Beartooth Highway Walking Tour
Beartooth Highway, United States
Why Walk Beartooth Highway
The Beartooth Highway (US-212) climbs 68 miles from Red Lodge, Montana, to the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park near Cooke City, crossing Beartooth Pass at 10,947 feet — the highest drivable point in Montana. The road ascends through 4,000 vertical feet of switchbacks in the first 30 miles, passing through spruce forests and alpine meadows before emerging above treeline into a tundra landscape of glacial lakes, snowfields, and exposed granite plateaus. Twin Lakes Overlook and the Rock Creek Vista Point offer views extending 100 miles across the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The plateau section crosses terrain that resembles the Arctic — with snowbanks lingering into August and alpine wildflowers blooming in miniature meadows. The descent into Cooke City drops through Clark's Fork Canyon with views of Pilot and Index Peaks.
Free Beartooth Highway Walking Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free Beartooth Highway walking tour with audio narration. Use it to explore Beartooth Pass Summit (10,947 feet), Rock Creek Vista Point, Twin Lakes, plus hidden gems like Gardner Lake and Top of the World Store without booking a group tour.
This Beartooth Highway walking tour is built for travelers searching for a audio guide, a free walking route, or the Roamee app for Beartooth Highway. Start with Beartooth Pass Summit (10,947 feet) and Rock Creek Vista Point, then branch into local context, photo spots, and neighborhood stories as you walk.
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Must-See Stops in Beartooth Highway
- •Beartooth Pass Summit (10,947 feet) — the highest point on the highway with a stone marker and views across the Beartooth Plateau's glacial lakes and permanent snowfields
- •Rock Creek Vista Point — a cliffside overlook at 9,190 feet with views down the glacially carved Rock Creek Canyon and across to the Beartooth face
- •Twin Lakes — a pair of alpine lakes just below the summit that remain partially frozen through July, accessible from a short pullout trail
- •Pilot and Index Peaks — dramatic volcanic spires visible on the descent into Cooke City, rising above Clark's Fork Canyon
Hidden Gems in Beartooth Highway
- •Gardner Lake — a remote alpine lake at 9,780 feet accessed by a 1.5-mile scramble from a pullout near the summit, with brook trout and no crowds
- •Top of the World Store — a tiny seasonal general store and gas station at 9,400 feet that claims to be the highest-elevation commercial establishment in Montana
Walking Tip
Drive west (Red Lodge to Cooke City) for the most dramatic ascent and to end at Yellowstone's doorstep. The drive takes about 3 hours without stops. Gas up in Red Lodge — the only gas between Red Lodge and Cooke City is the seasonal Top of the World Store. Bring a jacket even in July; summit temperatures can be 40°F colder than Red Lodge. Watch for sudden afternoon thunderstorms above treeline.
Best Time to Visit
Late May through mid-October — the road is closed by snow the rest of the year. Late June through July for alpine wildflowers and lingering snowbanks. August and September offer the warmest summit temperatures. Opening day varies annually; check the Montana DOT for current status.
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