This small, pyramidal rock is what gives the Beartooth Mountains its name. Silver Gate Theres a lot of information here, particularly if youre planning your first trip to Beartooth Highway. Things To See Along The Beartooth Highway When is the best time to drive Beartooth Highway? Welcome to Montana Sign Finally, if you are traveling as a family, here are the best parks to visit with kids. Discovering Montana is a resource for those living and visiting the Treasure State. US Forest Service Beartooth Ranger Station While the Beartooth Highway is generally safe for most motorists, you should be prepared for inclement weather even in the summer. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Suitable for tents and RVs up to 20 ft. Some of the most beautiful mountains can be found in the Beartooth-Absaroka Range, just outside of Yellowstone. After eating breakfast at one of the towns many restaurants and coffee shops pick up a grab and go lunch from the Yellowstone Grill or Gardiner Subway where you can call the night before and place an order. Fees: $20/night In the winter, Beartooth Basin transforms into a winter wonderland, with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling available. The route was originally used to transport supplies to various mining camps and military posts in the region, though today its a popular destination for travelers who want to take in the natural beauty of Montana. Though the highway is closed during the winter, there have been some fatal car crashes in its nearly 100-year history. Your email address will not be published. The Na Piet Say Rock is a popular spot for tourists to take a photo, and its also a good place to learn about the history of the area. The Beartooth Cafe and Buns N Beds offer standard American food. Suitable for tent camping. An independent brewery, taproom, and package store, Red Lodge Ales creates many different styles of award-winning beer. The Best Hotels For The Beartooth Highway BEST BUDGET HOTEL Scenic Beartooth Highway - What You Need To Know - Picnicking offers a relaxing way to take in views and to fuel the body for the remainder of your adventure. Its highway designation is US 212 and it is a designated All-American Road. Its always a good idea to book your accommodations in advance, especially during the peak tourist season. From this pullout, you have another nice view of Clarks Fork River Valley. All nine trails, accessible from two high speed lifts, are quite steep, designed for well-practiced skiers but offer spectacular views and snow that hasnt seen traffic all winter. This vast wilderness of nearly a million acres includes the majestic Absaroka and Beartooth mountains. Recommended day pack: Osprey Daylite Pack From Cody, it takes an hour to drive to the east entrance but it is another beautiful drive (this is called the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway). Beartooth Basin is one of North Americas oldest alpine ski training areas. Dont expect anything gourmet from the towns restaurants but the Miners Saloon makes excellent pizza and, doubling as a casino, you can gamble while you eat. It starts in Red Lodge, Montana and ends at the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone. Beartooth Highway Elevations. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad745959d4cfc18c5b1397faea80cd04" );document.getElementById("a590a7590e").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Close Encounters: Beartooth Highway Mountain Goats - YouTube Also called Pilot and Index Peaks Overlook, this turn-off from Beartooth Highway is a spectacular spot to take photos. Please take extra care when traveling along Beartooth Highway, and be sure to follow all published road signs as well as the direction of the National Parks Service. To get to the Beartooth Highway, youll need to head to Montana in the United States. Beartooth Highway is a section of US Route 212 that connects Red Lodge, Montana with Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana. Expect road closures when the weather conditions start to head into winter. This depends on how many stops you make and of course the weather but the average is 2 hours one way. No reservations, first come, first serve only. Related:Visiting Pompeys Pillar National Monument Billings Montana. You could stay in Red Lodge, Montana or you could stay at the Western end of the highway in Cooke City, Montana which is near the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The name was taken from a former hunting lodge once used by James J. Hill and other railroad executives during their visits to the area. This campground is particularly popular with anglers. About The Author Calls for action on Colombia's hippo scourge after animal dies in road document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. While driving over the top of the Beartooth Pass along the Beartooth Highway just outside Yellowstone National Park, we saw this gorgeous Rocky Mountain Red . There are three main exhibits: Cooke City Memories, Cooke City Ghost Town,and Cooke City Mining. This scenic overlook is a perfect spot to rest and appreciate the natural beauty of the region. It is also called Beartooth National Scenic Byway, Beartooth All-American Road, Highway 212, and the Red Lodge-Cooke City Highway. Theres also plenty of parking at this pitstop. Top of the World is also open year-round. From this trail, you get to see incredible alpine vistas, forests, and meadows. Let me know in the comments! Nonetheless, its completion in 1936 was heralded as a massive achievement for the state of Montana and was eventually added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2014. