Ridin' Beartooth ?

[Ken Tarver]

Hey guys, late August I'm heading to N CA to visit my sister, via Billings MT for Wing Ding. My question I guess is mostly for those of you who live in the area, and are personally familiar with Beartooth Pass. Generally, what are the conditions of the pass in the first week of September? Is it a doable ride thru the pass in that first week? Thanks for some information you can give.

Ken

[GiG]

It's doable.
Expect it to be a lot cooler at "Top of the World" and don't be surprised if a storm pops up very quickly.
Doable for me meant coming down the back side in 1st & 2nd gear, in snow and rain.
Don't forget Bighorn Pass ! 

[..]

I rode it and didn't see anything apart from about 30 feet of road ahead of me due to thick, low cloud.

[eric in md]

Awesome ride, big horn mountains where made for gold wings.    Love that area

[Wizzard]

I rode it and stopped often,, incredible sights. Met up with some harley riders and they told me to lead so i did. 2 of them asked me when we got done,, Man did you even shift? Lol  they were tired of shifting.

[Oss]

 better to cross earlier in the day before pop up storms

(also good advice almost anywhere)


If you will be leaving from Keystone that morning leave Early I took 16 to 90 to 14 (14A probably a bit better but lots more miles) over the BigHornMtns into Cody, then the next morning went over Chief Joseph and Beartooth to Red Lodge

video from the parking lot of store which I was told was at the top
which of course is bull lol the top is around 17 minutes in  allan leading bear in back of me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgsvaMeClxo

[DirtyDan]

Unpredictable

Dan

[fudgie]

Rode it Aug of 2013. 35-40 deg, full leathers and face thing.
Rode it Aug of 2015. 70's deg, short sleeves.

 

[ridingron]

  Rode it Aug of 2013. 35-40 deg, full leathers and face thing.
Rode it Aug of 2015. 70's deg, short sleeves. 

More proof of global warming!    

[..]

Am I the only one to have ridden with close to zero visibility?  Grrrrrr.

[Ken Tarver]

Hey thanks for all the information about Beartooth everyone. It will be a help in some planning for my trip.
By the way, I plan to be riding the '99 tourer...not the wing.   
Oss....watched all your awesome video, great scenery, i definitely want to go now!! I'll be in Billings Oss, so that is where will be leaving from to go thru beartooth, will just run I-90 to US212 to Red Lodge. That's only about 59 miles so should make it early enough to make the pass before the afternoon weather conditions would likely deteriorate. I'll be checking road conditions while I'm there in Billings also. If it turns real ugly can go South into Utah a ways, then head West to Sis'

Britman...I'm pretty lucky with the weather, com'on back for a return trip!?

Ken

[fudgie]

Red Lodge is a neat little town. Be sure to get your "I survived Beartooth Pass" shirt at Beartooth HD in Red Lodge. On the other side of the pass is Cooke City. Neat little town. We are staying there 2 night here soon. Chief Joseph HWY to Cody WY is a must also. Fresh pavement last yr. 

[DirtyDan]

Am I the only one to have ridden with close to zero visibility?  Grrrrrr.

I'm sure many of us have been there

Dan

[baird4444]

will be riding it next month. will be glad to give
a report if you'd like.
            - Mike

[..]

This is worth a couple of hours if possible.

https://centerofthewest.org/

[Ken Tarver]

Yeah Baird
I would appreciate that first hand report from you.  Be getting close to the time frame for my trip so that can be beneficial.

Ken

[Danny McMillin]

You postin' awful early in da' morning!!!

[fudgie]

This is worth a couple of hours if possible.

https://centerofthewest.org/

Yea for sure. I like guns but after a hour of seeing thousands of them I was burnt out.  Neat place tho. We spent 4 hrs there.

[jdp]

Hey Kevin, I live in between the two jungles (Baltimore and Washington DC) and I'm leaving for Las Vegas late August maybe we can hook up and ride part way together, I'll be riding solo and sure would be nice to ride along with someone.

[Ken Tarver]

JDP,
Riding buddy and I will pull out early Monday Aug 29 from NW Mississippi. Going to Billings MT first. You're welcome to travel with us. My buddy has a limited amount of time due to work requirements so we are going to be on super slab a lot. I'll be in Billings the following Thur-Sat, then early Sunday I will head out for Sacremento. (buddy head back to MS) I hope to travel via beartooth pass, Yellowstone, and grand tetons.

Come on along
Ken

[jdp]

Ken Tarver, love to ride with you guys but I'm leaving the 18th or 19th for Vegas to pick up my wife then headed up to Bearthooth, maybe see you up there, safe riding.

[fudgie]

The pass closes in October, fyi.

[baird4444]

We just got back from a big loop; Western Slope to Jackson and the Teton area to Billings to Red Lodge to over Beartooth to Idaho Falls to Salt Lake to home. Downtown Billings where we were staying to
Red Lodge is about 1.5 hrs.
      Then on to Beartooth...  great ride and the scenery is great. You will be at the mercy of the weather. It was cooler on top but not cool enuff for me to put on my gloves although my favorite wife did put an extra sweatshirt on. 2 hr.s 45 minutes to get over with all the stopping and enjoying the sights. Cook City for lunch and a small rain shower then onto the North gate to Yellowstone. Traffic was moving slow; fricken tourists....   we had a very close encounter with Bison. My wife thought it was cool and all I could think of is "This helmet isn't going to be much help.... ". 2 Hours to get through the park to the west gate at Madison. That was with the only stopping being for the Bison traffic jam.
    Madison to Rigby which is just south of Rexburg, Idaho, 2.5 hours. Stuck behind a mile long string of traffic being led by a novice driving a motorhome 50 mph on an asphalt 2 lane...
  Hope this helps with your planning. Talked to a local that said that it snowed on Beartooth 2 and a half weeks ago so watch your weather and enjoy the ride!

[Wizzard]

Was just there 2 weeks ago. 70's and never put on a jacket. Spent the night in Gardiner Mont. Cool town

[icandoitfaster]

Crossed it five days ago. Left Red Lodge at 7:00 am. Needed gloves and a light jacket until the summit were we removed all outer gear for the decent. Rode the whole stretch to Mammoth Falls under clear skies. The pass was closed two weeks ago for a few days due to snow. Very unpredictable weather patterns due to elevation. Amazing Road!! So glad we got to ride it!
paul

[Ken Tarver]

I'll be leaving Billings MT on Sep 4. Sure hope to be able to ride the pass, but if not, oh well and will try it again in a couple of years. I will take everyone's advisement about conditions and fun (or not) experiences. I'll have several days while in Billings to be checking weather and the road condition website. Plan is Beartooth, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, down into Utah, then west to Sacremento for a visit with sister. Route back to MS not firmed up yet, it may be a daily or even hourly decision.

WHOOP
Ken

[fudgie]

I'll be leaving Billings MT on Sep 4. Sure hope to be able to ride the pass, but if not, oh well and will try it again in a couple of years. I will take everyone's advisement about conditions and fun (or not) experiences. I'll have several days while in Billings to be checking weather and the road condition website. Plan is Beartooth, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, down into Utah, then west to Sacremento for a visit with sister. Route back to MS not firmed up yet, it may be a daily or even hourly decision.

WHOOP
Ken

Once your thru BT pass your only a few miles from Yellowstone. I say hang a left and take Chief Joseph Hwy into Cody WY. Its as scenic or better then BT pass. You can go into YS from Cody. Lots of stuff to do and see in Cody.