Your fav trails in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming?

[Dallant]

Thinking of a trip out west. Your fav (non-MTB) trails in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming?
Wifey don't EMTB!

 

[Sierratim]

OK, we didn't ride eBikes, but my wife and I really enjoyed the 'hub' bike tour out of Wallace, Idaho 2 years ago. It was hosted by roadscholar.org. I think this is the same trip;

Couer d’Alene Bike Tours: Idaho Panhandle Rails to Trails Biking Trips

Spend five days on a biking tour of the renowned Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, learning about regional history, diverse wildlife and the fascinating story of the Idaho Panhandle as you go!

www.roadscholar.org

Another participant brought her eBike. It worked out well, except she kept passing us on the (gentle) hills!

We esp liked the 'hub' design of this tour. You check into your room and don't need to pack again until you're done! We did cheat a bit by arriving a few days early to see the sights in Eastern Washinton. Had Father's Day brunch at a restaurant over looking the falls in downtown Spokane, WA. Crab, yumm...

Saw multiple moose off the bike trails, including one in 'downtown' Wallace - "The Center of the Universe"- Google it!

 

[EMGX]

I rode from Plummer to Wallace one day and back again the next day the last week of September last year on a regular non-assist bike. It's a nice paved rails to trails path and worthwhile if you are in the area but frankly, while scenic, the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene is not a spectacular route. Also rode the Route of the Hiawatha near Wallace in '19, a more scenic gravel former railroad bed with several tunnels and trestles but only 15 miles each way, out and back. No moose on either ride.

A picture taken on the route of the Hiawatha

 

[Dallant]

Thanks guys! We are enjoying the west in Montana but not many non-EMTB trails. Wifey and I tried a service road on our Allant+7 near Red Lodge and had fun but it got way too rocky for her. Loving it otherwise. Overall pretty hazy but the Beartooth Pass (10,946’) is not to be missed!

 

[dblhelix]

Thanks guys! We are enjoying the west in Montana but not many non-EMTB trails. Wifey and I tried a service road on our Allant+7 near Red Lodge and had fun but it got way too rocky for her. Loving it otherwise. Overall pretty hazy but the Beartooth Pass (10,946’) is not to be missed!

The Montana paths/trails tend to be dominated by ATVs which means rocky washboards. Also, I found (in recent weeks) that some have been closed off with barbed wire, etc.

No moose on Trail of the CDA? Mom + young one have been routinely sighted in recent weeks!

 

[Dallant]

The Montana paths/trails tend to be dominated by ATVs which means rocky washboards. Also, I found (in recent weeks) that some have been closed off with barbed wire, etc.

No moose on Trail of the CDA? Mom + young one have been routinely sighted in recent weeks!

I’m surprised at the lack of any wildlife this visit. Having a great time if not the best conditions with the major haze.

 

[Merle Nelson]

I'm wondering if wildlife noticeably would lay low in that modest of haze (judging by your pictures.) Bees are "smoked" before being worked so they go into the hive and gorge on honey thus becoming more docile. Last year we had smoke around us so thick you couldn't see over a mile or so and the feral cats that have adopted us acted radically different during that time.

Fun to think of traveling beautiful areas of the states and touring out from there on ebikes Dallant. I have always noticed I miss so much buzzing through at 55 or 80 mph.

 

[Dallant]

I'm wondering if wildlife noticeably would lay low in that modest of haze (judging by your pictures.) Bees are "smoked" before being worked so they go into the hive and gorge on honey thus becoming more docile. Last year we had smoke around us so thick you couldn't see over a mile or so and the feral cats that have adopted us acted radically different during that time.

Fun to think of traveling beautiful areas of the states and touring out from there on ebikes Dallant. I have always noticed I miss so much buzzing through at 55 or 80 mph.

I lived in WA and ID for many years and spent a ton of time in Tetons/Yellowstone areas. Went thru Yellowstone a few days ago and was shocked at the change in how few wildlife there was. Probably under 100 buffalo total and they were in small groups far off in the distance. That’s it. No pronghorn, elk, deer, etc. to be seen. It’s not a place I’d ride on the roads much with so much traffic, even with all the kids back in school. It’s a beautiful part of the country but the grand vistas are far less impressive with this level of constant haze.

