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.
The segment descriptions below correspond the segments shown on the full FS/CDT route map: https://caltopo.com/m/UU6AE1G
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.
220 Great Basin
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 the intersection of Highway 351 and Highway 191 (Segment Mile 28) and little else until Rawlins.
After turning from Highway 191 onto Speedway Rd (the road to Big Sandy) the next 45 miles are fast, smooth gravel. You will rejoin the GDMBR for 25 miles beginning at Segment Mile 45. At Segment Mile 76 you’ll reach the Sweetwater Guard Station small campground (free, pleasant, and with a pit toilet and dumpster). Cross the Sweetwater River to rejoin the CDT proper.
The next 20 miles offers pleasant singletrack with nice views, and a mostly ridable climb over a pass at Segment Mile 89. (After the pass the route is mostly doubletrack until nearing the Colorado border.)
At Segment Mile 99 you’ll reach historic South Pass City, a former mining town turned into a state park. There’s a hiker area with free wifi and shaded tables. Fill up on your water from the restrooms here. Water sources ahread through the Great Basin are few and far between.
The visitor center sells root beer and ice cream. (Atlantic City, a few miles down the road on the GDMBR, has a restaurant that operates limited hours and a hostel that doubles as a gun shop, Wild Bill’s.)
From South Pass City you’ll climb steeply back up to the plateau. Once on the plateau, the FS/CDT takes the road walk CDT alternate (which most hikers take as well). The 221 Great Bushwhack alt follows the CDT proper across a rugged landscape of volcanic rocks, with very little discernable trail, parallel to the road.
The Sweetwater River at Segment Mile 113.5 offers a bit of shade under the bridge and a good water source. There is a volunteer-maintained water cache at Segment Mile 138.5 (not on FarOut) and a delightful (and presumably reliable) piped spring at Segment Mile 165.5. There are also few cowponds that you could filter from along the way if desperate.
The riding across the Great Basin is predominantly doubletrack with some sandy sections. The riding is seldom fast but never particularly slow. Highway 287 to Rawlins is a busy road but has a wide shoulder. The CDT proper runs along the west side of the highway, but I’m told is predominantly trailless travel.
230 Medicine Bow
You’ll be on mostly smooth and fast road for 50 miles south of Rawlins.
The 231 Alt will save you 30 minutes. This shortens the WRNRT by about a day.
The 232 Alt sticks to the CDT proper through a section of not super well defined trail.
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.
The next 90 miles are a mix of single track, double track, and road. These are predominantly pleasant and rideable. You’ll cross into Colorado at Segment Mile 119. At Segment Mile 141 you’ll hit pavement for a quick ride into Steamboat.
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