Its open year-round and offers free Wi-Fi, free continental breakfast, and a heated, outdoor pool. Beautiful highway! Read more about this in our, is an epic 68-mile byway that stretches through southwest Montana and heads right into, With only a short hike from the highway, you will come across the roaring. Fees: $20/night Leave a Comment Cancel replyCommentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad745959d4cfc18c5b1397faea80cd04" );document.getElementById("a590a7590e").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Name No reservations, first come, first serve only. Cooke City is located just a short drive from the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, making it a great base for exploring the park. The Beartooth Basin Ski Area is Montanas only ski park thats not open in the winter. Beartooth Highway, the 64-mile stretch of US Highway 212 in Montana and Wyoming, is a seasonal indulgence.The mountain pass is only open from late May to late September -- savor it and you might understand why Charles Kuralt referred to the Beartooth as "the most beautiful drive in America." . With a general store, rustic cabins, and equipment rentals, the Top of the World Resort makes for a unique stop near Beartooth Pass. More Information about Yellowstone & Wyoming, If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our. The highway rounds the impossibly craggy Pilot and Index peaks, part of the Beartooth Mountain Range, before paralleling the sparkling waters of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. The Yellowstone Forever store in Gardiner sells binoculars and spotting scopes for better wildlife viewing and has an interactive map showing recent sightings. Heres a brief rundown of the major points and things to note before your visit. Theyre black and white, often depicting comical encounters between humans and nature. Many folks travel the Beartooth Highway after exiting Yellowstone National Park through the Northeast Entrance. Thanks a lot for sharing. The project was greenlit and finally surveyed in 1927, though construction didnt begin until 1931. The Beartooth Highway is one of the most spectacular scenic drives we have done in the USA, rivaling Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Big Sur Coast Highway in California. On the outskirts of Silver Gate is the trailhead to the Bannock Ski Trail, a two-mile cross-country ski trail that follows a retired mining path from Silver Gate to just inside Yellowstone. It is a popular tourist destination because of its natural beauty, small-town atmosphere, and proximity to Yellowstone National Park. A view of the Beartooth Highway switchbacks. Beartooth Pass This high-elevation lake is extremely scenic and easily reached by car, so dont be surprised if you find several other people enjoying the recreation area, trails, and campground when you arrive. Dubbed "the most beautiful roadway in America" by On the Road correspondent Charles Kuralt, the Beartooth Highway climbs to an astounding 10,947 feet above sea level. There is a short road to Beartooth Pass Overlook where you can take in the view. 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 highest elevation is 10,947 ft (3,337 m) above sea level, and the highway is 68. Theres a nearby store to pick up food and supplies. Theres also a snowmobile road that begins here and connects to Cooke City. Start from Gardiner, Montana, the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Campsites: 28 Northwest Wyomings Beartooth Lake is one of the most popular attractions along Highway 212. Its highest point, at an elevation of 10,947 feet, is Beartooth Pass. The Beartooth Mountains have to be one of my most favorite places in the world! Yellowstone National Park opened for partial access last weekend . HAs you head down the switchbacks you get to see Beartooth Moutain from the base and it's a sight to see. The road passes through the widespread Tower-Roosevelt and Lamar Valley regions of Yellowstone before travelling into thick, old-growth forests and ancient volcanic mountains that define the northeast corner of the park. Such a beautiful place. There are three main exhibits: Cooke City Memories, Cooke City Ghost Town,and Cooke City Mining. - Picnicking offers a relaxing way to take in views and to fuel the body for the remainder of your adventure. Here is a great place to stop using the restroom, get gas, and eat. Stop the Car Trading Post In a Facebook post, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDOT) said crews used a snowblower and a snowcat to clear the highway. Reservations 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. US Forest Service Beartooth Ranger Station This is also where you can purchase any recreational licenses or permits you may need for your trip. There are turn outs along the road where you can safely stop to enjoy the view. Campsites: 33 It connects Cody, Wyoming with Beartooth Highway; the junction is just after the turnoff for Crazy Creek Falls. After Rock Creek Vista Point you will hit the biggest part of the switchbacks on the drive. Time it Right When I drove through the first weekend in September I was hit with snow at the top part of the mountains. A classic American roadhouse with a fine-dining twist, the Carbon County Steakhouse is renowned for its attention to detail and exceptional menu. Season: Early July to Mid-September Because of its high altitude and the areas snowy conditions the road is only open for short time during summer. It also offers opportunities for exploring geological features, such as rock formations and fossil deposits. Youll find parking and restrooms at the trailhead. Over the course of several miles, Beartooth Highway steeply ascends up into the mountains. 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. 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. The highest point along Highway 212 with an elevation of 10,947 ft., Beartooth Pass has been used long before there was a paved road demarking it as it was used by Native Americans for centuries and later by fur trading settlers. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. An independent brewery, taproom, and package store, Red Lodge Ales creates many different styles of award-winning beer. Some accept advance reservations. Depending on the rest of your plans, you will want to allow somewhere between a half and a whole day to go from Cooke City to Red Lodge or vice versa. Clay Butte Fire Lookout Tower It is 68 miles long. A local favorite, the Two Bears Inn Bed & Breakfast has great views, comfortable rooms, and classic Montana fare available at their restaurant. You have plenty to choose from, depending on how far you want to drive each day and the type of activity in which you want to engage. At first the pass had no name; the National Park Service called it the Cooke City Road while those in Red Lodge referred to it as the Red Lodge-Cooke City Highway. Facilities: Potable water, toilets The exact opening and closing dates can vary from year to year, so its always a good idea to check the current road conditions before planning your trip. The Pollard Hotel is a historic hotel in Red Lodge, Montana. The Clarks Fork Picnic Area offers opportunities for other outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. Are there any fees to visit Beartooth Highway? Its highway designation is US 212 and it is a designated All-American Road. You just have to snowmobile there. One late spring day, we traveled from West Yellowstone, Montanta, across Yellowstone National Park to the northeast entrance and the Beartooth Scenic Highway. 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. 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. The project begins at the west end of the Beartooth Highway Lake Bridge and proceeds westward for approximately of a mile. This drive is absolutely spectacular. You can stop to refuel, grab snacks or stock up on a wide range of Western souvenirs, from a rabbits foot to jigsaw postcards. The Beartooth Highway starts in Red Lodge Montana and ends at the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The Beartooth Highway is typically open from late May to mid October, depending on the weather. Season: Early May to Late September What is the Beartooth Highway called? Yellowstone Overlook On average, it takes two and a half hours to three hours to drive Beartooth Highway. They do this by purchasing land and easements, restoring habitats, and engaging in advocacy for public lands. With only a short hike from the highway, you will come across the roaring Crazy Creek Cascade. This road gets a massive amount of snowfall and in some years, it can be as high as 26 feet. For more information visit the Custer Gallatin National Forest website. I, myself, have crossed this pass more than sixty times, en route to a ranch that sits just before Cooke City, Montana. ranging from postcards to ballcaps to coffee mugs. Recommended hiking poles: Black Diamond Trail Cork Trekking Poles