Sheldon Lake Road to Beach Creek Lookout — Hells Canyon Wilderness Edge via Imnaha Rim
Tundra, shale, and sky above 10,000 feet.
The Line Creek Plateau Road — Forest Road 421 north of Cooke City, Montana — is one of the least-traveled routes on the entire Beartooth Massif. Most people drive the paved Beartooth Highway and think they’ve seen the country. They haven’t. This route climbs off the pavement above Red Lodge and works its way across the plateau’s northern apron past Gardner Lake at 9,900 feet, through krummholz and open tundra that looks more like interior Alaska than the Lower 48. The Gardner Lake spur puts you at one of the most remote alpine basins in the Beartooth-Absaroka Wilderness boundary zone, accessible by vehicle only through a narrow seasonal window. The plateau surface is broken shale and granite ledge — not a trail for the overly cautious.
This is legitimate high-altitude 4×4 territory. Lockers and at least 10 inches of clearance are honest minimums; all-terrain tires preferred on the shale. The road is snow-free only roughly mid-July through mid-September — check with the Beartooth Ranger District before committing. No permit required for vehicle travel, but wilderness entry is foot-only beyond the boundary. Fuel in Red Lodge or Cooke City. Zero cell service. Weather on the plateau can go from calm to whiteout in under an hour any month of summer. Dispersed camping is available on the plateau below the wilderness line — pack out everything, stay on existing sites.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 19 mi / 30.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 10200 ft |
| Best season | Mid July-Mid September |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD with lockers recommended |
| Nearest town | Red Lodge, MT |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Custer Gallatin National Forest, Beartooth Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Custer Gallatin NF Beartooth Ranger District Beartooth MVUM |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or do I need lockers?
A stock rig will struggle. The shale and boulder sections above 9,500 feet demand real articulation and traction — lockers are strongly recommended, not just a nice-to-have. A lifted rig with AT tires and at least a rear locker is the practical minimum.
When does this trail actually open, and is snow a real concern?
Mid-July to mid-September is the realistic window — snowpack above 10,000 feet on the Beartooth Plateau lingers well into July most years. Even in August, surprise storms can dump snow overnight, and the exposed tundra sections ice up fast.
Do I need a permit to run this trail or camp out here?
No permit required for the trail itself or for dispersed camping on Custer Gallatin National Forest land. Follow Leave No Trace and check the Beartooth MVUM (linked above) to confirm you're camping on Forest Service ground and not within any wilderness buffer restrictions.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The approach to Beach Creek Lookout near the Wyoming line is where it gets honest — loose shale ledges, off-camber shelf road, and embedded boulder fields that punish poor line choice. One bad line on the shale can put you sideways fast; this is not a trail to run distracted or at speed.
How far is it back to gas and services, and is there any cell service on trail?
Cell service is zero — the entire 19 miles is a dead zone, no exceptions. Red Lodge is your last fuel and resupply stop before heading up; top off there and carry extra fuel because the nearest pump in the other direction is a serious haul into Wyoming.
Trail track
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