Wyoming has a number of beautiful motorcycle roads. Yellowstone and Grand Teton have great roads – but too many tourists in the summer mar their enjoyment. There are some great approaches to Jackson Hole from the Idaho side. But the best three roads in the state – the Wyoming Triple Crown – are arguably US-14/14A (from Dayton to Lovell), WY-296 (Chief Joseph Scenic Byway) and US-212 (Beartooth Highway). And today we drove all three.
Leaving Sheridan required a short stint on I-90 before taking U-14 at Ranchester. The road wound gradually up the eastern slope of the Bighorn Mountains. These landforms are unusual in that the rock at lower altitude is younger than the rock up top – as though the strata somehow flipped over time.
At the zenith the views to the west were sweeping, before descending on twisties and switch backs to Burgess Junction where the route switches onto US-14A
After a short climb the road settled out winding through high mountain meadows, before reaching the western edge of the Hunt Mountain Range, exposing another sweeping vista to the west. The descent down to Lovell included another batch of twisties and switchbacks.
At Cody we stopped for a coffee and topped off our fuel before heading north on WY-180 and then onto WT-296 where the Chief Joseph begins. The road is fantastic with winding sweepers cutting through mountains and valleys. At times we could see the road winding up the opposite side of a wide valley. It is a gem.
Switch backs on Chief Joseph
When 296 ends the Beartooth begins by heading east on US-212. This route climbs steadily to a height of 3337 meters (10,947 feet). The top of the pass is rocky with remnants of the winter still evident in 8 foot drifts along the roadside. The temperature dropped from 14 C to 2.5 C at the summit, with winds and dark clouds roiling overhead, but the rains that threatened did not show.
Descending the backside of the pass into Montana and headed to our hotel in Red Lodge for the day. Another great day of riding – and except for a 5 minute light shower coming out of Cody – it was free of rain.