Travel Guide to the Beartooth Highway in Wyoming and Montana

Entrance to the Beartooth Scenic Byway in the Custer National Forest

Completed in 1936, U.S. Highway 212 is considered one of the most scenic drives in the United States. It includes views of the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains, and open high alpine plateaus.

We first drove the Beartooth Highway in 2000, eastbound out of Yellowstone National Park. In September 2010, after visiting Cody and Red Lodge, we made the trek up the Beartooth westbound into the northeast entrance of Yellowstone.

The road was called "the most beautiful drive in America," by the late CBS correspondent Charles Kuralt.

The Beartooth closes each winter because of heavy snow and adverse winter conditions; it usually reopens in May of each year.

Flooding in the summer of 2022 has impacted area travel. Check with local authorities about access before beginning your trip.

We found the drive to be scenic, and invigorating, but not intimidating. We look forward to our next trip on the Beartooth!

The Beartooth Scenic Highway, plowed in the spring after the heavy snowfalls through winter

 

Lodging Options near the Beartooth Highway

Lodging in Cody, Wyoming Lodging in Red Lodge, Montana Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone NP Lake Yellowstone Hotels & Cabins in the Park Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins in Yellowstone NP Old Faithful Snow Lodge in Yellowstone NP Dunraven Lodge in Yellowstone NP Grant Village Lodge in Yellowstone NP Cascade Lodge in Yellowstone NP

 

Welcome to Wyoming

Beartooth Pass Summit, 10,947 feet

Montana's Beartooth Highway, overlooking a scenic valley

Curving Along the Beartooth The road features glacial lakes, forests, valleys, waterfalls and a variety of wildlife. The highway is the highest elevation highway in Wyoming and Montana, and is the highest elevation highway in the Northern Rockies.

It traverses a series of steep zigzags and switchbacks along the Montana -Wyoming border to the 10,947 ft high Beartooth Pass.

Rock Creek Vista Point on the Beartooth Highway, elevation 9,190 feet

Beartooth Highway, overlooking distant lakes and mountains

 

 

Switchbacks on the Beartooth Highway

Map of the switchbacks on the Beartooth Scenic Highway (Courtesy of Montana DOT)

Thanks for the guardrails on the Beartooth Highway!

Beartooth Highway with switchbacks below

Leaving Montana on the Beartooth Highway

YouTube Video ... Beartooth Highway Clearing ... May 18, 2018

Interactive Map of the Beartooth Highway Area