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Even the most urban corners of Beartooth Highway hide pockets of nature for those willing to walk. Green spaces like Beartooth Pass Summit (10,947 feet) and Rock Creek Vista Point offer a breathing room between landmarks — and some of the best views you'll find anywhere in the city. Seek out quieter retreats like Gardner Lake for the calm that the busier parks can't offer.
Charles Kuralt called it 'the most beautiful drive in America' — 68 miles of alpine switchbacks climbing to 10,947 feet through Montana and Wyoming.
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free self-guided nature walk route in Beartooth Highway. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Beartooth Pass Summit (10,947 feet) — the highest point on the highway with a stone marker and views across the Beartooth Plateau's glacial lakes and permanent snowfields, Rock Creek Vista Point — a cliffside overlook at 9,190 feet with views down the glacially carved Rock Creek Canyon and across to the Beartooth face, Twin Lakes — a pair of alpine lakes just below the summit that remain partially frozen through July, accessible from a short pullout trail, plus hidden gems like Gardner Lake — a remote alpine lake at 9,780 feet accessed by a 1.5-mile scramble from a pullout near the summit, with brook trout and no crowds.
Use this page as a starting point for a Beartooth Highway walking tour, a free self-guided route, or the Roamee app for Beartooth Highway. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
Beartooth Highway is known for nature and photography, but between the busy streets, spaces like Beartooth Pass Summit (10,947 feet) and Rock Creek Vista Point provide a different kind of experience — calmer, greener, and more grounded than a typical sightseeing route. Quieter spots like Gardner Lake provide the kind of rest that the main attractions cannot.
Drive west (Red Lodge to Cooke City) for the most dramatic ascent and to end at Yellowstone's doorstep. The drive takes about 3 hours without stops. Gas up in Red Lodge — the only gas between Red Lodge and Cooke City is the seasonal Top of the World Store. Bring a jacket even in July; summit temperatures can be 40°F colder than Red Lodge. Watch for sudden afternoon thunderstorms above treeline.
Late May through mid-October — the road is closed by snow the rest of the year. Late June through July for alpine wildflowers and lingering snowbanks. August and September offer the warmest summit temperatures. Opening day varies annually; check the Montana DOT for current status.
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