Beartooth Highway – All-American Road

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The Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge is phenomenal. “The most beautiful drive in America,” states Charles Kuralt.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beartooth_Highway

How did it take so long for me to find out about All-American Road designations!

National Scenic Byways and All-American Road designations have only been around since 1991. For a road to be designated as an All-American Road, it must be a destination unto itself and have multiple intrinsic qualities. The Beartooth Highway between Cooke City and Red Lodge, Montana is an excellent example of a truly All-American Road. This road takes you from Cooke City, MT (near Yellowstone’s east entrance), over Beartooth Pass in Wyoming (10749 ft) and finally ends 8 miles from Red Lodge, MT. There’s quite a switchback climb and descent with absolutely amazing views and perfect photo opportunities.

Beartooth Highway Map from http://beartoothhighway.com

Although this is actually a 90-minute ride, you should plan on taking at least 3 hours. This is my first time crossing Beartooth Pass. We’re starting out in the afternoon at Cooke City toward Red Lodge where we’ll sleep the night. We’re going to do a return trip back over the Beartooth Highway tomorrow morning just so we’ll be able to ride the road from both directions, how fun!

It is very warm as we start our ride from Yellowstone this morning. A warm spell has hit the western states and it’s been 85-90 degrees every day. It’s hot. But we manage to bypass any traffic jams as we see hundreds of buffalo around the Lamar Valley. Rule #1: keep moving when it’s hot to keep cool.

On the Beartooth Highway, you’ll see many pullouts and view areas on both sides. There’s no need to hurry, stop and take lots of pictures, you’ll be glad that you did. It’s a beautiful panoramic view across the valley as you head up from Cooke City. Actually, it’s pretty calm and relaxing. The turns are long and the grass is soft and green.

Grassy fields and beautifully huge views

As you go ever higher, the views get more dramatic, and it’s difficult to stay calm amongst the backdrop of this amazing road and scenery. It reminds us of riding the Grande Staircase-Escalante in Utah. You really need to pay attention when riding the Beartooth. Trees are getting shorter and grass valleys quickly become rocky and eventually include cliffs, boulders and steep drop offs. There are lots of small lakes amongst he rocky rolling hills. I love the large boulders strewn around. The landscape around here is like a tremendous backyard remodel project with an unlimited budget. The views are astounding… especially across the valley behind us as we ride from West to East. As we get toward the top, the clouds are setting in and the skyline becomes somewhat hazy and obscured. It looks like a little rain may get us. It’s a dramatic change and we stop to put on our cold gear at the top. Such is life on the Rocky Mountains in July.

A view of the rocky landscape and lakes that dot the highway

Red Lodge is a fun place with lots of activity on the main street. Bone Daddy’s custom bike shop and Beartooth Harley are near each other and there are lots of dining and lodging options. Plan in advance as hotels can get booked up fast.

In the morning, we head right back up the pass. This time we start at Red Lodge and head down to Cooke City. With the sun shining full bright, I’m hoping today will bring brilliant pictures and beautiful views.

Switchbacks south of Red Lodge have some fantastic views

We’ve been seeing many women riders on this trip. Today, we meet Lindsey from Colorado at the Top of the World Store and Resort. It’s located on the Wyoming side just below Beartooth Pass. Lindsey owns a nice shoe boutique in Boulder, Colorado with her sister. It’s appropriately named Two Sole Sisters. Lindsey is on an epic ride with friends. She’s on her way back home now. But on this trip, she has already been to the Flaming Gorge Recreation Area, Sun Valley, Idaho, Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, and is now hanging out on the Beartooth Highway. She’s riding a Harley Fourty-Eight which looks like the perfect bike for these roads. On this long tour, she is very clever and brings along extra fuel in her sissy bar bag!

Lindsey on her very cool Harley forty-eight!