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07-16-2019, 11:00 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florence, SC
Posts: 31
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Through Big Horn National Forest?
I'm planning a trip for mid September that has us traveling from Mt. Rushmore to Yellowstone. The route I'm looking at has us stopping in Sheridan WY and then traveling US 14 through the Big Horn National Forest to Yellowstone. I'm new to pulling a TT in the mountains and some research has me concerned about Granite Pass. Looking at the southern route using US 16 through Powder River Pass seems worse. Am I overthinking this, or should I try a different approach to Yellowstone?
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Dick & Donna
2014 Ram 2500 4x4
2016 Flagstaff V-Lite 30WRLIKS
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07-16-2019, 04:39 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Nevada
Posts: 1,772
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The Bighorns are on the great unknown mountain ranges. Don't miss them.
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07-16-2019, 05:06 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Arizona's Gila Vally
Posts: 1,505
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Hwy 14 is plenty steep going up and down. After leaving Dayton Wy. it's a long steep, switchback climb all the way to the top. Last time I pulled that grade was July 2016 with a load of four quads on a car trailer. My brother was pulling his 5th wheel with his F250 7.3 diesel. We just took it easy and had no problems.
I haven't been down the other side since 1973.
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2016 RAM 1500 - 2016 Keystone Laredo 265SRK
The road goes on forever and the party never ends.
Illegitimum non carborundum
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07-16-2019, 05:24 PM
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#4
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Insert witty title here
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: About 30 miles west of Beantown.
Posts: 4,023
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When I went to Yellowstone back in 2017, The Big Horns were my favorite part of the drive. We took Rte 14 up and over and loved it. Yes it's a steep drive but If your truck is properly sized for your camper, you will have no problems.
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2021 Transcend Xplor 247BH
Husky WDH with Sway Control
2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT 6.6L V8 Duramax
Forever in my memory. Forever in my heart.
Laurie J. Wood 3/22/67 - 8/23/19
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07-16-2019, 07:04 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,219
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16 is easier than 14, but if you take 14 be sure to stay on 14 and do not get on 14A. You will see the signs in the beautiful section of high country.
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2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
2010 F250 4X4 5.4L 3.73 LS
EQUALIZER E4 1200/12000
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07-17-2019, 11:12 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florence, SC
Posts: 31
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Thanks! I'm going to reroute to Buffalo WY instead and then take 16.
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Dick & Donna
2014 Ram 2500 4x4
2016 Flagstaff V-Lite 30WRLIKS
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07-17-2019, 11:32 AM
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#7
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tipp City, OH
Posts: 7,154
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVEagle
Thanks! I'm going to reroute to Buffalo WY instead and then take 16.
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That is the route we took from Custer to Cody. Every imaginable landscape between the two cities. We did encounter high winds while on 20 going north. Had our slide toppers fly up a couple of times, but just slowed down a bit and all was fine.
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2016 Georgetown 364TS
2017 Jeep Rubicon Recon toad
Nights Camped 2019 - 17
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07-17-2019, 12:14 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Arizona's Gila Vally
Posts: 1,505
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Good call on taking hwy16 it's a lot easier. Leaving the Black Hills with a stop at Devils Tower makes for a good day traveling to Buffalo Wy. The KOA there is pretty nice.
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2016 RAM 1500 - 2016 Keystone Laredo 265SRK
The road goes on forever and the party never ends.
Illegitimum non carborundum
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07-17-2019, 12:27 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Western, NY
Posts: 438
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Like others have said, it is well worth the drive. Here are a few pictures after I went over the top. You can see how the switch backs are in picture 1 ,2 and 4. Picture 3 is a dirt road across the valley. We took it slow and stopped to take in the scenery. Enjoy the trip!
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2016 Prime Time Crusader 294RLT
2021 RAM 3500 Laramie Mega HO\CTD, CC, 4x4...ect
Days Camped in last 3 years - 79
Planned Days in 2021 - 50
Days Camped in 2021 - 0
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07-17-2019, 12:41 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Maryland
Posts: 204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lbrjet
16 is easier than 14, but if you take 14 be sure to stay on 14 and do not get on 14A. You will see the signs in the beautiful section of high country.
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Not heading there yet but why not 14A? Looks like a good road on google earth.
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2015 XLR 29HFS Toy Hauler
2016 Ford F250 Lariat Crew Cab FX4 Power Stroke
2007 Harley Softail Deluxe
2005 Victory Vegas
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07-17-2019, 01:33 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Posts: 942
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Keep an eye on the weather; very unpredictable.
Some 30 years ago tried entering from the east entrance/Cody side early September and the entrance was closed due to snow. Opened up the next morning after the plow crews cleared the roads.
Safe and happy travels.
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2012 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT Z71 6.2l aka "Luci"
2020 Grand Design Imagine XLS 22 MLE aka "Desi"
Past: 2017 Prime Time Tracer Air 206
Days camped 2021: 19
Days camped 2020: 18
Days camped 2019: 17
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07-17-2019, 02:24 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florence, SC
Posts: 31
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Black Hills Plan
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackrock
Good call on taking hwy16 it's a lot easier. Leaving the Black Hills with a stop at Devils Tower makes for a good day traveling to Buffalo Wy. The KOA there is pretty nice.
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We're looking to stop at Mount Rushmore KOA, spend a day seeing Rushmore and Crazy Horse, then driving to Black Hills KOA the next day, for the night, to see Devils Tower, then off to Buffalo KOA the next day. Sound about right?
