Missoula to Custer SD - Best roads/Must see's

[bubba zanetti]

Heading to Custer for the St.n National. First time I have had some good time off in June in years and so really looking forward to the ride.

I have not ridden east of Missoula so new territory for me. Unlike Baz   ( snerk ) have almost 2 weeks to ride! Riding with Dr. Zorko (Victoria BC) on his souped up/farkled out 08 KLR 690 and lookin for adventure. Beautiful vistas and super twisties with some odd and wonderful places in between.

Route suggestions/maps graciously accepted. Beer and advice on the way would be cool too.

So whatcha got ??  

[greench440]

Drop down south to Jelly stone, across to Beartooth pass, turn around in red lodge, over chief joseph pass to Cody, Big horn summit to Sheridan, west to Gillette, north to Devil's tower then on to Custer.

[MisterSmooth]

Drop down south to Jelly stone, across to Beartooth pass, turn around in red lodge, over chief joseph pass to Cody, Big horn summit to Sheridan, west to Gillette, north to Devil's tower then on to Custer.

That's good advice.  

[mtrider16]

Green's advice is good for the most twistys and mountians.  There are some good dirt roads in the SW and NW Montana to ride also.  If you want some more dirt roads and wide open spaces I could get you some routes north of I-90 and central montana.  Other wise, when you get to Dillon MT you can drop south on gravel into ID and then cross into Wyoming and back up to Custer.  Lots of dirt routes there also.

Have you read Docking Pilot's "2010 Forever West" and Cannonshot's CDR trip reports on Adventure rider?

David

[Guy]

Head south of Missoula on US93, the first part is boring and crushed with traffic, but once you get past Hamilton, things clear out. Either go across on MT38 (38 may or may not be paved, it wasn't 5yrs ago), or continue on down to MT43 (worth going past 43 down to Carmen and turn around and come back, the pass is fun to ride) Then take 278 through Wisdom, and on to Dillon. Take 41 to Twin Bridges, then MT287 to Ennis (you'll pass through Virginia City-a neat old gold mining town that's been restored) Continue on US287 all the way to West Yellowstone (you'll pass next to Earthquake Lake

From West Yellowstone, pass through the park, and out the NE entrance, go over Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge (if it is open, worth checking before you go), turn around and head back over again, and on the other side take the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Stop at the Sunlight Bridge over Sunlight Creek (no services, just a high bridge over a deep narrow canyon), continue on over Dead Indian Pass, and down into Cody. From Cody either take US14 or 14A to Dayton WY(both go through the Bighorn Mts, I've been on 14A, it was great, I've heard good things about 14, so if you can, do both)

From Dayton, the options are limited to either US14/16 or I-90 to Moorcroft, but there is a neat side trip to Devil's Tower (of Close Encounters fame) From there US85 is good up to Deadwood, or you can just continue on 16 to Custer

[Thundergod]

Hwy 16 Alt E - East of Keystone. A MUST--- split highway weaving between trees, pigtail bridges, rock tunnels to showcase Mt. Rushmore....a MUST!

[Justin]

Drop down south to Jelly stone, across to Beartooth pass, turn around in red lodge, over chief joseph pass to Cody, Big horn summit to Sheridan, west to Gillette, north to Devil's tower then on to Custer.

Yeah, that's the way to do it - of course it will add some time and miles to the trip, but isn't that what it's all about? That route will hit some of the best roads in the country.

[bubba zanetti]

Thanks for the suggestions  

Greench ... I am going to map that out this evening. Looks great !!  

[Thundergod]

Here is Hwy 16 Alt E

[bubba zanetti]

Great ... looks like fun !

Off road routes or OHV areas are most welcome too !  There looks like an amazing area just north of Custer for FS roads.  

[notarian]

Yo Bubba,

PM'd this too, but thought others might want to comment/revise. Paging Birdrunner to the white courtesy phone?

You remember Jammin and his report of riding the Continental Divide?

