Yellowstone / Jackson tour end of May

[martys]

I'm planning a loop from Missoula through Yellowstone/Jackson and south to Flaming Gorge the last week of May.  I've been warned by a couple of folks riding through that area the end of May I risk hitting late spring snow storms.

Has anyone ridden through Yellowstone the end of May before? The park website says their roads are scheduled to open mid-May for the season, I would think "open" means clear, but I've never been through there.

Any experience/advice would be appreciated.

thanks.

[DRam]

Haven't ridden through then, but did go that way that time of year taking our daughter to college a few years ago.  We didn't hit snow storms, but it was chilly enough that we were glad to have the van to sleep in.  There was snow in shady areas.  Roads were bare and dry.  Daytime temperatures were in the fifties or sixties as I remember.  The nice part was lack of traffic that early in the season.  We pretty much had it to ourselves.

You do run the risk of snow into late May, and maybe even early June anywhere in the high country of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.

[keepergale]

I go camping every year in Yellowstone the first two weeks of June. The last two years Dunraven Pass opened and closed several times due to snow while we were there. Its a great time to visit but the weather can change real fast.

[bluemax]

Since you're in the are I'm sure you'll want to ride the Bear Tooth, but it may not be open yet.
The last week of May is my favorite time to ride the Rockies but you have to be prepared for some cold and snow and closed passes.
You can count on it being cold at night and cold up on the passes, but the snow and closed roads may or may not be an issue.

Because of a new schedule this year I have to wait until the second week of June, it's a tad warmer but more tourists.

[Castaway]

   I hit snow in August, seriously, as I entered Grand Teton Nt'l Park - took me by complete surprise. That was some coooold camping, too.

[martys]

great feedback, keep it coming! it's much appreciated.

I won't be camping so cold nights won't be an issue.  and my heated gear works great so cold in the passes is manageable. snow and ice is where I become fearful, especially on a trip-laden bike. if the roads are clear and dry, I just need to get south past the mountains.

the Beartooth looks cool, but I'm coming in the west entrance and heading south. this is the very beginning of a two week trip and I need to get south to get to the meat of the ride.

thanks a lot everyone.

[tjhess74]

they use alot of sand on the mountain roads during the winter.  springtime is always abit tricky before the sand washes off the roadway.

this is my yellowstone/teton/jackson hole ride report from late august early september, but you can still pick through it and find some things you want to do or things you can avoid to help in your planning.  we came in through montana, and i think that starts two or three pages in.  it was in the thirties at night then, and being from colorado, i know springtimes are still chilly at night.  hope this helps...

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,44415.0.html

[Eric308]

I'm heading out there from WI on June 4th. Beartooth nearly always opens Memorial Day weekend weather permitting. I'm staying a couple of days in Red Lodge, then down to Cody across Beartooth and Chief Joseph. Should be at the East entrance to the park about June 10th. Here's a good link for road conditions...as mentioned, weather can quickly change. I remember riding across Beartooth from the south last September 1st and I hit heavy snow across the pass. As I was coming into Red Lodge I passed two plows heading up top and they closed the pass. Whew...http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm  I'm also going to Flaming Gorge when I leave Jackson. Suggest taking US191 through Pinedale instead of US189. You get a better view of the Wind River Range and it's prettier. That is some wide open country from Pinedale to Rock Springs...you can really make some time. Where after Flaming Gorge? I'm heading over to NW Colorado and through Unaweep Canyon to Telluride. Another beautiful ride.

[martys]

I'm heading out there from WI on June 4th. Beartooth nearly always opens Memorial Day weekend weather permitting. I'm staying a couple of days in Red Lodge, then down to Cody across Beartooth and Chief Joseph. Should be at the East entrance to the park about June 10th. Here's a good link for road conditions...as mentioned, weather can quickly change. I remember riding across Beartooth from the south last September 1st and I hit heavy snow across the pass. As I was coming into Red Lodge I passed two plows heading up top and they closed the pass. Whew...http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm  I'm also going to Flaming Gorge when I leave Jackson. Suggest taking US191 through Pinedale instead of US189. You get a better view of the Wind River Range and it's prettier. That is some wide open country from Pinedale to Rock Springs...you can really make some time. Where after Flaming Gorge? I'm heading over to NW Colorado and through Unaweep Canyon to Telluride. Another beautiful ride.

thanks for the road conditions link. regarding my trip, I'm riding with a large group from Seattle to Orofino for a couple of days. When they split to head back a buddy and I are going to start the long trip.

here's a couple of links that have the intended route.  thanks for the tip on 191 instead of 189, I'll make the update.

http://bit.ly/cLavTm
http://bit.ly/9ZcFow

sorry can't have one map, gmaps says too many points.  


Day 1     Sammamish - Orofino      334 mi
Day 2     Orofino (2nd night)
Day 3     Orofino - Ennis                408 mi
Day 4     Ennis - Green River         390 mi
Day 5     Green River to Moab       430 mi
Day 6     Moab - Torrey                  250 mi
Day 7     Torrey - Mt Carmel Jct via North Rim   360 mi
Day 8     Mt Carmel - Lone Pine     410 mi
Day 9     Lone Pine - Oakhurst      350 mi
Day 10   Oakhurst / Yosemite / South Lake Tahoe  360 mi
Day 11   South Lake Tahoe - Red Bluff   225 mi
Day 12   Red Bluff - Weaverville    266 mi
Day 13   Weaverville - Bend          336 mi
Day 14   Bend - Sammamish         350 mi

[Eric308]

Hey, you are doing Unaweep after all. That is an awesome ride. Stop at that auto museum place right outside of Gateway for a look around. Are you coming into Colorado at Rangley and across Douglas Pass? That's a nice barren stretch also. Here's a pic of Unaweep. Sounds like a great big trip.  PS...just looked at your route map. You are going exactly the way I'm going all the way from Jackson, WY to Naturita, CO.

[keepergale]

That looks to be a beautiful ride. I hope it's not to big of a group.

[martys]

That looks to be a beautiful ride. I hope it's not to big of a group.

big group from Seattle to Orofino, from Orofino on it's just two of us.  

my only concern is I wish the trip was 12 days instead of the full 14 so I had a buffer day in case I wanted to explore or rest one day in the same spot.

[Eric308]

big group from Seattle to Orofino, from Orofino on it's just two of us.  

my only concern is I wish the trip was 12 days instead of the full 14 so I had a buffer day in case I wanted to explore or rest one day in the same spot.

That does help with an extra day here and there. I'm staying over four days in Telluride and going down to Durango one day and looping up 550 back to Ridgway and across. Also down to Mesa Verde for a day.

[mtrider16]

Last year Beartooth opened on May 28th but closed twice after that, once for 4 days because of snow.  It was also a chore to get the snow cleared by the 28th.  If our weather now is an indicator of the spring, it looks like it will be a cool, wet spring.  I know you aren't going this route but it is a good indicator of the possible weather you will see in the park.

If you can't plan it later, I would continue and have some alternate routes.  You can bypass the park on the west side and get to Flaming Gorge by way of SLC.  You should be able to get to West Yellowstone from Ennis and then ask about the conditions there.

Yes, watch for sand.

David