Theres a lot to do along Beartooth Highway, and many folks decide to stay the night either at one of the ends or somewhere along the way. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers. It is the county seat of Carbon County and was founded in 1878 following the discovery of coal nearby. Its highest point, at an elevation of 10,947 feet, is Beartooth Pass. It is typically closed from early October through Memorial Day, due to heavy snowfall. Finally, if you are traveling as a family, here are the best parks to visit with kids. Red Lodge is a small but bustling town at the other end of Beartooth Highway. It has served as a curious geological feature and landmark for centuries. This scenic drive packs a lot into its 68.7 miles through the Beartooth Pass. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Season: Mid-July to Labor Day Theres also plenty of parking at this pitstop. Season: Early July to Mid-September Named an All-American Road by the National Scenic Byways, The Beartooth Pass takes visitors through some of the most remote environment in the country. Covering 68 miles from Red Lodge, Montana to the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, it brings visitors into and through absolutely untouched wilderness. Its hard to see it in this photo, but Bears Tooth is the tiny pyramidal-shaped spire located in between the two posts. Hiking essentialsRecommended hiking boots: Salomon Quest 4 Gore-tex They also offer full-service dining options with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks available daily at their restaurant or on their porch overlooking the wilderness. CONSIDER AN RV FOR YOUR TRIP: CHECK OUT RVS HERE, BEST OPTION FOR FAMILIES: HIGH COUNTRY HOTEL AND CABINS, BEST OPTION FOR ADVENTURERS: ALPINE MOTEL OF COOKE CITY, CONSIDER AN RV FOR YOUR TRIP: CHECK OUT RVS HERE. Your email address will not be published. There are also access sites for trout fishing on either side of the picnic area. Its known for its stunning alpine meadows and crystal-clear lakes, making it a great place for hiking, picnicking, and fishing. Open to hard-sided camping only, like trailers and RVs. We started this drive at 8 am and you will see a lot of shadows in our early photos. From deer to wolves and bears to moose, youre likely to find tracks or scat at the very least. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Pullouts along the way allow visitors a chance to exit their cars and safely take photographs of the mountain scenery. I recommend booking a rental car from Billings for this trip! The building began as a saloon and general store in 1917, closed for several years in 1967, then was finally reopened in 2007 by Matt and Jody Hines. An independent brewery, taproom, and package store, Red Lodge Ales creates many different styles of award-winning beer. Past here, lodgings are limited to campgrounds and the occasional cabin until you reach the Red Lodge area. Its open year-round and offers free Wi-Fi, free continental breakfast, and a heated, outdoor pool. We did not do any of the optional hikes, since we had a lot already planned for the day. Because of violent winter storms and heavy snowfall, the highway closes annually between early October and late May, though snowstorms can occur at high elevations as late as July. The Beartooth Highway is a 68-mile-long stretch of road. This charming town sits at the base of the Beartooth Mountains. His first love is coffee, with travel a close 2nd. This road is named for the last chief of the Nez Perce Indians. Theres also a gazebo with a fishing pond and the nearby Blackfoot River that attract many anglers. This is the perfect place to stock up on supplies, enjoy a meal, or stay overnight before you continue along the Beartooth Highway. 216 Park Street | PO Box 81 | Gardiner, MT 59030 | 406.848.7971 | [emailprotected], How to Plan the Ultimate Yellowstone Family Vacation, Yellowstone Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery, Basking in the Beartooths on the Beartooth Scenic Highway, Signup for our Quarterly Travel Newsletter. Beartooth Highway Tours The season usually begins around the time the highway opens in May and goes as long as the snow lasts, sometimes into July. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Beartooth Highway is an epic 68-mile byway that stretches through southwest Montana and heads right into Yellowstone National Park. About six miles after the Beartooth Highway crosses into Wyoming is the Crazy Creek Falls trailhead. Construction began in 2020 and was planned to be completed by September 9, 2021. Beartooth Lake Beartooth Highway is a 68-mile road that runs along the border of Montana and Wyoming, connecting the towns of Red Lodge and Cooke City. It passes through theGallatin, Shoshone, and Custer National Forests. Yellowstone Touring Company From parts of Custer and Shoshone National Forests to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, passers through have endless natural landscape to explore. Other Attractions along the Beartooth Highway Though it was no small feat to build it is regularly called a marvel of engineering it miraculously took only half of the time and original budget that its construction was planned to consume. There are also access sites for trout fishing on either side of the picnic area. While driving on the Wyoming side of the Beartooth Highway you will be in the Shoshone National Forest. Red Lodge Stop the Car Trading Post These cookies do not store any personal information. The fall is also a beautiful time to drive the Beartooth Highway, as the trees turn golden and red, creating a stunning contrast against the blue sky and mountains. Regardless, the Beartooth Highway is prime grizzly country so you need to be Bear Aware. It also offers opportunities for exploring geological features, such as rock formations and fossil deposits. is a great destination for that. Its a perfect choice if youd like to treat yourself to a romantic, luxurious stay. MDOT typically reopens Beartooth Highway the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and closes it for winter in mid-September. Originally built in 1932, the Elk Horn Lodge has seen many renovations, and offers many amenities such as an indoor pool, spa, fitness center, and game room. Many of the destinations I write about are the homes or sacred areas of Indigenous Peoples of North America. Two Bears Inn Bed & Breakfast Red Lodge Area $$$ The feature that lent its name to the eponymous pass and highway, the Bears Tooth translated from the CrowNa Piet Say is a pyramidal spire in the Beartooth Mountains. Being from Nebraska, the Beartooth highway is well out of our way to or from Yellowstone. Gardner Lake Pullout is a popular scenic overlook located along the Beartooth Highway in Montana. