This
is by far one of our favorite routes in the local vicinity. This tour
encompasses some of our nation’s
most diverse and spectacular landscapes, combined with the thrill
of experiencing it on a motorcycle.
This ride travels through the Madison River
Valley into the Gallatin Canyon, south to
Teton National Park, winding through the world’s largest active caldera, Yellowstone
National Park. The final leg of the tour crosses one of the most spectacular
highways in the lower 48.
These roads lead you through twisting ribbons of scenic highways, along
river bottoms and over the continental divide three times. This
route is challenging and visually exciting for the motor sport enthusiast
with many historical stops. Riders on this trip will experience the
dramatic Teton Mountain Range, and Jenny and Jackson Lakes, both over-shadowed
by glaciers that
are
hundreds of years old.
The rural two-lane roads will entertain the rider with the s turns and switchbacks. In the early morning and late dusk, riders will
often see deer, coyotes, bear and large herds of elk.
The resort town of Jackson Hole will entice riders with choices
of art galleries, shopping, tram rides or a relaxing drift boat ride
and picnic down the Snake River. This ride then meanders north into Yellowstone
National
Park, the nation’s oldest park created
in 1872. The historic Yellowstone Lake Hotel, built
on the edge of the park’s
largest body of water is a wonderful place to stay. Yellowstone Lake
is up to 20 miles long and sits on a plateau 8,000 feet above
sea level.
You can explore the historic Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful geyser, the
Upper Geyser basin, and other local thermal features in the park. From
the saddle of your motorcycle you will ride past, and sometimes through,
herds of American buffalo in the
Hayden Valley, and north to the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
River.
On the final leg of this ride through Yellowstone Park, riders cross
Gibbons Geyser Basin into Mammoth Hot Springs, renown for it’s
geologically enormous terrace formations. This trip takes you through
the rugged and lush Lamar Valley, where wolves were recently reintroduced
in Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The valley floor and step lands along the river are habitat for some
of the largest elk and bison herds in the park. You are now on Hwy 212,
which will lead through the mining town of Cook City, to the famed 69
miles of Beartooth
Highway. This stretch of tarmac
crosses over the Beartooth Plateau with switchbacks reaching almost 11,000
feet in elevation, containing 28 peaks over 12,00 feet, for a spectacular
360-degree view. You will be traversing through mountain plateaus and
passes with inspiring views of glaciers, alpine
lakes and wilderness area.
The final leg of the tour goes through the little mining
town of Red Lodge, Montana, which lies at the edge of the Great Plains.
Red Lodge offers a variety of traditional steak houses to cosmopolitan
wine bars
and ala carte dining.
The rolling, curving highways and mountain passes of this ride will challenge
your riding skills and amuse your senses. This is truly one of the
most fantastic routes you can ever take on your motorcycle. |
