Yellowstone / Grand Teton National Parks

[badger]

So my family (daughter 12, son 19, and I ) went on our trip to the yellowstone area last week. We trailered our bikes out to near Cody and rode around from then on. This trip wasn't so much about mileage or even just riding ... but was more about spending some family time together and doing some hiking and exploring. In fact I even forget to track my mileage for the trip :o

Anyway after driving nonstop to Wyoming and unloading the bikes we started off by riding to Cody and camping downtown at the Ponderosa campground (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3167).

After walking downtown for breakfast, we packed up and head for Chief Joseph and Bear Tooth. Beautiful rides ... wicked cold up on bear tooth though. lots of construction too ... we were held up three time for close to an hour total going through bear tooth on the way to Red Lodge.

My son riding a borrowed Road King:
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/rcabndr/2010%20-%20Yellowstone%20Trip/Beartooth1.jpg

My daughter by the bikes on a break:
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/rcabndr/2010%20-%20Yellowstone%20Trip/Beartooth2.jpg

Be forewarned ... gas is available about midway up bear tooth ... but only low grade. There are several campgrounds available at various places going up the pass. If you decide to stay at these be sure to pack very warm ... it is wicked cold up there.

Anyway we rode on to Red Lodge and stayed at the KOA (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3166) there for the night. The swimming pool was a very welcome diversion that evening!

The next morning we rode to the Red Lodge Wildlife Rescue Center and browsed around for a while.

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/rcabndr/2010%20-%20Yellowstone%20Trip/RescueCenter.jpg

Then it was on the road again for the trip back to Cody ... it is like a completely different road when you go through both ways ... pretty cool :)

Just a nice view:
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/rcabndr/2010%20-%20Yellowstone%20Trip/Beartooth4.jpg

[badger]

Then it was back to Cody then up towards Yellowstone. A friendly state park ranger steered us in the direction of Wapiti/ Elk Fork campgrounds up the road. We stayed at the Elk Fork Campground (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3168) and very much enjoyed ourselves! We spent some time hiking and climbing the mountains and checking out the rivers and such. Everyone here was very nice from passing rangers to the campground host.


After freshening up in the river ... brrrr ... we packed up and headed onward. We rode through Yellowstone and over to the Grand Tetons. We camped at Colter Bay Campground (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3169). Again we did some riding around and hiking and just enjoyed ourselves in general.

Rolling in ... or out ... I forget which :confused:
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/rcabndr/2010%20-%20Yellowstone%20Trip/gtnp2.jpg

Although the scenery is beautiful, there doesn't seem to be quite as much to actually do and see in the Tetons as in Yellowstone. We headed out the next after riding south Jenny Lake and headed back north to Yellowstone. We set up camp at Bridge Bay Campground (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3171).

From there we spent four days riding around and hiking, swimming and climbing and generally exploring the park. We were held up several times for bison herds for up to 45 minutes. Road construction was bad at places and could cause delays of up to 45 minutes also. It was still fun.
I get the distinct feeling that this area of thermal activity is very dangerous ... like a pressure cooker ready to pop. Very impressive!

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/rcabndr/2010%20-%20Yellowstone%20Trip/GrandPrismatic-1.jpg

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/rcabndr/2010%20-%20Yellowstone%20Trip/Mammoth.jpg

And pretty soon it was time to leave. Here we are packed up for our trip out.
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae138/rcabndr/2010%20-%20Yellowstone%20Trip/YNP1.jpg

We rode back to the truck & trailer and loaded up and hoofed it back to Wisconsin. We planned to stop over in the Black Hills but circumstances arose which prevented that ... oh well gives me a goal for next year.

All in all it was a fun trip and we learned a lot. I look forward to more motocamping trips :)

Lake Superior circle trip is next up! :)

[badger]

I love the Beartooth Mountian Range ... Need to get back there again ...
Glad you enjoyed your trip, and vacationing with your kids.
Say ... Where was mom?

G wizz

I had a great time with the kids ... I'm really glad we all enjoy the outdoors and motorcycling. It can be trying at times ... think Clark Griswold in 'Vacation' ... but definitely worth the effort :D

I am divorced ... so their mom is doing her own thing.

[Indianscout]

Rod, you have some wonderful kids and my hats off to you for spending the quality time with them as they grow up way too fast. Glad to hear you had a wonderful time and your pictures bring back memories of my trip out to Yellowstone a few years ago. P^

[JohnDelivers]

Looks like you had a great time with the kids, good on ya'.

We did Yellowstone in '05, in a car. Next time out that way we'll stay a full week and do it by bike, for sure.

[bigTom]

Sounds like a great trip to me! I agree that Yellowstone is much more 'exciting' than the Grand Tetons...

So you stayed at Coulter Bay. Members of my Mom's family believe that Mr Jackson shot Mr Coulter (a very distant relative) in an unfair and unseemly fashion. That the town should be (and was) Coulterville, not Jackson Hole:) 'Course, the same branch of the family fought on the wrong side during the Great War of Northern Aggression (:)), and moved way west shortly after said conflict! Which worked out really well for me!

[Ironheadziggy76]

Looks like you had a great trip. I'm really wanting to get out and tour that part of the country, thanks for the great pictures.

[Trailace]

Great report thanks!