Beartooth Highway Backcountry — Index Peak to Clay Butte Overlook
Above timberline with grizzlies and zero guardrails.
Most people drive US-212 across the Beartooth Plateau and never leave the pavement — their loss. The Forest Road network threading off the highway’s Wyoming side near Index Peak and the Clay Butte Fire Lookout spur delivers genuine high-country overland terrain at nearly 11,000 feet. The Clay Butte Road (USFS Road 130) is a rough 3-mile dirt climb with steep switchbacks and loose shale that ends at a 1942 fire lookout you can actually rent. Around Index Peak, the terrain opens onto the Clarks Fork Yellowstone drainage — a sprawling high-tundra plateau where grizzly bears graze open meadows and the wind never quite stops. Camp anywhere above treeline on the Shoshone National Forest side and you’ll wake up surrounded by the largest above-timberline landscape outside Alaska.
The spurs themselves aren’t technically brutal — a stock high-clearance 4WD handles them — but altitude, weather, and isolation are the real factors. Afternoon thunderstorms roll in fast above 10,000 feet and the road gets greasy quick. The Beartooth Highway is open roughly Memorial Day through mid-October, but the backcountry spurs may hold snow well into July. No permit required. Nearest fuel is Cooke City or Red Lodge, Montana. Cell service is essentially zero up here. If you’re heading in, a satellite communicator isn’t optional — it’s mandatory.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 18 mi / 29 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 10 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock high-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Cooke City, MT |
| Land manager | Shoshone National Forest / USDA Forest Service |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| 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 | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler handle this without any mods?
Yes. A stock high-clearance 4WD is the minimum and it's sufficient for normal conditions — the surface is dirt, gravel, and rock with no extreme obstacles. Low-profile crossovers and 2WD rigs don't belong here, especially when the ground is wet.
When does the route actually open after winter, and when does it close?
July through September is your window. Snow can linger well into June at 10,000+ feet and can return in September — the Beartooth is notorious for early-season closures. Check current road status with Shoshone National Forest before you leave.
Do I need a permit or pay any fees to run this route?
No permit is required to drive the route. Dispersed camping on Shoshone National Forest land is free, but follow the 14-day stay limit and stay at least 200 feet from water sources and roads.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it sketchy?
The exposure is the real challenge — no guardrails on narrow shelves above steep drop-offs, and the rock surface gets slick when wet. It's not technically brutal, but a moment of inattention at altitude with a steep fall line is enough to ruin your trip permanently.
Is there any cell service, and how far is the nearest gas from the trailhead?
There is zero cell service on this route — plan accordingly, bring a satellite communicator. Cooke City, MT is the nearest town and has a gas station, but top off before you get there; it's remote and hours from any other fuel stop.
Trail track
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