 

[Dallant]

So we found a great trail just outside of Missoula, MT on the Rattlesnake National recreational main trailhead. Wifey (the Brave) and I did 10 miles on our Allant+7 out on a beautiful trail with lots of light and some VERY rocky road. I’ve been very pleased with how the Allants (with their 85nm/EMTB-Lite/EMTB updates and the Tannus Armor-reinforced Schwalbe G-Ones) and wifey have performed for being more or less out of their element! The bikes definitely need a good cleaning and the chain/cassette need that and a solid relube!
(PS-still haven’t needed the Bear Spray yet!)

 

[Dallant]

One of my favorite ranges…great path out of Jackson Hole to Jenny Lake. Not real long but a great ride.

 

[BlackHand]

Beautiful. If you make it over to the Idaho side of the Tetons, the Ashton-Tetonia rail trail looked nice when we drove through that way a couple years ago.

 

[TrailSeeker]

That's an incredible view. I've always wanted to see the Montana and Idaho areas. It just makes you feel like that's exactly what biking is all about - the great outdoors

Edit: I forgot to mention how nice the mountains are. Those are the rockies right?

 

[Dallant]

That's an incredible view. I've always wanted to see the Montana and Idaho areas. It just makes you feel like that's exactly what biking is all about - the great outdoors

Edit: I forgot to mention how nice the mountains are. Those are the rockies right?

The Grand Tetons just outside Jackson Hole WY on the way north to Yellowstone National Park.
Truth is we haven’t ridden as many trails as I initially intended. Time, vast distances and the desire to get to many places before the wintery weather starts to hit the high passes has cut down on time for riding. Also involved, frankly, is the lack of trails where non-EMTB ebikes aren’t great options. Wifey is game, up to a point, but we may need to consider a FS EMTB for her to handle rougher trails. Next time, we’ll choose a more focused trip to a smaller location list like Washington/Oregon only.

 

[EMGX]

Great pictures Dallant! Smoke and crowds not too bad then? Amtrak had a 1/2 off sale where I could do a round trip to West Glacier and back for $100 which is less than gas money and I would have done it spending a couple days at Glacier to ride over going to the sun but webcams of the park showed a lot of smoke so I passed on it. 4 years ago I took a motorcycle to Alaska on the ferry from Bellingham and rode 2600 miles home, thick smoke especially in Banff sort of ruined parts of the ride though. I'm a long 1 day drive to Glacier so I'm still sort of thinking of going next week depending on the weather

Banff in '17, not great.

 

[Dallant]

Spent the day finding and riding the Mickelson Trail out of Deadwood, SD. Normally the 109 mile trail is ridden from the south and ends in Deadwood. We decided to do the opposite and paid for it with about 15 miles of uphill riding and then turned around for mostly downhill ride back. Beautiful trail with fine gravel and some of the two rails showing through now and then. We‘re beat and grateful for our Allant+7. total reliability/performance and truck storage system works but at the end of a long ride, it’s tough to lift the bikes up into the bed.

 

[Merle Nelson]

Would you mind showing truck storage?

Would like like a link to about a 5lb, $60 ramp 6 feet long? I think it's rated for 400lb motorcycle.

 

[Art Deco]

Thanks guys! We are enjoying the west in Montana but not many non-EMTB trails. Wifey and I tried a service road on our Allant+7 near Red Lodge and had fun but it got way too rocky for her. Loving it otherwise. Overall pretty hazy but the Beartooth Pass (10,946’) is not to be missed!

Very nice photos in spite of the haze.

 

[Dallant]

Would you mind showing truck storage?

Would like like a link to about a 5lb, $60 ramp 6 feet long? I think it's rated for 400lb motorcycle.

I bought a ramp but didn’t bring it on this trip. I can do it (lift the 50+ lb Allants) without it but I have a pair of ramps for the future and other uses. The set I bought from Amazon are tough enough to load a JD lawn tractor in my Silverado. Certainly not $60 anymore.

https://www.amazon.com/ZENY-Aluminum-Motorcycle-Loading-Capacity/dp/B07VKSHXGC/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=pickup+ramps+for+lawn+tractor&qid=1631836324&sr=8-5

 

[Merle Nelson]

It doesn't look like you have to have an elevated roof camper shell huh?

Maybe I'll tape measure what I need on a Toyota Tacoma....and find someone to let me test on size that looks promising.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Dallant]

It’s a much higher topper than normal. I think the rear window opening is 41” but don’t remember for sure. I do have to lean it a bit sometimes. Frankly, I’m thinking of a way to slide the platform out to make loading/unloading a bit easier.