Driving from Bozeman, MT to Island Park

[sledhead1125]

A buddy and I are flying out to Bozeman and will be riding IP in the end of January. I have been paying attention to the DOT webcams and road reports but I didn't know if there was a route thats better than another during the winter months, it looks like they could both be interesting if its snowing...

Any input would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[christopher]

There is really only one route.
Straight down highway 191 into West yellowstone and then highway 20 to Island Park.

 

[sledhead1125]

Alright. I was wondering if heading a little further west to 287 to 87 would be any better in winter, it appears to be less "mountainous". Thanks for the input.

 

[wjl]

There is really only one route.
Straight down highway 191 into West yellowstone and then highway 20 to Island Park.

That canyon road is kept in great shape because of the semis/vacationers/residents that travel that route.
Yes there can be times it is iffy but there are plows on it constantly. BTW only one place to get gas and that is Big Sky.
BTW it is one of the most beautiful drives in the west.

 

[srw]

The best route is not thru West Yellowstone. Take the road to Ennis into Island Park. It is a much less treacherous highway and half the traffic.

 

[christopher]

But if he is traveling in bad weather, Highway 20 gets the majority of the snow removal attention first.

 

[phatty]

The best route is not thru West Yellowstone. Take the road to Ennis into Island Park. It is a much less treacherous highway and half the traffic.

mileage wise this way is longer, but I can tell you in the winter its about 30 minutes faster to island park. Im still confused why you would fly to bozeman and drive down vs flying into idaho falls and driving up? Better roads from idaho falls, bigger airport, more sled shops to stop and buy stuff at if you forget something...

 

[bobsled84088]

mileage wise this way is longer, but I can tell you in the winter its about 30 minutes faster to island park. Im still confused why you would fly to bozeman and drive down vs flying into idaho falls and driving up? Better roads from idaho falls, bigger airport, more sled shops to stop and buy stuff at if you forget something...

Agreed on ennis route.
It seems that any storm that rolls thru, they close Ashton hill.you could be stuck for days.

 

[Mort2112]

I go through there all the time for work. Even in bad weather I'd still go through the park, as they've mentioned, MDT pays a lot of attention to it on bad weather days. I've been there many times in bad weather and have never felt overly puckered (but then I don't drive like a bat out of hell on icy roads either). They do a great job keeping it sanded and plowed.

DON'T under any circumstances pass on the Montana Ale Works while you're there! The food is fantastic.

 

[Bigrock33]

Agreed on ennis route.
It seems that any storm that rolls thru, they close Ashton hill.you could be stuck for days.

I had a cabin in IP since 2002, spent almost every weekend there from Dec to April during sledding season and have only had Ashton hill closed one time and that was only for about 3 hours. Maybe I was just lucky all those years but I have a hard time believing you would be stuck for days.

 

[sledr2]

DON'T under any circumstances pass on the Montana Ale Works while you're there! The food is fantastic.

Totally agree!!!

Rolled thru there this summer on bikes and just happened to have dinner there, super fantastic!

 

[mold]

Agreed on ennis route.
It seems that any storm that rolls thru, they close Ashton hill.you could be stuck for days.

I have lived in Idaho Falls for 64 years and travel to Island Park many times each winter and only remember one time in all of those years that Ashton Hill was closed and then it was only for a few hours. They don't even have a gate at the bottom of the hill to close like many areas of hi-way that have frequent closures.

 

[srw]

Mileage wise it is not way longer thru Ennis from Bozeman. The highway also receives as much winter attention as the highway from Bozeman to West Yellowstone. I am from Livingston originally and now live in idaho falls and have driven both routes to many times to count over the last 20 yrs. The Gallatin canyon though beautiful in the winter is a nasty drive with all the hairpin turns as you follow the river.

 

[wjl]

There are a few sweeping 90's and long s curves but hair pin curves where?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairpin_curve

Just did a map quest and the times are the same. So it entirely up to you.

 

[Jeff C]

I have driven both routes many times over the last 20 years. The Ennis route has less curves on it, but the route is about 20 minutes longer.

We had two crews traveling behind each other, one peeled off and went the Ennis route, the other through the park. The park route is quicker.

 

[bobsled84088]

I have lived in Idaho Falls for 64 years and travel to Island Park many times each winter and only remember one time in all of those years that Ashton Hill was closed and then it was only for a few hours. They don't even have a gate at the bottom of the hill to close like many areas of hi-way that have frequent closures.

I find it hard to believe that you have never been stopped at the bottom of the hill . Maybe you check the weather and you use good judgement on when to travel. A few years ago around christmas time a big storm hit and my in-laws had to overnite it in Ashton.

 

[mold]

I find it hard to believe that you have never been stopped at the bottom of the hill . Maybe you check the weather and you use good judgement on when to travel. A few years ago around christmas time a big storm hit and my in-laws had to overnite it in Ashton.

Not saying it never happens but not often enough to make it be a trip deal breaker. And no, I have never been stopped at the bottom of the hill and I have driven up it in some less than favorable conditions, a few times folioing the plow but have never missed a day of riding because of the the hill being closed. Now out of Ashton towards Warm River, that is a whole different story.

 

[Kirklan]

I second everything mold has said. Driving from Idaho Falls is a non issue. It certainly isn't any worse than driving from Bozeman and in most cases would be better IMO. I've never been stopped at Ashton either.

 

[sledhead1125]

Thanks for all the input guys. It looks like either route will do the trick, I guess we will just play it by ear with the weather. As far as flying to Idaho falls goes, t was about $250 cheaper per person to fly to Bozeman.

 

[Blk88GT]

The drive is worth it, one of the very few places I really enjoy driving, even in a storm.