New to Montana

[Holeshot08]

I am new to Montana, Billings area and am looking for some adv riders that could show me the ropes. I am new to Adv riding, but a veteran rider for sure. Thanks...Chuck

 

[pokeyjoe]

I live in California, but was born and raised in Billings. Your first ride should be to Red Lodge on 212, then take 78 back through Columbus. Nice little ride through the foothills of the Beartooths.
Speaking of which, a ride to Cooke City over the pass (11,000 feet) is mandatory. Lots of bikes on that road. Unfortunately, the ride has become quite popular with the HD crowd (listed in their mags and stuff). Still, lots of switchbacks and you go up above the tree line for awhile.

If you find yourself in Red Lodge for a bit, Red Lodge Ales makes a fine micro brew or two and Bogarts is good for pizza (a retired cop from Billings owns the place). The Pollard is probably the nicest place there for food or lodging.

Heading the other direction, you're out in the open plains. Lots of two-lane roads and interesting little stops (Roundup, Broadus, Belfry, etc). Some of those little one-horse towns have the best food around.

BTW, Deedles Exxon, on 24th Street in Billings, sells premium gas WITHOUT ETHANOL.

 

[Holeshot08]

Thanks John....Great info. I have already explored some of the reccomendations but really need to check out the Cook City pass. Also THANK YOU for the GAS tip! I have not found any good premium here. If you have any suggestions for non paved beginneer rides I am all ears. Again, thank you!

Chuck

 

[pokeyjoe]

If you have any suggestions for non paved beginneer rides I am all ears. Again, thank you!

Chuck

How "beginner"? If you just want to play on some dirt roads, head west on Grand Ave. until the pavement ends. Turn right and play in the hills. There's an old Indian/Calvary battlefield out there. The guy that farms it used to plow up pistols and rifles and stuff.

If you are a little more adventurous, head for Red Lodge again. There is a campground on the right side of the road before you start going up the mountain (my dad's ashes are spread there). Turn into the campground and there's a dirt road heading up the mountains on the right side of the valley. There's some great fishing up there, but you need to hike in.

There are some other great rides in the Beartooth foothills, but not really dirt rides. East Rosebud Lake and Mystic Lake are great rides.

You're making me homesick here....

 

[elkgrichard]

GO check out that LOLO PASS, great ride. Fill up before you get on that pass.

 

[Garwood]

This summer, if you head south to Sheridan or Buffalo, Wyoming, then head west into the Bighorn Mountains, you will find gobs of scenic dirt roads that vary from easy to challenging. You can get a map of the Big Horn National Forest from the Forest Service office in Buffalo on Fort Street (Hwy 16). Hazelton Rd runs south from Hwy 16 about 20 miles west of Buffalo and has many options for there. Rome Hill Rd will take you to Ten Sleep. Slip Rd will take you to Kaycee. And if you stay on Hazelton Rd you will eventually wind up in Casper.

Go east from Buffalo on I-90 then take the Powder River Rd to Arvada on Hwy 14. 14 will take you back to Sheridan. Very nice ride in late spring.

There isn't much pavement in Wyoming so if you are looking for good dirt roads to ride, you don't have far to go from Billings.

 

[pokeyjoe]

GO check out that LOLO PASS, great ride. Fill up before you get on that pass.

Fill up, indeed. Lolo pass is about 400 miles from Billings (via Missoula).

 

[elkgrichard]

Fill up, indeed. Lolo pass is about 400 miles from Billings (via Missoula).

Left Missoula with the V7, when I got down close to that gas station on the other side of that pass (going west) I was having one of them anxiety attacks, thinking I'd run out of gas. From the pass into that southeast tip of Washington sure was a nice ride, neat small towns, sort of like tripping back in time 50 years or so. Hit 97 through Oregon and got into Sacramento a couple days later. 100 degrees the whole way. FROCK.

I'm thinking about heading back up that way this summer and just take my time and check out some of those small towns better. I'll need to find out what 's neat to check out up there. I like history stuff. I can really get wrapped up in it. Especially the old west Army Fort stuff.

 

[pokeyjoe]

I'm thinking about heading back up that way this summer and just take my time and check out some of those small towns better. I'll need to find out what 's neat to check out up there. I like history stuff. I can really get wrapped up in it. Especially the old west Army Fort stuff.

Check out some of the stuff on the route Chief Joseph of the Nez Pierce took. Fort Fizzle, the Big Hole, etc. I was stopped on the reservation in Idaho one time in the 70s. They were collecting a toll to cross their land. It was a pittance. They were just trying to make a point.

 

[elkgrichard]

Check out some of the stuff on the route Chief Joseph of the Nez Pierce took. Fort Fizz
le, the Big Hole, etc. I was stopped on the reservation in Idaho one time in the 70s. They were collecting a toll to cross their land. It was a pittance. They were just trying to make a point.

Thanks for those tips, I'll write that down and use that information when I plan the trip. Some very nice country up that way. You miss stuff when you get in a rush and I was in a rush last time I went through that area. I was saying to myself the whole time, "I need to make it back up here and spend some time".

In the mid 70's I remember when 40 going through New Mexico (if I remember right) had a section that went into an Indian reservation, the freeway would just end and turn into a two way badly paved road with drunk Indians passed out along the side of the road. Some would be selling beads and hand made crafts, most missing their teeth and all wrinkled up. Really sad. My GF bought all sorts of turquoise jewelry which very popular at the time. I remember going south through Phoenix to visit relatives, it must have been 115 degrees that day. This in a VW bug with no air conditioning.