The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Yellowstone Bike & Hike Tour

August 26th to September 9th

Ride Director: Warner Griswold
Ride Driver: Sue Bunten
Report by: Nancy Kirk

Yellowstone By Bicycle…A Wonderland Adventure

Yellowstone was the first national park established in 1872.  What better way to see this special place than to cycle the stage coach route of the early travelers of the 1900’s along the Grand Tour Loop.

Our ride leader Warner Griswold used a 2 day format which allowed us to take in and explore all that Yellowstone has to offer.  We entered the park at West Yellowstone where some of us took to the skies with a helicopter ride while others experienced the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.  From there we rode through Madison Junction down to Old Faithful viewing Grand Prismatic Spring, Fairy Falls, Fountain Paint Pots, and Firehole Lake Drive teaming with thermal hot spots and bubbling geysers.  A day off at Old Faithful allowed for many viewings of the old girl as well as walks / hikes through the entire geyser valley.  From there we cycled past West Thumb and into Lake Village crossing the Continental Divide twice (8300 ft).  On the layover day some of us took a day long wildlife safari tour viewing a grizzly bear gnawing on a bison carcass.   An alpha female wolf lie in wait for her chance at the bison.  Bison herds, Osprey, sandhill cranes, white trumpeter swans, bald eagles, big horn sheep, perquine falcon and Canadian geese were also spotted.  The next day a short bicycle ride took us to Canyon Village for two nights with spectacular visits to Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon and Artist Point.  From there we cycled pass Norris the hottest of the hot spots in Yellowstone to Mammoth Hot Springs where we spent two nights.  Elks abound as rutting season was just beginning.  A day off for hiking, soaking in the thermal hot springs, exploring the travertine steps and Fort Yellowstone.   Leaving Yellowstone at the North entrance through the Roosevelt Tower, we enjoyed sheer bicycling bliss of 60 miles mostly downhill on a miminal traffic road.  Half way a stop at a hot springs resort for a picinic lunch.  Yes, it’s true 60 miles downhill !!

The roads and routes were good with flat, rollers, challenging hills and those downhills.  Lunch was provided and made by each individual and packed in their own personal container and refrigerated until lunchtime.  Happy hours were fun and filled with informative facts and tips about the sights along the way by our special wagon master Sue.  We a had a great group of people on the tour from all across the states.  This was a special tour that gave us an opportunity to cycle the diverse landscape and enjoy all that Yellowstone has to offer on an intimate level.  Warner runs a top notch tour and this one is highly recommended.