Glacier Lake Road to Beartooth Plateau — Island Lake High Country via Top of the World Store
Top of the World, bottom of your tire pressure.
The Beartooth Highway gets all the postcards, but the side roads that peel off it are where you actually earn it. The Glacier Lake Road departs US-212 just west of Beartooth Pass and drops into a raw granite basin before climbing again toward Island Lake at over 9,800 feet. The Top of the World Store — a genuine outpost that’s been selling gas and sandwiches to Yellowstone-bound travelers since the 1930s — marks the turnoff. From there the track winds through open tundra, past Beartooth Lake, and into the plateau proper where the horizon stretches flat and treeless in every direction and afternoon thunderstorms build fast. The road is typically snow-free from mid-July to late September; outside that window you’re dealing with avalanche debris or early October blizzards.
High-clearance 4WD is required — the rocky shelf sections and creek crossings through Beartooth Creek drainages aren’t suited for anything lower. Traction control helps but lockers aren’t mandatory. The Shoshone National Forest manages most of this terrain; no permit required for vehicle travel. Dispersed camping is available at established sites near the lake basins. Fuel up in Red Lodge, MT or Cody, WY — there’s nothing reliable on-plateau. Cell service disappears completely once you leave the highway. The payoff: genuine above-treeline solitude within an hour of one of the most-photographed roads in America.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 18 mi / 29 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9960 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Cooke City, MT |
| Land manager | Shoshone National Forest — Clarks Fork Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS Shoshone NF Recreation |
| 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 does it need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner will manage this trail without a lift. The rocky sections and shelf road climbing to the plateau are the main concerns — decent all-terrain tires and skid plates are worth having up here.
When does this trail actually open each year, and can snow close it in summer?
July through September is the reliable window. At nearly 10,000 feet, the Beartooth Plateau holds snow well into June and can get hit by early storms in September — check current conditions with the Clarks Fork Ranger District before you go.
Do I need a permit to run this trail or camp up here?
No permit is required to drive the trail or use dispersed campsites on Shoshone National Forest land. Standard Leave No Trace rules apply — no fees for dispersed camping, but stay 200 feet from water sources and existing roads.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The roughest stretch is the rocky 4WD track climbing from the Top of the World Store up onto the plateau — loose rock, embedded ledges, and some shelf road with exposure. It's not technical enough to need lockers, but it'll rattle a stock suspension and punish low sidewalls.
Where's the nearest gas, and is there cell service anywhere on this trail?
Top of the World Store near the trailhead sells gas, but hours are limited and supply isn't guaranteed — fuel up in Cooke City before heading out. There is zero cell service on this trail; plan accordingly and carry a satellite communicator.
Trail track
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