TransAm Alternate Routes You Would Recommend

[BikeliciousBabe]

Has anyone ridden thru Varney, MT instead of Ennis, MT?   It would be a shortcut, but my real interest is possibly being more fun (less traffic) than 287 thru Ennis.  It is entirely gravel, so not sure how tough it would be, but google thinks it is a good bike route (and google is often conservative on gravel, but sometimes wrong).  No services, although I have had good luck (tour + restroom + water fountain) visiting fish hatcheries in other states.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47532082

Your shortcut may be shorter in distance, but I'm not sure how it would compare time-wise.  Both the U.S. and the state 287s are well paved, and flying down from the top of the ridge to Virginia City was a high-speed (for a loaded tourist) blast.

QFT.  Althoiugh I have done it the other direction--towards Ennis.  If you like ice cream, stop in Virginia City.

[rootchopper]

With regard to bypassing Ennis, two thoughts. The climb west out of Ennis was one of the highlights of my 2022 tour. The views of the valley below are breathtaking.

Another plus to Ennis, they have one of the very best Warmshowers hosts. Not to be missed.

[mattdwyerva]

Thanks, we did that section but stayed in Virginia City.  We wound up taking the usual route instead of testing the dirt roads.

Not sure there is an active Warmshowers host in Ennis at this point, but hosts do go inactive at times.

We got caught in an horrific but short rain storm going over that mountain before Virginia City.  I thought it was hailing at first because the horizontal rain hurt so much.  The head winds were stunning.   At the end of the day, my wife said "well, we have a new worst touring day ever, anyway". .

....I knew you'd like it dear

[BikeliciousBabe]

With regard to bypassing Ennis, two thoughts. The climb west out of Ennis was one of the highlights of my 2022 tour. The views of the valley below are breathtaking.

Another plus to Ennis, they have one of the very best Warmshowers hosts. Not to be missed.

Amazing view, although I got see come down the hill.

The fish access campground it also nice, albeit there was not water in 2016.  There is water nearly across the road at the Lion's Club Park (No camping there.)