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is a popular side trip for visitors driving the Beartooth Highway. Closed to . Facilities: Fire grates, picnic tables, garbage pick-up, potable water If youre also visiting Yellowstone National Park, youll need to purchase a Parks Pass. Though its less than two miles long, the trail sits between 7,500 and 10,000 feet, which can challenge even experienced hikers. lovely indoor swimming pool- A recent guestGuest Reviews There are several types of passes available, and you can either get one at the Northeast Gate or in advance from the. Categories Montana, National Parks, Wyoming. Though motorized boats are allowed on the lake, it is far more popular with canoers and kayakers. The Beartooth Highway is part of the larger National Scenic Byway System. With only a short hike from the highway, you will come across the roaring Crazy Creek Cascade. Silver Gate Starting in Red Lodge, at 5,500 feet, it climbs up to Beartooth Pass, topping out at 10,947 feet. No reservations, first come, first serve only. At this intersection, you can turn left to take Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Theres a wide variety of lodgings available in the region ranging from bare-bones campgrounds all the way to multi-room mountain villas. This is where the Beartooth Highway starts or ends depending on which direction you drive. If youre in the market for quirky shirts or funny souvenirs, like elk poop candy, head to Moosley Tees. A high-elevation lake in the Beartooth Mountains, Gardner Lake is accessible via a fairly short but somewhat challenging trail that begins near Highway 212. If you have any questions about Beartooth Highway, or if you would like to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below. Make sure to include a visit to this overlook on your journey along the Beartooth Highway. Covering 68 miles from Red Lodge, Montana to the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, it brings visitors into and through absolutely untouched wilderness. Its a great place to stop and take a break from the road, and its also a popular spot for taking photos and enjoying the views. This scenic drive leads to Cody, Wyoming. It connects Cody, Wyoming with Beartooth Highway; the junction is just after the turnoff for Crazy Creek Falls. Really loved the place. Originally built in 1942 to manage forest fires in the Abaroska Wilderness, the lookout tower is now a volunteer-run visitor center where you can find information about the region as well as the history of fire management. So let's take a look at a drive along the Beartooth highway starting at the Yellowstone National Park North East Entrance. For questions and concerns regarding this extensive project, you can find . Here youll find plenty of snacks and souvenirs, and maybe even a few tips on the best places to see in the area. Perched at a precarious elevation of 9,190 ft, Rock Creek Vista is a favorite place to take photos among tourists. The Pollard Hotel is a historic hotel in Red Lodge, Montana. The 45th Parallel Crossing is a popular spot for tourists to take a photo, and its also a good place to get information about the highway and the surrounding area. Just before reaching the pass, you come to a marker indicating the Bears Tooth. Curious onlookers lined the road as the animals sheepishly entered the highway, guided by ranchers and steered by sheepdogs. Your only option once you leave Red Lodge, other than the 4 rooms offered at the Top of the World. Theres also an on-site restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a shuttle service to nearby attractions like Yellowstone National Park or Cody Country Cowboy Museum. Colloquially, it is known as one of the most scenic driving routes in the world. Managing several sites in the region, you can find information about the Abaroska Wilderness and Beartooth Highway at the Beartooth Ranger Station. As you cross the border back into Montana, youll see a small turn-off and a decorative Welcome to Montana sign. The Pilot and Index Peaks Overlook along the Beartooth Highway in Montana offers breathtaking views of Pilot and Index Peaks, as well as the surrounding mountains and valleys. Miners Saloon At the end of the three-mile-long forest road 142, youll find one of the Civilian Conservation Corps decommissioned lookout towers. The Beartooth Mountains also form part of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, and the landscape in and around them features some huge peaks amidst high and vast plateaus. . and an easily accessed trail that is wheelchair friendly. En route, travelers certainly appreciate the views and marvel at its construction. Yellowstone National Park is a must-see destination for anyone driving through the Beartooth Pass. Many folks travel the Beartooth Highway after exiting Yellowstone National Park through the Northeast Entrance. Beginners should be wary of the altitude and be sure to take plenty of water along with them. Fees: $18/night Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park, How to Drive between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone, Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary: Best Routes, Maps, & Photos, Where to Stay in Yellowstone in 2023: Best Hotels and Locations, Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary. Keep in mind the Beartooth Highway is normally closed from sometime in the end of September to Memorial Day weekend. Every