Beartooth Pass to Cooke City High Route

This spectacular high-altitude route links the Beartooth Pass area with the historic mining town of Cooke City via a network of mining roads and pack trails above 10,000 feet. The route passes numerous alpine lakes, abandoned mine shafts, and offers unobstructed views of the Absaroka Range and Yellowstone’s northern peaks. Key landmarks include the Henderson Mountain mining district and the remnants of the New World Mining District near Cooke City, where millions in gold and silver were extracted in the early 1900s.

Expert-level driving required with rock crawling sections, loose talus, and narrow shelves with significant exposure. This route is only accessible July through September, and weather can change rapidly above treeline. Carry chains, recovery gear, and emergency supplies including shelter and extra food. Cell service is nonexistent, and the nearest help could be hours away. The reward is some of the most pristine alpine scenery in North America and access to world-class fishing in remote high-country lakes.