Lonesome Highway — Beartooth Plateau Divide to Cooke City via Daisy Pass Road
Above the Beartooth. Below the radar.
Most people driving the Beartooth Highway stay on the pavement and take selfies at the vista pullouts. Turn onto Daisy Pass Road from the Lulu Pass area and you leave that crowd behind permanently. The route climbs onto the Beartooth Plateau proper — wide open tundra above treeline, with Goose Lake sitting in a glacial bowl just below the pass crest at roughly 10,400 feet. Old mining claims scar the surrounding ridges, remnants of the late 1800s gold rush that put Cooke City on the map. The descent toward town is rocky, loose, and steep enough that picking your line matters. Snow can close this route well into July and can return by late September — the window is tight.
This is genuine high-altitude backcountry. A stock 4WD with good ground clearance manages it, but the rocky shelf sections reward a rig with a proper skid plate. Cooke City is tiny but has fuel, a bar, and enough locals who’ve seen it all to give you straight beta. Permits not required. No water on the plateau — carry everything. Cell service: essentially none until you’re back in Cooke City. Best window is mid-July through September. The payoff is a plateau crossing that most Beartooth visitors never know exists, with grizzly country dropping away in every direction.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 14 mi / 22.5 km |
| Duration | Half day to 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 10400 ft |
| Best season | Mid-July through September |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD high-clearance with skid plates |
| Nearest town | Cooke City, MT |
| Land manager | Custer Gallatin National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| 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
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or do I need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD with skid plates can make it, but you'll want them — the rocky sections above Daisy Pass will drag on unprotected bellies. A 2–3 inch lift gives meaningful margin. Lockers aren't required but help on the loose, off-camber rocky pitches.
When does Daisy Pass Road actually open after winter, and is late June safe?
Snowpack at 10,400 feet typically keeps this route buried well into July — mid-July is the realistic opener most years, though a heavy snow year can push that to late July. Don't gamble on June; check current conditions with Custer Gallatin National Forest before you leave cell range.
Do I need a permit to run this trail or camp up here?
No permit is required to drive the trail. Dispersed camping on Custer Gallatin National Forest land is free and no reservation is needed — standard 14-day stay limit applies. No fee stations on this route.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it difficult?
The climb to Daisy Pass itself is the crux — loose rock, embedded boulders, and off-camber shelf road with little room to maneuver if you meet someone coming down. At 10,400 feet the air is thin, so turbocharged rigs have an edge. The descent toward Cooke City is rutted and can have significant erosion depending on the season.
How far is the nearest gas from the trailhead, and is Cooke City a reliable fuel stop?
Cooke City has fuel but it's remote, expensive, and occasionally runs low in peak season — don't count on it as your only option. Top off in Red Lodge or Billings before heading up the Beartooth. There is zero cell service on this route, so a breakdown plan and extra fuel are not optional.
Trail track
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