Westward Ho.... We Hope...

[8Crow]

Looking to get some feedback on a major trip that we are planning for early Sept out to the Black Hills and Yellowstone. Leaving New Brunswick, Canada and heading up to Ottawa and then following the 17 to Sault Ste Marie where we will cross into the US. Taking the 28/2 to Duluth and then I-35 and Rte 23 south to the 212. This is the route we plan to follow west to the Rapid City area via a detour down through the Badlands National Park.

We are looking at spending 3 nights in the Black Hills, probably in a couple of different locations to prevent backtracking on our sightseeing.

Next stop would be Yellowstone and so far planning on 3 nights there as well - just have to get over the sticker shock for the cost of lodging in that area!!

Now for the questions for those who have traveled the routes in the US, any concerns with any of the roads? We have scheduled between 4-500 miles per day for the trip - does this sound reasonable for the 212?

Suggested rides for the Black Hills given the amount of time we are staying there? We hope to do the Badlands on our way into Rapid City so it will be out of the equation for the time spent there.

We already have hotels booked but all have free cancellation so no problem there if there are any suggestions for reasonable (read "cheap") accommodations in either the Spearfish, Rapid City or Hot Springs area...

Yellowstone / Grand Tetons is looking like a real challenge as far as what we should see and routes to travel given our allotted time in the area - 3 nights if we don't break the bank!!!:gah:
Accommodations there may be a challenge as a lot that we have checked are already booked for the dates we hope to be there... So far we are toying with staying the first night in the Jackson area and spending the next day riding up through the Tetons to the West Yellowstone area for the 2nd and maybe 3rd night. The second day would be spent riding the central area and visiting the "must sees" - Old Faithful, etc. The morning of the 3rd day would include a bit more in the central area, if required and then riding the Beartooth Highway north to the I-90.

Anyway if anyone has managed to stay awake to read this post, I would appreciate any and all feed back. Plenty of time to fine tune before we leave...

Thanks
Doug

 

[jc1300]

In the Black Hills / Sturgis etc. area, I might suggest Keystone. Puts you right at Rushmore - Custer - Iron Mountain Rd - Needles Highway. Great ride from there up thru the canyon up to Deadwood. Then from Keystone a nice back roads up to Sundance and then West to Devils Tower. Next stop Yellowstone Etc. We stayed last year at the Lodge at Mt. Rushmore {New Name} and found it reasonably priced and comfortable. Just my 2 Cents - jc

PS - If you can make it to Custer National Park - The nice part about being on a trike is that going back into the areas serviced by gravel roads is not an issue {not loose gravel} Stop at one of the Ranger stations and they can tell you where to find the Buffalo herds!

 

[pcombe]

Go up to the top of the page where it says (advanced search) and type in "trip of a lifetime" when the screen comes up scroll down and find the typed topic and see what I said concerning the area you are planning on.

Wait until the last week of June in order to get away from snow in the high country.

Also type in " here's what happens when you hit Wyoming high country in mid June" ok?

then type in" Yellowstone Nat. park, Wyoming."

I expect you will find out a whole bunch!

- - - Updated - - -

P.S. don't forget to type in "black hills, my old stomping grounds" ThumbUp

I live out here.

 

[Bikerbozo]

One interesting change might be heading towards Fargo, instead of Duluth. Straight across I-94. There is a nice natural history museum in Bismark. And in Medora is the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Basically, the Badlands of North Dakota. Plenty of Buffalo and other wildlife. Much nicer than the SD Badlands. You could then continue just a little ways into Montana and cut straight down to Devils Tower. Then it is a short backtrack to Sturgis.

 

[Sidecarbill]

I was in yellowstone years ago mid september. Woke up to 30 f it stayed that wway most of the day. Others that live out that way maybe more informative. Maybe just a anomaly? I,d b there mid august if I did it again.

 

[8Crow]

Go up to the top of the page where it says (advanced search) and type in "trip of a lifetime" when the screen comes up scroll down and find the typed topic and see what I said concerning the area you are planning on.

Wait until the last week of June in order to get away from snow in the high country.

Also type in " here's what happens when you hit Wyoming high country in mid June" ok?

then type in" Yellowstone Nat. park, Wyoming."

I expect you will find out a whole bunch!

- - - Updated - - -

P.S. don't forget to type in "black hills, my old stomping grounds" ThumbUp

I live out here.

Wow! Just went through your pictures and what a spectacular trip you had - beautiful pics, even the ones that had me checking my eyes...:xzqxz: My bride and I are sure looking forward to our trip this fall. Thanks for your input!!
Cheers
Doug

- - - Updated - - -

One interesting change might be heading towards Fargo, instead of Duluth. Straight across I-94. There is a nice natural history museum in Bismark. And in Medora is the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Basically, the Badlands of North Dakota. Plenty of Buffalo and other wildlife. Much nicer than the SD Badlands. You could then continue just a little ways into Montana and cut straight down to Devils Tower. Then it is a short backtrack to Sturgis.

