Standout sections of Idaho and Wyoming include Lionhead, the Wyoming Range National Recreation Trail (WRNRT) and the Great Basin. The road sections through the Teton Valley and on the GDMBR are some of the fastest, easiest miles of the whole FSCDT, and the miles through the Wyoming Range some the hardest and slowest. Access to services is limited. After leaving Driggs / Victor your next bike shop, brewery, or good cup of coffee will be in Steamboat Springs.
100 Centennials
After Lima, it’s a quick bit of road riding to reach the Western Centennials, then things slow down considerably. The trail through the Western Centennials is rugged and old school and entails a fair bit of hike-a-bike. After the western half of the range, the Eastern Centennials are far more rideable and provide a great alpine experience. Unfortunately, due to a short area of Wilderness Study Area where bikes are disallowed, the eight mile gap to Hentrys Lake entails a 50-mile detour through Island Park.
Island Park has a well stocked grocery store (Sam Patch), a few restaurants (I like Cafe Sabor), and a few lodging options. Island Park and its post office are a bit out of the way. Pushing on to resupply in West Yellowstone may be a better option, both for the sake of traveling light up and over the Lionhead area, and because West Yellowstone has more to offer as a town.
110 Lionhead and Teton Valley
Island Park to Victor
The Lionhead area is treasured by southwest Montana mountain bikers for its quality trails through the high alpine. The 3200’ climb after the highway is almost entirely ridable and the descent down to Targhee Pass (segment mile 48) is quite fun.
After Targhee pass there’s a flat, paved rail trail that connects into West Yellowstone, should you decide to resupply in West rather than in Island Park.
After Targhee Pass the riding to and through the Teton Valley is fairly quick on a mix of doubletrack, smooth gravel, and shared use paths. Driggs has a full grocery store, a good bike shop (Peaked Sports), and anything else you might need (except inexpensive accommodations). There’s a paved path from Driggs to Victor.
120 Snake River Range
The Snake River Range extends from Victor to Alpine, Wyoming, straddling the Wyoming / Idaho border. The trails on the Idaho side are popular with local mountain bikers. After crossing into Wyoming the trail is somewhat less defined, sees more equestrian use, and is a bit difficult to follow at points, but generally efficient travel.
After reaching Highway 191, in about two miles you’ll have a choice between turning right and crossing the bridge over the Snake River to ride quiet roads into Hoback Junction, or continuing along the highway. If interested in a hot springs soak at Astoria, there’s a developed hot springs park ($30, reservations recommended) on the south side of the river or natural springs consisting of several pools along the riverbank on the north side of the river (continue along Highway 191 until you reach the boat ramp road, then go northeast).
The Hoback Junction has a well stocked market (though does not carry canister fuel). This will be your last commercial services of any type until you reach Big Piney / Marbleton.
210 Wyoming Range
The Wyoming Range is a seldom visited mountain range along Wyoming’s western edge. The Wyoming Range National Recreation Trail (WRNRT) runs for most the length of the range. Despite its national designation, this trail sees few users. In some sections, the trail disappears entirely and you’ll be left to navigate by GPS and the occasional cairn or post. The trail itself is rather rugged and intermittently unridable. Riding the WRNRT is described in some detail here: https://backcountry-mtb.com/routes/wyomingrangenrt/
The mainline route traverses the northern 55 miles or so of the WRNRT. Expect this to take you at least two days. The exit out from the range, though a motorized trail, is rugged and wet.
The 211 Pinedale alternative route cuts the time spent on the WRNRT by about half and picks up the GDMBR through Pinedale. This shortens the WRNRT by about a day.
The 212 WRNRT Full Send alternative continues on the WRNRT through its southern terminus. This lengthens the WRNRT section by about a day.
Marbleton has a well stocked market and deli (Obos), a bar, and not much else. After leaving Marbleton on the pleasant shared use trail that extends north of town, there’s a gas station at Highway 191, a restaurant and limited market in Atlantic City with limited hours, and nothing else until Rawlins.
… TO BE CONTINUED!