Beartooth Highway — Red Lodge to Cooke City via the Montana–Wyoming High Plateau
11,000 ft of open tundra, switchbacks, and zero mercy.
Charles Kuralt called it the most beautiful drive in America, but that undersells the genuine exposure. The Beartooth Highway (US-212) climbs out of Red Lodge, Montana on a series of tight switchbacks — the Rock Creek Vista pullout at 9,000 ft gives you a look back down at 11 hairpins you just survived — before opening onto a high plateau where alpine lakes and tundra stretch for miles at around 10,000–11,000 ft. The summit at Beartooth Pass is 10,947 ft. The 68-mile run to Cooke City crosses both Montana and Wyoming, passes within striking distance of a dozen backcountry trailheads, and delivers you to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone with snow patches on the roadside in late June. Top Lake, Twin Lakes, and the Beartooth Butte rock formation are hard waypoints worth stopping at.
This is a paved road but it is absolutely not a casual cruise — the drop-offs are real, afternoon thunderstorms are violent, and the pass can close with overnight snow any month except peak summer. A stock vehicle handles the pavement fine; the surrounding dirt tracks and trailhead access roads are where the 4WD earns its keep. Road typically opens Memorial Day weekend and closes by mid-October. No permit needed for the drive. Cooke City has fuel and limited supplies — stock up in Red Lodge before ascending. Cell service disappears at the top.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 68 mi / 109.4 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 10947 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle (paved road; 4WD for side tracks) |
| Nearest town | Red Lodge, Montana |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Custer Gallatin National Forest / Wyoming DOT |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS Beartooth Highway Recreation Area Wyoming Road Conditions (WYDOT) NPS Yellowstone — Beartooth Highway Info |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Do I actually need 4WD or a lifted rig for the Beartooth Highway itself?
No — US-212 is a paved highway and any stock vehicle can run it in summer conditions. 4WD becomes relevant only if you're pulling off onto the gravel side tracks and two-tracks that access dispersed camping areas up on the plateau.
When does the Beartooth Highway actually open in spring, and when does it close in fall?
Typically opens late May to mid-June depending on snowpack — some years it doesn't fully open until mid-June. It usually closes by mid-October, sometimes earlier after early season storms. Check WYDOT at wyoroad.info and USFS before you go; closures happen fast and without much warning.
Is there a fee or permit required to drive the Beartooth Highway?
No permit or toll to drive US-212 itself. If you're entering Yellowstone at the Cooke City end, a standard Yellowstone entrance fee applies. Dispersed camping on Custer Gallatin National Forest land along the route is free with no permit required, but follow the 14-day stay limit and Leave No Trace rules.
What's the hardest or sketchiest part of this drive?
The switchbacks climbing out of Red Lodge are steep, exposed, and continuous — altitude gain hits fast. The real issue is weather: the open tundra plateau above 10,000 ft can drop into a whiteout or thunderstorm with almost no lead time, even in July. There's nowhere to hide up there and very few pullouts once you're committed to the top.
Is there any gas or cell service between Red Lodge and Cooke City?
Zero cell service for essentially the entire 68 miles — plan accordingly and download offline maps. There's no gas on the highway itself; fuel up in Red Lodge before you start and confirm availability in Cooke City before continuing west, as Cooke City is tiny and supply can be inconsistent.
Trail track
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