Motorcycling
With some of the most majestic scenery you'll find anywhere in the world, Yellowstone Country is the perfect spot to hit the road by bike. Home to the Beartooth Highway—hailed the most scenic drive in America—as well as Yellowstone National Park and countless small towns and adventure outposts, there's no shortage of captivating rides.
Cruise through beautiful valleys—including Paradise—and over high mountain passes, along winding rivers and through stunning canyons, all while feeding your sense of adventure and your need for speed—or a slow cruise—on Montana's open roads. With three of the five entrances to Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Country is your starting point for a two-wheeled, bucket-list motorcycle tour.
Visit our scenic drives page for some of our favorite rides, or check out Glaciers to Geysers for a full Montana motorcycling experience.
4-DAY MOTORCYCLE GETAWAY IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY MONTANA
Spend four days touring the sublime landscape of America's first national park, as well as the region north of the park—Yellowstone Country—featuring some of the country's most scenic rides and captivating small towns.
DAY 1
Bozeman > Big Sky > West Yellowstone: 95 miles
Begin your adventure on U.S. Highway 191 in the lively college town of Bozeman. As you travel through the wildly scenic Gallatin Canyon, take in exceptional views of the Gallatin River, towering rock formations, lush forestlands and wide-open valleys. If you're up for a hike, you'll find plenty of trails and mountain lakes on either side of the canyon. Continue on to Big Sky (about halfway between Bozeman and West Yellowstone) and take in the views of Lone Peak before heading on to West Yellowstone—the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. In this popular gateway community, you'll find friendly lodging options and plenty to eat and drink, from bison and burgers to locally brewed beer.
DAY 2
West Yellowstone > Yellowstone National Park > Gardiner: 54 miles
Get back on US-191 heading east into the park, eventually picking up US-89 heading north. This route takes you along the left side of Yellowstone National Park's Upper Loop. Attractions include Madison, Monument Geyser Basin, Artist Paintpots (unique, bubbling mudpots), Steamboat Geyser, Norris Geyser Basin (the hottest thermal area in Yellowstone), Roaring Mountain, Obsidian Cliff, Sheepeater Cliff, and, most notably, Mammoth Hot Springs, just 23 miles south of Gardiner. Here, explore the famous, steaming hot springs terraces and tour historic Fort Yellowstone and the Albright Visitor Center, before passing through the Roosevelt Arch and settling in for the night in the charming town of Gardiner.
DAY 3
Gardiner > Cooke City > Red Lodge: 120 miles
From Gardiner, you'll cross the northern part of Yellowstone National Park on US-212—including the Tower-Roosevelt area (Roosevelt Lodge, Calcite Springs Overlook, Tower Falls), the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, and the Lamar Valley (dubbed America's Serengeti)—to Cooke City. Don't miss the General Store in this tiny outpost. From there you'll begin the Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, called the most scenic drive in America. Ride 68 miles of jaw-dropping switchbacks through the Absaroka and Beartooth mountain ranges. You'll find numerous scenic pull-outs and views of 20 peaks towering over 12,000 feet. Climb Beartooth Pass at 10,947 feet—which is the highest drivable point in the state—and don't miss the “Top of the World” where you can pull over, fuel up, and enjoy the views. End your day in the destination mountain town of Red Lodge, boasting a historic downtown area and lively nightlife.
DAY 4
Red Lodge > Absarokee Loop > Columbus > Big Timber > Livingston: 189 Miles
On the northern front of the Beartooth Mountains, travel up State Highway 78 toward Columbus. Halfway there, just below Absarokee, you'll turn off toward Fishtail (don't miss the General Store and the Tippet Rise Art Center) to ride the Absarokee Loop (state routes 419 and 420), passing through Nye to Absarokee. (Note there's a gravel road at Nye Basin.) From Absarokee, you'll follow the wild Stillwater River to Columbus at the foothills of the Beartooths on the Yellowstone River. Follow the Yellowstone on Interstate Highway 90 to the sweeping Grasslands of Big Timber, where you'll get off the interstate and take the scenic Boulder River Backcountry Drive (State Highway 89) into the heart of the Absaroka Mountains before reaching Livingston. Along with excellent mountain views and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness scenery, you'll have the opportunity to visit the Natural Bridge Falls Picnic Area—well worth the stop to see the natural rock tunnels and waterfall. The first 20 miles of this road are paved and the rest is gravel. Once in Livingston, take advantage of this premier mountain town's brewery and distillery scene.