Memorial Day weekend there is a celebration here to mark the opening of the highway again for the summer. Though motorized boats are allowed on the lake, it is far more popular with canoers and kayakers. Beartooth Highway closed on October 7, during the first snowfall of the season. It offers breathtaking views of Gardner Lake and the mountains, making it a must-see destination for anyone driving the Beartooth Highway. How Long Does It Take to Drive Beartooth Highway? Website At the far side of Cooke City look for stunning arrays of wildflowers and ambling black bears as you begin your ascent on the well-marked Beartooth Highway. They do this by purchasing land and easements, restoring habitats, and engaging in advocacy for public lands. be sure to stop and take a photo with the welcome sign before you begin your journey. This road is maintained by the National Park Service. Rock Creek Vista is a great place to stop and take a break from the road, and its also a popular spot for picnicking and taking photos. Wow! You just have to snowmobile there. Planning on driving the Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming? 7 Miles (110.6 km) long. Do not try to traverse the highway at times when the National Parks Service has deemed it unsafe. Theres also a snowmobile road that begins here and connects to Cooke City. Alpine Motel of Cooke City Cooke City $$ Beartooth Highway is a section of US Route 212 that connects Red Lodge, Montana with Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana. Snowstorms can occur as late as July near Beartooth Pass, so be sure to bring gear for yourself and your vehicle just in case you get caught in unexpected weather. Youll find parking and restrooms at the trailhead. Rock Creek provides the perfect location for fishing and paddling. The park is known for its geysers, including the iconic Old Faithful Geyser, as well as its stunning landscapes, including mountains, forests, and rivers. Opening for business in mid-to-late May, those craving an extended season can squeeze in a few more runs, even in the heart of summer. Many folks travel the Beartooth Highway after exiting Yellowstone National Park through the Northeast Entrance. Managing several sites in the region, you can find information about the Abaroska Wilderness and Beartooth Highway at the Beartooth Ranger Station. If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our United States Travel Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips. Lake Creek Campground In May, and sometimes as late as June (if snowfall has been especially heavy), the road is finally plowed. This is also where you can purchase any recreational licenses or permits you may need for your trip. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. An independent brewery, taproom, and package store, Red Lodge Ales creates many different styles of award-winning beer. Most campsites and grounds are open to tent and car/RV camping. As you cross the border back into Montana, youll see a small turn-off and a decorative Welcome to Montana sign. PRO TRAVEL TIP: For photography and lighting, the best time of day to drive Beartooth Highway is between 10 am and 5 pm. While the Beartooth Highway is generally safe for most motorists, you should be prepared for inclement weather even in the summer. Email At 10,947, this is the highest point along Beartooth Highway. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. This is also the location of a multi-million dollar road construction project. What an amazing read. It starts in Red Lodge, Montana and ends at Yellowstone National Park. A fire station that sits within the Shoshone National Forest and Absaroka Mountains, you can climb the tower for a spectacular vista and, if youre lucky, chat with a ranger who is in residence. Suitable for both tents and RVs, this is a well-appointed campground that takes reservations up to six months in advance. Beautiful highway! Rattin Campground A 420 foot long bridge is being erected over Beartooth Ravine. This depends on how many stops you make and of course the weather but the average is 2 hours one way. We drove about 70 miles to get out of the park onto the Beartooth Highway and then, at least, another 70 miles to Red Lodge, Montana. I have visited here back in 2019. Dont miss our article Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park for more great things to do in the park. For most, simply looking up at them proves sufficient. Thanks Laci. This is a small, remote, and picturesque picnic area with a scenic view of the Beartooth Mountain Range. You have some nice photos. To check the status of Beartooth Highway, visit the Montana.gov website. Originally constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), it is situated in the Clarks Fork Valley and has been designated as a historic site by the National Park Service. This road gets a massive amount of snowfall and in some years, it can be as high as 26 feet. Its a large boulder with a plaque commemorating the Crow Indian warrior Na Piet Say, who fought against the Lakota Sioux in the late 1800s. They have free wifi, parking, breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms. Also called Pilot and Index Peaks Overlook, this turn-off from Beartooth Highway is a spectacular spot to take photos. In the mid 1800s, the natural resources found around Cooke City and Red Lodge attracted entrepreneurs in droves, transforming both into well-established Montana mining towns. The viewpoint owes its name to the nearby Rock Creek stream. Cooke City is also a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with a variety of recreational activities available including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and skiing. Soda Butte Campground This is a beautiful part of the drive. Along the way, youll find a number of interesting landmarks and points of interest, including the Chief Joseph Scenic Overlook, which offers breathtaking views of the nearby mountain range. Explore the Clarks Fork Picnic area 4 miles east of Cooke City for a short, accessible, interpretive walk or for the start of a longer hiking expedition.