Here's a link to his map and includes photos along the way. Have a look beginning at Kalispell, Mt and ending at Yellowstone. Looks like a pretty good route all around for the KTM.


View Jammin thru the Continental Divide in a larger map

Nice route to Kalispell is mine the day after we parted. Border crossing at Roosville.


View Larger Map

Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge and back over Beartooth to ride Chief Joseph to Cody is a must. East of Cody I have no first hand knowledge, but have been told that Hwy 14/16 is the way to go for tarmac. Here's a route that looks interesting using Hwy 14 and then a final stretch of dirt/gravel reaches Devil's Tower from the backside.

Devil's Tower to Sturgis is a stone's throw.

BTW, the only petrol between Red Lodge and Cody using Chief Joseph is about 3 miles south of Beartooth on Chief Joseph at the RV park on the left.


View Larger Map

Best I can do Pal.

Note

(ps) Happy New Year and Best for 2011

[greench440]

Here's the sign at the top of Big Horn Summit



and here's my trip map

[MisterSmooth]

Here's the sign at the top of Big Horn Summit

      One of my favorite road signs anywhere.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I have a few suggestions, but nothing I can detail while at work  

Fischer River Rd (at the south end of Lake Kucanusa). For the lake, I'd recommend the west side. I know that you know this already, but others reading this may not  




Hwy 78 (MT) just west of Red Lodge is pretty high on the "omg scenery!" scale - depending on the weather, of course






There's a small back road from Arlee (south of Kalispell) called "Jocko Canyon Rd" - it was an interesting (dirt) alternative to the pavement. It dumps you out near Seeley Lake.






One of my favorite shots coming down from Beartooth Pass







Entering the Big Horn Mts from the west on Hwy 14 (I think...)



The Tetons





Wind River Canyon (WY)


"The road to Sussex" - my own private gem that I stumbled upon. Located off I-90 south of Buffalo, WY. If you really want to take it, let me know and I'll try to be more precise on it's location.

[greench440]

      One of my favorite road signs anywhere.

What it doesn't show is the great sweeping curves to the east of the junction all the way down into Sheridan.

Mrs.D - You are correct on your picture entering the canyon up to Burgess Jct on 14 just east of Shell.

[bubba zanetti]

Great stuff !!  

Thanks ... this is getting me all excited   .... but then I noticed that it is 138 more sleeps.  

DD I will PM you for more on that road thanks.  

Fischer rd is a great little ride. It has brand new pavement as of this October  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

The road isn't really a secret - I just never bothered to accurately map out just where the hell I was. As a favor for Jim   I did just that. May I present to you, The Road to Sussex!!!


View Larger Map



No drum roll necessary...

[Skee]

Depending on your route, check out Makoshika State Park in eastern Montanna, kind of a miniture Badlands.

You would think by now I would knoiw what kind of bike you ride - but if you are interested in a little off-road excursion...
One of my favorites in the Dakota Badlands has always been Sheep Table Moutain.  
It doesn't go anywhere, it's one way in and one way out, and it's just a hoot.
If you have some time.  One of those spots most visitors don't even know exists.  Shhh.


PS  Can anyone tell me which leg is best - 14 or 14A - I can never decide which one to take.  Spent some time at this sign...

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I prefer 14A.

Actually, I really enjoyed 16 out of Ten Sleep. Very heavily treed but I recall some really nice corners. But 14 and 14A are much more scenic.

14A has quite a dramatic rise from the west: big and open as the road climbs the exposed western slope.
14 is more like a mouse sneaking into the mountains, where the road cuts deep into a canyon before climbing up into the green fields.


In looking at the map, does anyone know about CR 26 that dodges SSE from near where 14 & 14A meet? It looks divine....

[Justin]

In looking at the map, does anyone know about CR 26 that dodges SSE from near where 14 & 14A meet? It looks divine....

I believe that's FR 26, not CR 26  Definitely not looking street bike friendly