Beartooth Highway
Visitor Services
Please contact area chambers of commerce for detailed travel information.
Montana and Wyoming fishing licenses are available at the Top of the World store, along with many other services. Island Lake and Beartooth Lake campgrounds both have boat launches. Many area outfitters and guides provide a broad range of services to enjoy the three National Forests. Rock Creek Vista Point, 20 miles south of Red Lodge, is a Montana Dept. of Transportation Rest Area. It has several overlooks, a large parking lot and restroom facilities.
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Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities A growing number of visitors experience the byway and its surrounding areas with bicycles, motorcycles, ATVs, and hiking trails. There are hundreds of miles of designated trails that are easily...
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Camping There are full service campgrounds located in the three Beartooth All-American Road gateway communities of Cooke City and Red Lodge, Montana, and Cody, Wyoming. Visit area chamber of commerce...
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Food Red Lodge, Cooke City and Silver Gate in Montana offer a variety of dining and food services. In addition, the Top of the World Store, located along the Highway in Wyoming between Beartooth and...
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Gasoline Red Lodge, Cooke City, and Silver Gate in Montana offer gasoline and service stations. Gasoline is also available at the Top of the World Store, located in Wyoming between Beartooth and Island Lakes. |
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Information There is an authoritative information center along this byway. |
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Lodging Lodging Red Lodge and Cooke City in Montana, and Cody, Wyoming all offer lodging services. Guest ranches in the Upper Clarks Fork area will take reservations for overnight trips or longer stays....
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Restrooms Rock Creek Vista Point, 20 miles south of Red Lodge, is a Montana Dept. of Transportation Rest Area. It has several overlooks, a large parking lot and restroom facilities. |
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Retail Red Lodge, Cooke City, and Silver Gate in Montana and the nearby city of Cody, Wyoming, offer a wide variety of business and vendors. The Top of the World Store in Wyoming has food, gasoline, and...
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NOTE: The America's Byways® website is federally funded and cannot promote commercial businesses. This data may not be complete or up to date. The National Scenic Byways Program is not responsible for the quality of your travel experience. See the right column on the Byway Overview page for local contact information.
Special Considerations
Alpine climate is rigorous, and severe weather conditions can occur any month of the year. For example, during the summer temperatures range from the 70s on sunny days to below freezing during sudden snowstorms.
Restrictions
The Wyoming part of the byway is generally open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend to mid-October depending on snowfall. To check road conditions and opening and closing dates travelers should call the Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce at 406-446-1718. The road is normally plowed by Memorial Day, but closures are common through June due to spring snow storms. From the opening near Memorial Day, the road is seldom closed more than one day to remove the snow.
It is not uncommon to experience blizzard type conditions both in the spring and the fall, especially at higher elevations. When these events occur, travel is slowed considerably or the highway is closed until it can be reopened by maintenance crews.
Seasons
- Best Time to Drive
Driving from Red Lodge to Cooke City (east to west) in the morning and west to east in the afternoon will reduce glare.
- High Season
Summer
- Off Season
The byway is generally closed due to snow from October through April.
- Shoulder Season
Check with the local ranger station or the Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce before traveling the byway in May, September, or October.
- Spring
US 212 West from its junction with WY 296 into Cooke City and Yellowstone National Park opens in early May for the spring/summer travel season and remains open into October as snow conditions allow.
- Summer
US 212 South over Beartooth Plateau to its junction with the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (WY 296) opens the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and remains open until mid-October as snow conditions allow.
- Winter
US 212 West from its junction with WY 296 to Pilot Creek Trailhead and Parking Area is open year-round and accessible for winter recreation. The Pilot Creek Trailhead provides parking for snowmobile trailers for over-snow access to Cooke City.
