Beartooth All-American Road

On August 8, 1997, I headed south and west on US 212, the Beartooth Highway which goes over 10,947' Beartooth Pass.

This road is not kept open in the winter but is an EXTREMELY SCENIC drive that you should try to take if you are in the area.

Heralded as one of the most scenic drives in the United States, the Beartooth Highway, a National Scenic Byways All-American Road, features breathtaking views of the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains, and open high alpine plateaus dotted with countless glacial lakes, forested valleys, waterfalls and wildlife.

The Beartooth All-American Road passes through what is known today as the Beartooth Corridor. Surrounded by the Custer, Gallatin, and Shoshone National Forests, traveling parallel to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, and abutting Yellowstone National Park, the Highway sits in a million-plus acre wilderness.

Visitors have the rare opportunity to experience and explore pristine, untouched alpine and montane landscapes, lush forests, and alpine tundra in the space of a few miles. It is one of the highest and most rugged areas in the lower 48 states, with 20 peaks reaching over 12,000 feet in elevation.

In the surrounding mountains, glaciers are found on the north flank of nearly every mountain peak over 11,500 feet high. The Road itself is the highest elevation highway in Wyoming (10,947 feet) and Montana (10,350 feet), and is the highest elevation highway in the Northern Rockies.

This year, the heavy winter, late spring and more than usual summer rains (per a local) have kept everything green and many flowers were evident. The Montana section of the highway is very good and recently upgraded. Stopped at numerous viewpoints including a developed one at 9,190'. Views of the Beartooth range - Beartooth plateau - probably saw Granite Peak 12,799' highest in Montana.

Still quite a bit of snow around and the country is much like the rugged parts of the Sierra. Lots of jagged peaks and alpine lakes including a quite obvious Beartooth Peak. Up on top it was typical alpine country with a brisk wind.

The Wyoming part of the road is narrow and not in the greatest of shape but the lakes, meadows, mountains were outstanding.