At more than 2 million acres spanning swaths of three states (Montana, Idaho and Wyoming), Yellowstone National Park is one of the country’s most expansive. Unsurprisingly, it’s one that visitors tend to explore via car.
But in the spirit of environmentalism, administrators hope to change that with a new cyclist-friendly initiative.
The Greater Yellowstone Trail is a 180-mile loop of paved and gravel road that will circumscribe the park across all three of the states it encompasses. Scheduled to open in 2019, the Trail was made by piecing together existing biking and hiking trails — you can take it on foot, but not by car — including the TransAmerica U.S. Bicycle Route 76 and the Great Divide Bicycle Route.
You’ll be able to camp along the way, and it links up to a variety of communities and worthwhile waypoints, from Huntsman Springs to the Mesa Falls Lodge, not to mention plenty of trout streams for dropping a line.
We’re already planning our trip, so we’ll see you further on down the trail.
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