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There’s a reason it’s been called the “Most Beautiful Roadway in America.”
If you ever get the chance to road trip through the American West, take it. It’s a region filled with small towns, dynamic landscapes, and spectacular drives, the kind best experienced when you’re behind the wheel of your own vehicle. There are numerous scenic byways in this part of the country, but only two in Wyoming have been named All-American Roads—a road or highway that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation considers a “destination unto itself”—and just one of them winds through both Montana and Wyoming.
The Beartooth Highway stretches 68 miles across the Beartooth Mountains, connecting the town of Red Lodge, Montana, to Cooke City, Montana, where you can then continue to the northeastern entrance of Yellowstone National Park, near Silver Gate. “There is really nothing like the Beartooth Highway; it is hard to describe the beauty, the vastness, the multiple ecosystems from the valley of Red Lodge to the high tundra of the plateau,” Marci Dye, owner of Sylvan Peak Mountain Shop in Red Lodge, tells Travel + Leisure. As you drive, you’ll rise about 5,000 feet in elevation, and the highest point, 10,947 feet above sea level, occurs at the Beartooth Pass overlook. Typically open to cars from Memorial Day to mid-October, weather dependent, the historic highway grants visitors panoramic vistas, wildlife sightings, and access to hiking trails.
“You will be able to find a snowbank all year long, which is so fun for those who have never seen snow, much less in the summer… Every few weeks, the variety of wildflowers changes dramatically, so the colors and views of one day could be completely different when visiting again in the following weeks,” says Dye. “Some days, the momma and baby mountain goats are hanging in the high meadows close to the highway, and showing off for the photographers and visitors with iPhones alike. Some folks are lucky to see a grizzly or a moose, plenty of deer, so many different birds, and an explosion of flowers.”
Technically, you could make the drive along the mountain pass in about two hours, but you wouldn’t get the full experience—or truly understand why it’s been called the “most beautiful roadway in America.”
“I’d say the biggest mistake would be trying to squeeze in the pass before or after an epic day in Yellowstone,” says Akio Joy, co-owner of Beartooth Mountain Guides and a licensed IFMGA/American Mountain Guide. “Take your time, enjoy Red Lodge and/or Cooke City, see the pass in good weather, then dedicate an entire day (or multiple) to your Yellowstone adventure.”
Best Time to Drive
The best time to drive the Beartooth Highway is between July and August. “The opening date is usually Memorial Day weekend, but it isn’t uncommon for the highway to be closed due to snowstorms through the month of June. September is the same; the weather can be very unpredictable,” says Dye. Joy also recommends this time of year, sharing, “I find that while there is still some snow, the wildflowers peak in early to mid-July, which is when I’d recommend going over the pass.”
For the ultimate local-approved Beartooth Highway adventure, you’ll want to set your alarm and start the journey on the earlier side. “I am fortunate enough to regularly commute on the Beartooth Pass, and I am always stunned to drive it at sunrise. Mornings are wonderfully quiet, and the alpenglow on the Beartooths is something you only see high in the mountains,” says Joy. Alternatively, Dye recommends the afternoons and early evenings, which she says are “beautiful in the golden hour of sunset.”
Know Before You Go
Driving the Beartooth Highway requires a bit of preparation and forethought. For starters, you’ll want to monitor the weather as well as the status of the road. “As with any mountain pass, road conditions change rapidly. Motorists should check the weather prior to driving the pass and understand that afternoon thunderstorms can be severe (heavy rain, hail, and even sleet). In early and late season—June and September—it is not uncommon for a snowstorm to close the highway for a day or two,” says Joy.
But don’t just rely on your phone for the latest weather-related news. “Stop and ask, whether you are in Red Lodge or Cooke City-Silver Gate, for updated conditions and closures. Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc. are very often inaccurate, showing closures when it’s open, and vice versa,” says Dye, adding that it’s “best to ask a real person.”
You’ll also need to pack for a variety of conditions and temperatures, especially if you’re driving a motorcycle. “The weather at the top of the pass will be about 20 to 30 degrees cooler than in Red Lodge, so if you are watching Red Lodge weather conditions online, make sure to check the weather in Cooke City as well, as it can be very different,” says Dye. “Be prepared for very cold, windy, and fast-changing weather conditions. Make sure to have a warm jacket, gloves and a hat, and rain gear handy.”
Both Dye and Joy reiterate the importance of taking your time on this route. “Ideally, one stays in Red Lodge and again [in] Cooke City, and enjoys a sunrise on the pass and a sunset in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone,” says Joy.
Stops Along the Route
You can tailor your journey along the Beartooth Highway to your interests—but be prepared to pause more than a handful of times. “The road itself has multiple small pullouts, so plan to stop when you see something cool, get out, and go explore and take pictures,” says Dye. “Many of these pullouts have informational signs or kiosks on the history, geography, and flora and fauna of the specific area, so make sure to stop and read them.” If you do see wildlife, though, keep your distance. “This isn’t a zoo, and these animals are all living their own lives in this area, and we are just visitors,” she adds.
“The Red Lodge side is very beautiful and dramatic, with switchbacks up the side of the mountain to the plateau on top. All of the pullouts have tremendous views, with the massive mountains above and below you,” says Dye. “The Cooke City side of the summit is very different, with rolling but not extreme terrain, lots of high alpine mountain lakes, gorgeous pine forests and aspen tree groves, and wildflowers.” While she adds that both sides “have their different personalities,” she recommends “equal time for exploring and photos.”
Most travelers expect to see wildlife on their drive, but they might be more than a little surprised to find one of Joy’s favorite stops: the Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area. He says this Wyoming point of interest is “open most years in June,” and it’s ideal for spotting skiers—the area bills itself as “backcountry skiing with a lift”—as well as mountain goats.
The “rustic and one-of-a-kind” Top of the World Store is another one of Joy’s picks. Located at 9,400 feet, 25 miles from Cooke City and 38 miles from Red Lodge, the stop has fuel, food, gifts, and overnight accommodations.
“Vista Point is a great pit stop on the way up the pass from Red Lodge. Stretch your legs and walk a short distance to the viewpoint of Rock Creek,” says Joy. If you’re looking to hike or get in some more steps, he suggests “the short walk down to Twin Lakes near the Wyoming/Montana border,” or a walk “around the shores of Island Lake.” Dye is partial to the latter as well, and she also recommends Beartooth Lake “for [a] beautiful, short alpine lake walk.”
“Finally, one should drive up to the Clay Butte Lookout on the south side of the pass,” says Joy. “When Clay Butte is closed, just pull over at the Yellowstone Overlook (Pilot and Index Peak Overlook) for a view of one of Yellowstone’s most famous mountains.” According to the National Scenic Byway Association, the Pilot and Index Peak Overlook is one of the top 10 “most often photographed scenes” along the Beartooth Highway.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
