Camp Under the Stars on the Beartooth Highway

Beartooth Lake and Plateau (WY) [1]

Get away from the pressures of life and immerse yourself in nature with a camping trip on the Beartooth Highway. Far from city lights, the Big Sky Country of Montana and Wyoming is an open invitation to lie outside under a clear night sky strewn with stars, counting as they come out one by one. Pack up the camper or toss a few sleeping bags in the back of the pickup, and spend a few days camping out in the Beartooth Mountains.

Traditional campgrounds nestled in wooded forests or near pristine lakes abound along this All-American Road, which stretches through or near three National Forests. The Custer National Forest website offers a list of campgrounds along the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge to Cooke City.  For fishing or boating access, try the Beartooth Lake or Island Lake Campgrounds. With elevations of over 9,000 feet, both these sites receive considerable snow pack, and visitors will find snow late into June. Brook and rainbow trout love the icy waters, and what better way to get an early start on a relaxing day of fishing than by pitching a tent nearby? Hikers will find trailheads at each campground, leading them on adventures through the wilderness.

The Absaroka Mountain Range (WY) [2]

For more primitive camping, try the North Absaroka Wilderness. This vast area remains virtually untouched by the developing hand of man. Here, you'll find solitude, wildlife, and opportunities to truly "get back to nature." With over 217 miles of minimally marked trails, you could wander the wilderness for days without retracing your steps. Of course, because this area is so secluded, please plan ahead and inform others of your whereabouts. Experience the West as seen by the early explorers. Take a few days or a week or more and camp out amidst the soothing sights and sounds of the wilderness along the Beartooth Highway.