OFMC sees green in Idaho and Montana

Nearing Targhee Pass and the state line between Idaho and Montana

After days of heat and with brown, black, and white (Bonneville Salt Flats) the predominant colors, the OFMC summer motorcycle trip finally hit cool weather and emerald green in Idaho and Montana. What a welcome sight.

We left Ashton, ID, headed northeast along ID 47, which took us into the Targhee National Forest and to Lower Mesa Falls and Upper Mesa Falls. From the lower falls viewpoint you could see the deep gorge going downriver, and at the upper falls you could go right down to the lip of the thundering cascade. Make no mistake, this is not arid country, and the rivers in this region flow deep and swift. (See the slideshow below for photos.)

Continuing north on U.S. 20, we crossed Targhee Pass and came down into West Yellowstone, which also brought us into Montana. This tourist town sits at the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park, but we weren't going into the park this trip, except to the extent that U.S. 191 dips into the park as it carries traffic north along the western park boundary. This is the greenery, the scenery, and the awe-inspiring natural beauty we take these trips to enjoy. If only there weren't so many dry, parched miles to cover to get to it.

Up into Montana we cruised, headed for Bozeman, where we had little choice but to pick up the interstate for our jaunt eastward. Much as we prefer to avoid the interstates, however, we who live in Colorado are aware that if the country the road passes through is gorgeous, even the interstate is a good road to ride.

This was true of I-90 eastward. At Livingston we met the Yellowstone River and the road paralleled this beauty for many, many miles. Hills rose and fell around us, some covered in evergreens, some just in the golden grass that covered everything not man-made. It was impossible not to think of these vast areas covered by buffalo in olden days, when the herds were as big as the country they lived in.

Our stopping point for this day was Big Timber, where U.S. 191 leaves the interstate it joined at Bozeman. Our accommodations were comfortable and historic at the Grand Hotel in the heart of town. In addition to serving very fine--and pricey--dinners, the hotel now functions as a bed and breakfast, so our breakfast the next morning was easily the best of the trip. From here our trip would continue east.

Related articles:
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OFMC ride: More hot riding and finally coolness and green
OFMC sees green in Idaho and Montana
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