Author Topic: Yaak to Rexford Montana  (Read 6435 times)

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Offline driftlessregion

Yaak to Rexford Montana
« on: December 13, 2020, 03:34:05 pm »
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34837058
Has anyone ridden this route in the summer? Is it as beautiful as it appears?

Offline John Nettles

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Re: Yaak to Rexford Montana
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2020, 06:16:04 pm »
That route, and specifically Yaak, is one of those towns on my bucket list for about a decade.  Years ago, I "think" I read about it on a CGOAB journal.

Offline jamawani

Re: Yaak to Rexford Montana
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2020, 06:46:55 pm »
Long and many years ago, it used to be on the Northern Tier - I think.
Eastbound, you take US 95 north from Sandpoint to Bonners Ferry.
Moderately busy but with shoulders most of the way.
(Lovely back road stretch part of the way thru Burns.)

Eastbound it is a very gradual upgrde following the Yaak River -
Then a killer, nail-bter downhill to Lake Koocanusa.
Westbound, killer climb than a long, gradual descent.
Great country general store at Yaak.
Plenty of places to camp - developed and random.
Quiet.

Offline trek520touring

Re: Yaak to Rexford Montana
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2020, 09:12:48 pm »
I used to live in bonners ferry and drove and rode it many time and Yes it’s Beautiful area


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Offline BikeliciousBabe

Re: Yaak to Rexford Montana
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2020, 05:22:07 am »
Done it in 2017 and 2019. Well worth it. Makes a nice place for a rest day to take a ride from Pete Creek Campground up into the woods. The little store is not well stocked, so be prepared to carry food or eat out. Good burgers at the restaurant. (Not the Dirty Shame Saloon.) The climbout of town to Porcupine Pass and then down to the bridge across the lake to MT 47 is terrific. Best fried chicken and potatoes in Rexford. 49 miles from Pete Creek to Rexford. About 4,100' of climbing. No services.

I'm having hand surgery in a few hours. I will write more when I can.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/105349603@N05/48274235026/in/album-72157709619080636/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/105349603@N05/48274234641/in/album-72157709619080636/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/105349603@N05/48274234321/in/album-72157709619080636/

Offline John Nettles

  • World Traveler
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  • Posts: 2034
  • I ride for smiles, not miles.
Re: Yaak to Rexford Montana
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2020, 09:17:43 am »
Babe,
I hope your surgery goes well.  Were the pics taken by the road or were you hiking some?  It is great scenery.

Offline BikeliciousBabe

Re: Yaak to Rexford Montana
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2020, 06:37:18 am »
The bear was spotted up Pete Creek Rd., which starts off the main road right near the campground. Old FS road that goes some 20 miles into the woods. First few miles are tamed gravel, then it becomes paved. The next morning I saw a young bull elk with a small rack on the main road when leaving camp just before Dawn. He was to fast to get a photo.

I have some photos of the falls along the main road before the campground.  Will have to dig them up. Great place for a snack break.

Offline BikeliciousBabe

Re: Yaak to Rexford Montana
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2020, 03:59:17 pm »
The falls on a sunny day:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/105349603@N05/50724217807/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/105349603@N05/50724128596/in/dateposted-public/

BTW...I am not sure your map in correct. I will check my files later. There are only two paved ways north of Yaak. The one road out of town splits at some point but they come back together again. The signage tells you to bear to the left for the bridge/MT 47, but if you stay straight it's a shorter trip to where the roads come back together again. Little tip I learned from a local bar tender/waitress.

« Last Edit: December 15, 2020, 04:10:30 pm by BikeliciousBabe »

Offline BikeliciousBabe

Re: Yaak to Rexford Montana
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2020, 11:11:40 am »
Your map actually does look right. Here is mine:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/23254899

The split in the paved roads in at mile 12.2.

There is no sign to mark the pass. You'll know you are there when you go down hill for more than 50'. There is no cell service in town, though the Yaak River Tavern has some sort of WiFi now. I was able to text certain people but not others. Heading to Rexford I had the iPhone on for the camera. At some point during the descent the phone started blowing up. I just had to stop and look. Had a message that I was not connected to the Verizon Canada network and had gotten all the undelivered texts from the last two days. Got a good chuckle out of that.

The government campground in Rexford was nice. You might want a reservation for the weekend during busy times. Note that there was a notice of a proposal to drastically increase the fee from $12 to $25 when I was thee in 2019. Flush toilets but no showers. However, the bar/restaurant in town sells showers. IIRC, for $6. And did I mention the chicken?  :)