Beartooth Highway, Scenic route through Wyoming and Montana, United States.
Beartooth Highway connects Red Lodge in Montana with the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming across roughly 68 miles. The route crosses alpine terrain and passes through high plateaus dotted with lakes and glaciers.
Construction began after federal legislation supported access roads to national parks in 1931. The route opened to traffic in June 1936.
The road earned recognition in the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 as the Red Lodge - Cooke City Approach Road Historic District.
The road usually stays open from late May to mid-October and reaches elevations above 10,900 feet (3,300 meters). Anyone planning to drive should check weather ahead and bring layers for cooler temperatures.
A military expedition led by General Philip Sheridan used this pass in August 1872 on the return from Yellowstone country. A hunter had suggested the shorter mountain route to the troops.
Location: Wyoming
Location: Montana
Part of: U.S. Route 212 in Montana
GPS coordinates: 44.96830,-109.46500
Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:16
Montana offers a range of landscapes from the peaks of Glacier National Park to the central plains. The state has several mountain routes including the Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Beartooth Highway, both exceeding 3,000 meters in elevation. Glacial lakes such as Flathead Lake and Lake McDonald...
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41.6 kmVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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