Montana Planned trips this year

Question

First trip - We have reservations for Flagg Ranch (new name same place) between Tetons and Yellowstone Memorial day weekend as significant other's boss will be visiting so we can meet them. Then second night hitting parkside campground a few miles out of Red Lodge. Note we are going through Yellowstone not staying in it. It says 5 point something hours, HAH I figure 8.

Second trip July 4th week is actually outside the U.S. going to kananaskis country up in Alberta, Peter Loughheed Provincial Park, Boulton Creek campground. It's only 8 hours from home taking Alberta 40 (dirt but wide well maintained) and only open about 3 months each year. We are hitting it on the Sunday the 3rd which is the end of one of their "long weekends" and they don't care about our 4th and we will stay the week. Kananaskis country is like Glacier or Banff without the people. Will take the Cowboy trail up there unbelievable beauty.

Third trip will be tenting as we will be on the 100 mile magruder trail a 4WD trail from MT to Idaho or vice versa that is two days. Dates are flexible on that one, just need a weekend.

These are all great fun and highly recommended runs.

2gypsies1 · Answer

Kavoom wrote:Then second night hitting parkside campground a few miles out of Red Lodge. Note we are going through Yellowstone not staying in it.  It says 5 point something hours, HAH I figure 8.  From Flagg Ranch, how are you driving to Red Lodge?  You might want to read up on the roads.Roads of Yellowstone

kknowlton · Answer

Red Lodge is over the Beartooth HWy from YNP.  That time of year, it may or may not be open due to snow. They have started to plow it, but if late May turns out to be cooler/wetter than usual, it could be closed again.  I might want to rethink that part of the plan a bit.

kavoom · Answer

Yep know about the opening. We are quite familiar with the roads in the area. They all have their positives and negatives. I've never done the Beartooth and been through the "tunnels" of snow. It's always a gamble but this year on the Beartooth the snow pack is substantially less than most years....good for travel bad for wildfires in July Aug Sept. They are already ahead of most years by miles.

So we would go the east loop if we go through Yellowstone as it is marginally less traffic or worst case IF the pass was closed there are ways there through Cody from Flagg. Who knows might even hit 14A, hike to the Medicine Wheel. It's all good in that area of the country. I'm just pulling a 2K loaded pop up with a 5.7 Hemi Ram Outdoorsman.

uncle_rj · Answer

Kavoom wrote:Second trip July 4th week is actually outside the U.S. going to kananaskis country up in Alberta, Peter Loughheed Provincial Park, Boulton Creek campground. It's only 8 hours from home taking Alberta 40 (dirt but wide well maintained) and only open about 3 months each year. We are hitting it on the Sunday the 3rd which is the end of one of their "long weekends" and they don't care about our 4th and we will stay the week. Kananaskis country is like Glacier or Banff without the people. Will take the Cowboy trail up there unbelievable beauty.  Fantastic trip.  Highway 40 is completely paved.  We love Boulton but don't camp there too much because there's no cell service that deep in the park.

Forum Discussion

Montana Planned trips this year

4 Replies

About Campground 101

Related Content

Montana Route 200S

trip directions to avoid tunnels

2024 Trip Planning

Insane first RV trip plan?

Extended trip planning