Cycle Across America – Day 26

West Yellowstone 13th June 2025

With eight of us currently staying and cycling together, it can take some time to make a decision that works for everyone. We have today to spend in Yellowstone with a hire car, rather than our bikes our transport. We want to hike today but where and for how long. Exploring many options, we found a walk taking in some waterfalls and geysers that was not too long, not too short but just about right at 8km.

We’re not sure how but 15km later we finished a beautiful walk in the scorching hot sunshine in late afternoon. As tired as on any cycling day, this rest day would need a rest day of its own.

As we walked through bear and bison country, we took hundreds of photographs as each twist and turn in our journey brought gasps of awe from each of us,

I have written about my slight anxiety about the possibility of encountering a bear at close quarters on this adventure. Bear spray at the ready, there were no signs of bears today but there were plenty of bison, some adjacent to the road. This might make for an interesting challenge when we cycle the same road tomorrow on our way to Canyon Village where we will spend the night. We might have had no concerns driving past them but cycling past these enormous beasts at close quarters will be an entirely different matter.

A lovely BBQ supper and an early night as we are planning a 5.30am start for our cycle tomorrow. We heard from another cyclist recently who had found the cycle through Yellowstone extremely slow and frustrating with the roads having narrow shoulders not leaving much room for the bicycles when the traffic is at its usual weekend logjam.

Bear spray at the ready, we will proceed with caution.