children are out of school, but it's tolerably free of long queues in September. The weather is a bit cool, but the wildlife is active and the views are spectacular. That is the best time to do a self-guided tour of the park. I believe that there are sleigh and bus tours available in the winter, but I would allow for a wait to get a reservation. The link below offers an example of what is available:

https://www.yellowstonevacations.com/tours-activities/winter-activities

You will see Plains Buffalo any time you visit the park. There are large herds. I had the pleasure of seeing the entire mob cross the Yellowstone River to their nighttime range. Don't miss the many waterfalls. I understand they look amazing in winter. Also allow some time to visit the Grand Teton Park. It is close to Yellowstone. There is good lodging in Jackson, Wyoming with nice restaurants, taprooms, and attractions.