The Beartooth Yellowstone Park Loop

October 11, 2024

On September 18, 2021 I rode this loop for the first time and couldn’t believe that was the last time I did so it was definitely time.  What prompted me was seeing a news story that the Beartooth Highway is closing for the season next Tuesday.  That’s unfortunate because our weather is fantastic and I don’t see snow in the forecast for at least the next week or so.  But the gates will go up on Tuesday so I better get it done today.

Friday’s are gym day so I went and did my workout but couldn’t get in the pool due to a volleyball event taking over the locker rooms.  I came home and showered, had breakfast, and then gathered up my gear for the ride.  It’s a bit chilly, low-50s, so I put on some layers but didn’t feel I needed a liner in my cold weather jacket.  I did pull my riding pants on over my jeans and donned my winter gloves.  At 9:51 I was ready to go.  I shot a photo of the bike just as a neighborhood cat strutted across the yard.

I topped of my gas tank and did the usual route by heading out Grand, getting on Lipp Road, and then south on Buffalo Trail.  It’s a beautiful morning so I stopped for a couple photos before I got to Laurel.

I went through Laurel and the took Hwy 212 to Red Lodge.  When I got there I decided that it was time to put my thermal liner in my jacket.  It was in the low-60s but I knew it would get colder up on top as I approached almost 11,000 feet of elevation. 

Before I left town I pull in behind the Yodeler motel to check out their EV chargers that I’d seen listed online.

The small sign indicates that they are private property and it’s necessary to pay for your charge in the lobby.

My next stop was at the beginning of the Beartooth Hwy.  Fall colors are in abundance.

On the way up, I stopped at a few places for some scenery, with a motorcycle of course.

I made the usual stop at Vista Point.  Unlike the summer when it is packed with tourists, it was nearly empty today.

I continued on up to the top.  I’m glad I put the liner in my coat because the wind is really strong up here.

Of course, I had to get a photo next to the sign.

I descended on the other side of the pass and headed to Cooke City.  Lots more photo opportunities along the way.

I topped up the gas tank in Cooke City

After a few more miles down the road I arrived at Yellowstone Park.

I used my military Interagency Pass to get in the park and rode a few more miles to a picnic area for lunch.  I’d brought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a heavily seeded bread that I made yesterday.

It was a nice place for a break.

The next 30 miles or so took me through the Lamar Valley.

I saw a few bison here and there but I finally came across a large herd.

I continued on, making the occasional stop to look at the scenery.

When I got to Tower Junction I decided to do the short couple of mile drive to check out Tower Falls.

Now it was back on the road.  I rode to Mammoth and then took the very curvy exit road to the North Entrance.

Then it was through the touristy town of Gardiner where I stopped for an elk.

And that was it.  I took 89 north, a very pleasant ride, to Livingston where I grabbed the slab (I-90) and rode that back to Billings, arriving home at 7pm.

A great day covering 368 miles.