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Beartooth Highway, United States
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.
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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.
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.