Excellent idea BB and thanks for your input. I think we will modify our return trip to leave from the north end of Yellowstone and catch the I-94 there.
Cheers
Doug

- - - Updated - - -

In the Black Hills / Sturgis etc. area, I might suggest Keystone. Puts you right at Rushmore - Custer - Iron Mountain Rd - Needles Highway. Great ride from there up thru the canyon up to Deadwood. Then from Keystone a nice back roads up to Sundance and then West to Devils Tower. Next stop Yellowstone Etc. We stayed last year at the Lodge at Mt. Rushmore {New Name} and found it reasonably priced and comfortable. Just my 2 Cents - jc

PS - If you can make it to Custer National Park - The nice part about being on a trike is that going back into the areas serviced by gravel roads is not an issue {not loose gravel} Stop at one of the Ranger stations and they can tell you where to find the Buffalo herds!
View attachment 33522

Thanks for your input and we have CNP on our list of rides for the trip. Good point about the gravel roads and checking with the Rangers - will definitely keep that in mind!!. Want to make sure to give those huge beasts plenty of room though...:AGGHH:
Cheers
Doug

- - - Updated - - -

I was in yellowstone years ago mid september. Woke up to 30 f it stayed that wway most of the day. Others that live out that way maybe more informative. Maybe just a anomaly? I,d b there mid august if I did it again.

I guess you never know when you are in the high country but we are bringing some warmer clothing, just in case.... At least 3 wheels are much more stable that 2 if there happens to be some ice.... :gah:

Appreciate all the input and keep 'em coming. Hope someone will jump in that has traveled highway 212 through SD. We are hoping to stay away from the Interstates as much as possible on the trip West...

 

[ScottUSN]

Mileage

I do 400 - 450 a day on a superslab, but nothing like that amount on 2 lane. If I were to plan ( I don't; 1 day at a time thinking), I would put 2 lane days to 300, there is just too much to see.
R/
Scott Smith

 

[Livin2Ride]

I was in yellowstone years ago mid september. Woke up to 30 f it stayed that wway most of the day. Others that live out that way maybe more informative. Maybe just a anomaly? I,d b there mid august if I did it again.

I do 400 - 450 a day on a superslab, but nothing like that amount on 2 lane. If I were to plan ( I don't; 1 day at a time thinking), I would put 2 lane days to 300, there is just too much to see.
R/
Scott Smith

I agree with both of these post. In 2014 I was in Custer, SD on Sept. 11th and woke to find 6+ inches of snow on the ground. Also in a lot of these areas that are tourist oriented you will find that they start to close down after Labor day and you will find yourself eating where you can find a place open. I have never ridden 212 so can't comment on it, but in general all the roads that run east and west share the same situation, gas stations can be far apart and the operators can be independent so if they don't want to work today they will be closed....buy gas every chance you get. If you want a nice ride across SD drop a little further south and take highway 44, but buy that gas when you can. We normally head out west in June and the temps can be a bit more than cool, we have ridden all day for several days and never gotten out of the 30's and I'm sure Sept. can be the same.

 

[pcombe]

I was in yellowstone years ago mid september. Woke up to 30 f it stayed that wway most of the day. Others that live out that way maybe more informative. Maybe just a anomaly? I,d b there mid august if I did it again.

Not unusual for the high country!

 

[pcombe]

Wow! Just went through your pictures and what a spectacular trip you had - beautiful pics, even the ones that had me checking my eyes...:xzqxz: My bride and I are sure looking forward to our trip this fall. Thanks for your input!!
Cheers
Doug

- - - Updated - - -



Excellent idea BB and thanks for your input. I think we will modify our return trip to leave from the north end of Yellowstone and catch the I-94 there.
Cheers
Doug

- - - Updated - - -



Thanks for your input and we have CNP on our list of rides for the trip. Good point about the gravel roads and checking with the Rangers - will definitely keep that in mind!!. Want to make sure to give those huge beasts plenty of room though...:AGGHH:
Cheers
Doug

- - - Updated - - -



I guess you never know when you are in the high country but we are bringing some warmer clothing, just in case.... At least 3 wheels are much more stable that 2 if there happens to be some ice.... :gah:

Appreciate all the input and keep 'em coming. Hope someone will jump in that has traveled highway 212 through SD. We are hoping to stay away from the Interstates as much as possible on the trip West...

