Lonesome Highway — Beartooth Plateau North Slope to Clarks Fork Canyon via Line Creek Road
Off the Beartooth and into the deep canyon country.
Most people drive the Beartooth Highway and call it done. Line Creek Road peels off the plateau’s north slope and drops you into a different world entirely — the remote bench country above the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone, where the canyon cuts 1,200 feet through Precambrian granite and the roads are used by elk hunters and almost nobody else. The route off the plateau via Forest Road 130 and Line Creek Plateau is exposed, high, and dramatic: wide-open tundra gives way to steep switchbacks dropping through subalpine fir and lodgepole into the canyon drainage. The Clarks Fork canyon rim viewpoints are spectacular and unmarked — you find them by getting out and walking the bench edge. Stillwater State Forest and Custer Gallatin National Forest manage overlapping sections of this route, which eventually connects to Belfry and the Clark’s Fork valley floor.
Difficult in places, especially the upper descent sections where loose shale and tight switchbacks demand slow, deliberate driving. A high-clearance 4WD with low-range is non-negotiable. Lockers will earn their keep on wet rock. Best season is July through September — the plateau holds snow well into June and gets ugly again in October. No permits required. Fuel in Red Lodge before heading up; there is nothing out here. Cell service is zero on the plateau and rim. This is the Beartooth most people never see, and that’s exactly the point.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 52 mi / 83.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 10940 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with low-range |
| Nearest town | Red Lodge, MT |
| Land manager | Custer Gallatin National Forest — Beartooth Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS Custer Gallatin NF — Beartooth Ranger District |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run Line Creek Road, or does this need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD with low-range can make it, but rock sections and loose shelf road will punish anything with low-hanging skid plates or street tires. All-terrain tires and a skid plate are strongly advised — this isn't a trail to test a bone-stock daily driver.
When does Line Creek Road actually open in the spring, and is snow a real concern in July?
The north slope of the Beartooth holds snow well into June and sometimes early July — the road typically opens late June to early July depending on the year. Even in the best-season window of July through September, afternoon thunderstorms can make high-altitude sections slick and creek crossings unpredictable fast.
Do you need a permit to run this trail or camp along it?
No permit is required to drive the trail or use dispersed campsites within Custer Gallatin National Forest. Standard Leave No Trace rules apply — camp 200 feet from water sources and don't expect any fee stations or host sites out here.
What's the hardest section, and what should I actually expect?
The technical crux is the rocky descent off the plateau toward the Clarks Fork drainage — loose rock, off-camber shelf road, and tight lines with serious exposure on one side. It's not about crawl speed the whole time, but one wrong line on the descent section can put you in a bad spot with no recovery anchor nearby.
Are there reliable water sources on trail, and how far is the nearest gas from the trailhead?
There are water crossings on trail but treat everything — livestock grazing happens in this country and giardia is real. Red Lodge is the closest town for fuel, roughly 20-30 miles from the northern end of the route, so top off before you drop in — there's nothing between the plateau and the canyon.
Trail track
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