Beartooth Highway, Montana

About this drive

The Beartooth Highway — US-212 between Red Lodge, Montana and Cooke City on the northeast entrance to Yellowstone — climbs to 10,947 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest paved roads in the United States. Charles Kuralt called it the most beautiful drive in America, and it is difficult to argue. The road ascends in a series of sweeping switchbacks above the treeline before crossing a high plateau where snowfields survive well into July and alpine meadows erupt with wildflowers in summer. From the Rock Creek Vista Point, the view back down the switchbacks gives a sense of the vertical distance covered in just a few miles of driving. The plateau section is otherworldly — a treeless expanse of exposed granite and tundra under enormous sky, often shrouded in fast-moving cloud. Pikas and marmots scatter across the boulders, and on clear days the view extends across three states. The highway is only open from late May to mid-October — heavy snow closes it most winters by November. Summer afternoons bring frequent thunderstorms above the treeline, so aim for a morning crossing. The road ends at Cooke City, the northeast gateway to Yellowstone, making this a natural opener or closer for a Yellowstone visit.

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• Top 10 Scenic Drives in the USA
• Best Mountain Scenic Drives in the USA