ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685 
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Post by ginacivey on Jul 28, 2014 13:14:02 GMT
We are driving from Missouri to Denver with our motorcycle in a trailer. ( Our first leg is to Lewiston, Idaho - through wyoming, utah, oregon, washington and into idaho - second leg is up to Glacier National Park - to ride the Going to the Sun Road - then down through the eastern side of Yellowstone - and back down to Pike Peaks - then back to the truck) My question is - where can we park the truck/trailer? Any of you have any suggestions? i am going to call the Denver Harley dealership - i am sure they've heard this question before and probably have a recommendation but i thought i'd ask all of you if YOU had any ideas gina and trip suggestions are welcomed too
our trip
bumped for night people!
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caro
Drama Llama
Refupea 1130
Posts: 5,222
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Post by caro on Jul 28, 2014 13:50:41 GMT
No answer but this sounds like a great trip.
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chocluver
Junior Member
Posts: 73
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Post by chocluver on Jul 28, 2014 14:06:29 GMT
Make sure you leave enough time to thoroughly enjoy the Going To Sun Road. It is truly the most beautiful road in the world!
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
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Post by ginacivey on Jul 28, 2014 14:16:35 GMT
can you tell me more of what to expect?
we are coming in from the west - thru West Glacier and plan to also stay in West Glacier
it doesn't look like the road loops - so does that mean we go out and come back on the same road?
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
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Post by ginacivey on Jul 28, 2014 23:37:21 GMT
bumping this for night people
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Post by julieinmd on Jul 29, 2014 0:55:21 GMT
Wow! I am headed to Lewiston, Idaho bright and early tomorrow on a cross country flight. Your trip sounds wonderful! I wanted to give you a caution about Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Park. If you take your time and really look things over as you go it can pretty much take all day. After having done so twice I will never, ever travel from West to East on that road. Here's why. The East side of the park exits into some pretty desolate country. If you don't have a reservation at the Glacier Park Facilities on the East Side of the park months in advance you are pretty much out of luck. Much of the land East of Glacier Park is Blackfoot reservation land. That's not a bad thing in and of itself but you will have a desperate time finding somewhere to spend the night. Don't even think about driving the Going to the Sun Road at night! That would be very dangerous! I think you are much better off getting up way early and driving around the Southern tip of the park, coming up on the East side and traveling East to West on the Going to the Sun Road. Then you will exit the park a short distance away from Columbia Falls or Kalispell which is a much better bet if you are trying to locate accommodations for the night. Happy travels to you!
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Post by julieinmd on Jul 29, 2014 1:06:46 GMT
I just want to add that that trip around the Eastern/Southern tip of the park in the evening after dark is not something I would like to do twice. There's no sign of civilization for miles and miles after you leave the general vicinity of the park exit. I just suggest that you plan this part of the trip carefully and make reservations in advance!
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
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Post by ginacivey on Jul 29, 2014 1:17:29 GMT
julie
we plan to spend the night in kalispell...and head over the road bright and early. We'll pull over a couple times for photos...but we aren't hiking or picnicing or anything. I do realize those types of roads take a lot longer than expected. We will head to the road by 8 am....and exit thru the east and head south en route to yellowstone...staying in either Helena or Bozeman (depending on the time of day we arrive in helena)
THAT is exactly the type of info i am looking for...people who've been there and done that
what are you going to Lewiston to do?
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Post by shevy on Jul 29, 2014 4:21:18 GMT
Don't travel after dusk while in the vacinity of Yellowstone or any park. The wildlife are dangerous on bikes. Are you doing Beartooth?
Dress in lots of layers, but know that you're going to be cold and hot. We'd go over passes and be cold, but not a lot of pull off places to stop and add layers. Same thing with the valleys, hot, but stuck riding.
Do you have GPS at all? It saved us from filling up a lot because we could use the GOS for next gas instead of feeling like we had to fill up in every town when they were spaced farther apart.
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
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Post by ginacivey on Jul 29, 2014 12:32:56 GMT
we are not doing beartooth this time around
we try to have all our riding done before dusk....
i have a smart phone....what is this app? GOS?
gina
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Post by mtscrapper on Jul 29, 2014 12:49:59 GMT
I would suggest just going up to the top of Going to the Sun Road from the West and going back down the way you came. A couple of years ago we drove from the West and then around to the East, and it is a long and windy road on that East side, and there isn't much to see - lots of sagebrush. At the time we drove, there were a ton of bicyclers (the road isn't all that wide either) on the road and because of the windy road, we would come up on them really quickly. We were nervous we wouldn't be able to stop in time. There must have been one that was hit because there was an ambulance that went passed us at one time.
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
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Post by ginacivey on Jul 29, 2014 12:59:25 GMT
two of you have recommended not dealing with the area east of the park
my husband talked to some guys that just returned...and they've said the same thing
so i rerouted...we'll go thru the road from the west and turn around and ride it back to West Glacier
i don't mind boring roads...i do mind having to worry about fuel - or a place to stay if a storm rolls in
i really do appreciate the help i've received so far!
gina
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Post by shevy on Jul 29, 2014 14:39:59 GMT
Ha. Sorry, GPS. My phone must have been autocorrecting.
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Post by julieinmd on Jul 31, 2014 4:36:57 GMT
Hi Gina,
I grew up in Lewiston so I am visiting family. We are heading up to Northern Idaho to camp along the north fork of the Couer d'alene River. My sister lives in Columbia Falls so I know my way around there pretty well too. I try to visit her each summer. I am glad my advice was helpful. Be safe and have a great trip!
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Post by montanacowgirl on Jul 31, 2014 5:02:09 GMT
Glad to see you changed your mind about trying to circle the park. On a bike it would take 2 days to be safe. Long trip. Heck kalispell, Bozeman etc all have walmarts, just park your rig in the back 40 and base out of there. The trip from Bozeman down the gallatin river and through west Yellowstone is beautiful right now, it's a can't miss.
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