Riding the Beartooth Highway in August! Anyone driven over this?

I will be taking a little ride from Billings to Yellowstone and we plan to ride the Beartooth Highway over the top to Cooke City and into the park. If you have ever driven over this on your Bike I would like any input you may have! I have never driven a bike on such an extreme section of road or at that kind of elevation. I don't think I'm going to be able to haul my VFR out but I will be riding my friend's ZX-14, so that should be interesting! If you have anything I should know other than hold on let me know!
Thanks
VFRHUMP

 

I was just checking out a video on that area for a future road trip, so I take it you think it's time for Favre to retire :lol:


Chief Joseph Highway

 

It's best to closely check the weather before attempting the Beartooth. Late afternoon attempts are not advisable. What might look like harmless rain showers in the afternoon on the mountain will be sleet or frozen rain. If you encounter vertical anxiety during the ascent try closing one eye to decrease depth perception. That mountain will make women and young children cry. Don't eat the water melon snow at the summit. I've never encountered any road like it anywhere in the world I've traveled. After passing the summit there is a cool little store called Top of the World. Of course you can go straight on to the Park but if you have the time, taking the Chief Joseph scenic byway into Cody and then to the Park would be an option. Very scenic! Have fun.

 

you will love it, scenery is great, road is fun, just drive to your ability and enjoy, and like the man says, skip the 40 mph parking lot and take the chief joseph to cody and if you can loop over 14a and 14 in the bighorns....enjoy!

 

I agree with nitronorth. 14A is one of the finer roads in this country. The climb up into the Big Horn's from the west and the descent on the east side into Sheridan will really be surprising. In the morning hours it can be in the upper 20's in the Mts. That would make a good 2 day loop back to Billings. If you're going to Yellowstone to see the wildlife in high summer you won't find them. Bears, wolves, and elk will be in the high country. You'll only find bison in the vally near the falls. The traffic will be unreal. If you're going there to see the geology then by all means. Wow, I wish I were traveling with you. Have fun!

 

I was just there a couple of weeks ago, you will definetly enjoy the ride. Just ride at your pace and you'll be fine, actually the first time thru it's good to take it really easy, just because it's so beautiful, you really have to take it all in and enjoy it. If you have time you really have to ride the Chief Joe scenic hwy as well, those two together have be in the top ten rides in th USA. As you come down off the BTH, as you'll see the sign for Cooke city, just hang a left and thats the Cheif Joe, it will take you out towards 120 witch leads to Cody. If you don't want to go to Cody, which leads to Yellowstone as well, just turn around at 120 and do the "Joe" again, that will take you back to Cooke city. If you have time, you really should ride 14A as well, which will take you thru the northern part of the Big Horn Mtns. that route is more switchbacks up and down and a nice easy ride thru the summit. Another beautiful ride is 16 thru the southern part of the Big Horns, they actually say it's the most scenic route, that route has some more longer sweeping curves than 14A, 16 leads into into Ten sleep canyon from Buffalo. Here are some pictures to wet your appetite for the Beartooth.

Overlooking the road in from Red Lodge


Getting near the summit



BTH Wyoming side


Near end of BTH, scenic view heading towards cooke city

 

Hey VFRHUMP, what part of Wisconsin are you in?

 

Located just outside of Madison!

 

Nice job on the photos Wheels, I've drove through there in a car and was going damn where's the bike when you need it. thanks for sharing and asking the Q good info.