If you study Yellowstone Nat park you will see it's laid out in a figure 8 as far as travel goes. Yellowstone lake near Cody Wyoming is close to center but Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone's is even closer to central location.
If you plan to stay in the park it may be really hard to get a reservation unless you make them far in advance.
The Pahaska tepee lodge outside of Cody,Wy. is only 2.5 miles from the park entrance and 22 miles (within the park) to Yellowstone lake. They have Cabins, a restaurant with good food all reasonable for the area. Also it's easy to get onto the ( Chief Joseph) Highway) on a different route wich should not be missed. Also if you miss the ( beartooth highway) as part of the Chief Joseph ride, dropping you back into Montana just a bit you should stay home. Grab lunch and come back over the beartooth again to Cooke city if you wish, it's part of the Yellowstone eco- system and you can make it part of the Yellowstone ride.

Man you could spend an entire week in this part of the country and wish for more.

I have traveled just about every road coming across South Dakota and I think Birds fly upside down cause their aint anything worth poopin on till you hit the black hills for the most part. There are a few exceptions but it's short lived. Just put your head down and roll?

 

[8Crow]

I do 400 - 450 a day on a superslab, but nothing like that amount on 2 lane. If I were to plan ( I don't; 1 day at a time thinking), I would put 2 lane days to 300, there is just too much to see.
R/
Scott Smith

Good advice for sure... Most of our days will be in the lower range once we cross to the US from Canada - kind of front end loaded our trip with a couple of longer days... Want to keep to the idea of being on the trike that it is the journey and not the destination....

Thanks for your input...

Cheers
Doug

- - - Updated - - -

I agree with both of these post. In 2014 I was in Custer, SD on Sept. 11th and woke to find 6+ inches of snow on the ground. Also in a lot of these areas that are tourist oriented you will find that they start to close down after Labor day and you will find yourself eating where you can find a place open. I have never ridden 212 so can't comment on it, but in general all the roads that run east and west share the same situation, gas stations can be far apart and the operators can be independent so if they don't want to work today they will be closed....buy gas every chance you get. If you want a nice ride across SD drop a little further south and take highway 44, but buy that gas when you can. We normally head out west in June and the temps can be a bit more than cool, we have ridden all day for several days and never gotten out of the 30's and I'm sure Sept. can be the same.

The weather can be a real "crap shoot" in the high country at the best of times for sure!! We were originally looking at June but while investigating the average weather for the areas we plan to visit, that month looked pretty wet so we went with Sept. Want to stay outside the heavy tourist/traffic months of July and Aug so it is a give and take with what will still be open... Good advice about the gas and I will certainly try to keep the tank topped up..

Appreciate your input...ThumbUp

Cheers
Doug

- - - Updated - - -

If you study Yellowstone Nat park you will see it's laid out in a figure 8 as far as travel goes. Yellowstone lake near Cody Wyoming is close to center but Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone's is even closer to central location.
If you plan to stay in the park it may be really hard to get a reservation unless you make them far in advance.
The Pahaska tepee lodge outside of Cody,Wy. is only 2.5 miles from the park entrance and 22 miles (within the park) to Yellowstone lake. They have Cabins, a restaurant with good food all reasonable for the area. Also it's easy to get onto the ( Chief Joseph) Highway) on a different route wich should not be missed. Also if you miss the ( beartooth highway) as part of the Chief Joseph ride, dropping you back into Montana just a bit you should stay home. Grab lunch and come back over the beartooth again to Cooke city if you wish, it's part of the Yellowstone eco- system and you can make it part of the Yellowstone ride.

Man you could spend an entire week in this part of the country and wish for more.

I have traveled just about every road coming across South Dakota and I think Birds fly upside down cause their aint anything worth poopin on till you hit the black hills for the most part. There are a few exceptions but it's short lived. Just put your head down and roll?

As our plans and lodging reservations stand, we are going to come in to Yellowstone / Tetons at the bottom and work our way up. One night at the south end, one at the central and one in the north. We will be leaving the park via the Beartooth but don't think we will manage the Chief Joseph - hard to fit in everything but hopefully we will be able to hit the "highlights". I like the way that the park is laid out with the figure 8 as you mentioned as it allows lots of options when we stay in the central part of the park.

We are sure looking forward to seeing lots of beautiful country!! Just hope any of the larger birds are flying upside down when they fly over us... :Crap:

Thanks for your input and suggestions...

Cheers
Doug

 

[8Crow]

Thanks to all for your input and suggestions. ThumbUp

We have just about all of our hotels booked for the Sept trip and a rough plan of attack for both the Black Hills and Yellowstone. Amazing how fast hotels fill up even this far ahead!!

Now if spring would just arrive here so we can start the riding season and get prepared for our western adventure!!epper:

Cheers
Doug