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. BOOK YOUR RENTAL CAR FOR THE BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY HERE. Their tourism outfit utilizes an original bright yellow, fully restored 1937 Model 706 Yellowstone National Park Bus to take groups of up to 10 people along Beartooth Highway. Beartooth Highway passes through theGallatin, Shoshone, and. Along the way, it passes through some of the most stunning scenery in the region, including alpine meadows and alpine tundra, crystal clear lakes, forested, valleys, and rugged peaks. Meandering down the pass, the next body of water is Island Lake. 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. Suitable for tents and RVs up to 40 ft. It is a narrow, winding road edged with steep cliffs that stretches for 68 miles between Red Lodge and Yellowstone National Park. Beartooth Highway is typically open from Memorial Day through early October. They have free wifi, parking, breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms. Pikas do neither. You can pull over to snap a photo if you like! This is where the Beartooth Highway starts or ends depending on which direction you drive. After reaching the top of Beartooth Pass and taking in the sweeping scenery, including high-alpine lakes, either continue east to Red Lodge or retrace your route to rest at one of the many lodging options in Gardiner. Beartooth Highway is only open from late March until early October, and additional intermittent closures can occur throughout the year. The late Charles Kuralt called it "the most beautiful drive in America.". For around $50 you can reserve one of the 4 rooms or opt to camp for $24. Red Lodge Ales With its headwaters just outside of Cooke City, Montana, the upper section of this tributary is a fishermans dream. Once youre in the park, cell phone and wifi access is limited, so write down directions in advance if you think youll need them. Pack a lunch; grab a camera; and enjoy a driving experience like no other! On this 10 day road trip, visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone, drive Beartooth Highway, and also visit Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, and the Black Hills of South Dakota. 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. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. You just have to snowmobile there. Though there is no running water, the nearby Lake Creek streamwater can be filtered for drinking. Chief Joseph Scenic Byway Your Ultimate Guide to the Beartooth Highway - AMcSTravel Brings back memories. Though Cooke City is a small town with a population of only around 250, its considerably larger than the tiny community of Silver Gate and has a considerable amount of infrastructure for visitors. Gardner Lake But with all the views along the way, its well worth the trip. For questions and concerns regarding this extensive project, you can find . Its a perfect choice if youd like to treat yourself to a romantic, luxurious stay. Because of its high altitude and the areas snowy conditions the road is only open for short time during summer. Sites range in size up to 32 ft long to accommodate RVs, tent campers are also welcome. Beartooth Highway - Enjoy Your Parks This scenic drive packs a lot into its 68.7 miles through the Beartooth Pass. I recommend booking a rental car from Billings for this trip! From here youll be able to see the Beartooth Plateau and Yellowstone National Park, and you may even spot an elk, deer, moose, and if youre very lucky, a bear. The pass is only open seasonally, typically from late May to late October, depending on the weather. Driving the Beartooth Highway Part of route 212 in Montana and Wyoming, the Beartooth Highway runs between Red Lodge and the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. 