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Dick & Donna
2014 Ram 2500 4x4
2016 Flagstaff V-Lite 30WRLIKS
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07-17-2019, 02:52 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 257
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Anyone been that way in gas Georgetown with the triton v10?
I have a 2017 364 TD with 6 speed transmission? Can I go that way on 14?
Been there 6 times on motorcycle but I loved the hills and curves back then and the views were amazing!
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07-17-2019, 02:53 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Arizona's Gila Vally
Posts: 1,505
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVEagle
We're looking to stop at Mount Rushmore KOA, spend a day seeing Rushmore and Crazy Horse, then driving to Black Hills KOA the next day, for the night, to see Devils Tower, then off to Buffalo KOA the next day. Sound about right?
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Maybe skip the Black Hills KOA and go straight to Devils Tower. There is a KOA there. Last year I left The Custer KOA (pit) and made a fast pass at Devils Tower and then on to Buffalo. This made for too long of a long day.
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2016 RAM 1500 - 2016 Keystone Laredo 265SRK
The road goes on forever and the party never ends.
Illegitimum non carborundum
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07-17-2019, 05:02 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Waukesha, WI
Posts: 68
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Made this trip last year. F150 ecoboost pulling a 26ft TT. Traveling West we took Hwy 16 and then up to Cody and Yellowstone. No big deal. Traveling East we took Hwy 14 over the Big Horns. Spent 1 night at a National Forest Campground along 14. Nice place with electric and water. Hwy 14 is much more manageable traveling East. A bit of a climb but not as steep as the route down on the East side. Going down I had to put it in 1st gear and travel about 20 mph. That way I didn't need to brake too much. There are a lot of pull offs if you get some idiot in back of you. I also thought it was the best part of the trip. Beautiful and lots of fun driving.
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Northtrail 25RKSS
2020 Ecoboost F-150
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07-17-2019, 06:26 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florence, SC
Posts: 31
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Black Hills KOA
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackrock
Maybe skip the Black Hills KOA and go straight to Devils Tower. There is a KOA there. Last year I left The Custer KOA (pit) and made a fast pass at Devils Tower and then on to Buffalo. This made for too long of a long day.
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FYI - the Black Hills KOA is the KOA at Devils Tower. So, yupp, that's the plan! Thanks!
__________________
Dick & Donna
2014 Ram 2500 4x4
2016 Flagstaff V-Lite 30WRLIKS
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07-17-2019, 07:06 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: California SF Bay Area
Posts: 165
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Not sure if I should of started new thread or ask here while the topic is the same area. We are going to Yellowstone end of September. Heading east Oct 6, to Cody, Staying there one night. From Cody east on 14. The northern 14 must be the 14A, as it says closed in the winter. After Big horn on 40 to Rapid City Staying in Hermosa just south of Rapid City. Staying couple days to do Mt Rushmore, as well other sights there. Question is, Will we be able to make it from Cody to Rapid City in less than 7 hours going on 14. Goolge says 6 hours and 20 minutes. We are thinking 90 might be better! But, 90 looks like a very windy road? Greatly appreciate you guys thoughts? The last thread on this was a few years ago.
I know WE risk snow issues that time of year and all of this may mean nothing, if we get bad luck with weather.
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07-17-2019, 07:14 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florence, SC
Posts: 31
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Watch for closing campgrounds
Quote:
Originally Posted by FORKLIFMAN
Not sure if I should of started new thread or ask here while the topic is the same area. We are going to Yellowstone end of September. Heading east Oct 6, to Cody, Staying there one night. From Cody east on 14. The northern 14 must be the 14A, as it says closed in the winter. After Big horn on 40 to Rapid City Staying in Hermosa just south of Rapid City. Staying couple days to do Mt Rushmore, as well other sights there. Question is, Will we be able to make it from Cody to Rapid City in less than 7 hours going on 14. Goolge says 6 hours and 20 minutes. We are thinking 90 might be better! But, 90 looks like a very windy road? Greatly appreciate you guys thoughts? The last thread on this was a few years ago.
I know WE risk snow issues that time of year and all of this may mean nothing, if we get bad luck with weather.
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Another risk is closing campgrounds. The 3 campgrounds we are looking at in that area close around 10/1.
__________________
Dick & Donna
2014 Ram 2500 4x4
2016 Flagstaff V-Lite 30WRLIKS
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07-17-2019, 07:31 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cedar Creek Lake, TX
Posts: 3,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoom
Not heading there yet but why not 14A? Looks like a good road on google earth.
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14A, or alt 14, is higher elevation and steeper roads. Often closed for snow. But if you go that way stop by Medicine Wheel at the top of the mountain. It is a spiritual native American site, often depicted in movies.
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Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Keystone Loredo 290SRL
2019 Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins crew cab
Andersen hitch
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07-17-2019, 07:51 PM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 4
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Recently made this same trip (May 26th - June 10th). Spent the night at Crooked Creek Campground after touring Mt. Rushmore. Wonderful camp and great hosts. Traveled the next day to Devil's Tower and then the Buffalo, WY. There were 4 families traveling together, 2 fifth wheels and 2 bumper pulls, we opted for the southern route over 16. Spent the night in Ten Sleep, WY at the Ten Broek RV Park. Was a great overnight camp ground. We too were concerned with traveling over the Big Horn Mt., but had absolutely no problems at all. Took our time and enjoyed some very great scenery. Some of the best star gazing in Ten Sleep I've ever seen.
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