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. Some popular activities include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and picnicking. The Pollard Hotel Red Lodge $$$ After passing Beartooth Lake the climb really starts with going up the mountains and the switchbacks. Cooke City is also a great place to book excursions. At this point, you are 38 miles from Red Lodge and 25 miles from Cooke City. Suitable for tent camping. The Beartooth Highway is a 68-mile-long stretch of road. Over 300 Dogs Found Dead in Ukrainian Animal Shelter, 150 - Briefly Its hard to see it in this photo, but Bears Tooth is the tiny pyramidal-shaped spire located in between the two posts. Overall, the Alpine Lakes are a must-see destination for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty of the Beartooth Mountains. For information on individual campgrounds and what they offer and require visit here. Wear your national parks love: National parks apparel, Youll need to enter: National parks pass , Document your trip: National parks journal , Wear your national parks love: National parks apparel. July 25, 2014. Check below for a few choice activities in Silver Gate (and Cooke City following,) but you can also peruse the Cooke City/Colter Pass/Silver Gate Chamber of Commerce sitefor even more information about local tourist attractions and events happening in the area. Things to note before your trip down Beartooth Highway From deer to wolves and bears to moose, youre likely to find tracks or scat at the very least. for more inspiration and travel planning tips. 2,500 sheep crossing an Idaho highway draw a crowd of onlookers - NPR Keep in mind the Beartooth Highway is normally closed from sometime in the end of September to Memorial Day weekend. In 2003, they added additional accommodations for visitors to stay at before or after their tour with them. If you are wanting to stay in hotels, then you have a few options to consider. You can stop to refuel, grab snacks or stock up on a wide range of Western souvenirs, from a rabbits foot to jigsaw postcards. Alpine Motel of Cooke City Cooke City $$ Tim and I stayed in a cabin at the Alpine Lodge and had dinner at Prerogative Kitchen (both are highly recommended!). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. For a breathtaking tour along the top of the world drive the Beartooth Highway east of Yellowstone National Park. In the panorama of crags, steeples, plunging canyons, snowfields and glaciers, look for the Bear's Tooth, the spire that gave the entire range its name. This guide contains affiliate links to trusted partners. It was heavy snow that a few times I had to pull off to the side of the road for safety until I could see better. Related:Top 10 Things to See at Big Horn County Museum Hardin Montana. There are so many unnamed stops along the Beartooth Highway that have amazing views and are worth the stop. Make sure to include a visit to this overlook on your journey along the Beartooth Highway. This road is named for the last chief of the Nez Perce Indians. Theres no place better for skiing enthusiasts than Beartooth Basin, sitting just below the summit of Beartooth Pass. Every time we visit this area, it amazes us even more. Note: This post contains affiliate links. This is also one of the few places to take a bathroom break but bring hand sanitizer the bathroom' is no more than a wood room with a hole in the ground and no sinks. He loves nothing more than hitting the road in his self-build campervan and visiting off-the-beaten-path places, away from popular tourist destinations. This picturesque lake, embraced by towering mountains and lush greenery, serves as a marvelous setting for a myriad of outdoor activities. Beartooth Highway: Things to Do, Map, Photos & Travel Tips It is 25 miles from Cooke City and 38 miles from Red Lodge. The Pollard Hotel is a historic hotel in Red Lodge, Montana. Basking in the Beartooths on the Beartooth Scenic Highway Facilities: Picnic tables, potable water, toilets, electric hook-ups Campsites: 27 I drove the Beartooth Highwayfrom Yellowstone National Park into Billings Montana. The byway is also a great place to stop and take a break from the road, with several pullouts and picnic areas available. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In Red Lodge, Montana, the town at the southern end of the highway, there are a number of hotels, bed and breakfast inns, and vacation rentals available. Leave a Comment Cancel replyCommentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad745959d4cfc18c5b1397faea80cd04" );document.getElementById("a590a7590e").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Name . Located at the northern end of the highway, Yellowstone is the worlds first national park and is home to a wide range of geological and natural wonders. A picturesque site right on Island Lake for tents and RVs up to 32 ft. Non-motorized craft can be used on the lake, with access at an onsite boat ramp. What an amazing read. If youre visiting during mid-July, keep your eyes out for alpine flowers and other wildflowers in the prairies. Youll find parking and restrooms at the trailhead. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Fees: $20/night We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. There are several base areas suited to skiers of all levels, so beginners up to expert skiers should feel plenty challenged. Heres a quick glance at some of the things you wont want to miss just off of Beartooth Highway. If youre looking for a rustic mountain lodge experience, the Alpine Lodge has several unpretentious, comfortable rooms. It is truly one of the best places to spend time outdoors and worth exploring.
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