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The Beartooth Mountains
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Explore Montana’s Beartooth Mountains for alpine highways, granite peaks, wilderness trails, wildlife and small mountain communities near Yellowstone.

The Beartooth Mountains rise along Montana’s southern border, forming one of the highest and most rugged landscapes in the northern Rocky Mountains. This guide focuses on the Montana portion of the range, centred on Red Lodge, the Beartooth Highway’s northeastern approach, and the mountain communities of Cooke City and Silver Gate. The range continues south into Wyoming, where it adjoins Yellowstone National Park, so some journeys described as Beartooth trips cross state lines.
Read more about The Beartooth Mountains
Above the tree line, broad plateaux, granite summits and more than a thousand mountain lakes create a landscape shaped by ice, weather and immense geological forces. Granite Peak, Montana’s highest mountain at 12,799 feet, stands within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, while ridges around Beartooth Pass offer high viewpoints over tundra-like terrain. Lower elevations are marked by lodgepole pine, spruce, fir, rushing creeks and valleys inhabited by elk, moose, bighorn sheep and other Rocky Mountain wildlife.
The Beartooth Highway, designated US Route 212, is the region’s defining scenic route. Its Montana section climbs from Red Lodge towards Beartooth Pass before continuing into Wyoming, with sharp bends, exposed slopes and viewpoints that are often snowbound well into the year. Red Lodge provides the most substantial base on the Montana side, combining a historic main street with galleries, cafés, outfitters and access to the highway. Cooke City and Silver Gate are smaller, more remote communities near the northeastern gateway to Yellowstone.
This is a destination for walking, climbing, fishing, wildlife watching, camping and landscape photography rather than for dense urban sightseeing. Shorter trails and scenic overlooks are available near the road, while the wilderness offers demanding routes requiring navigation, preparation and tolerance of rapidly changing mountain weather. The high country is fragile, and visitors should remain on durable surfaces where appropriate, store food securely and follow conditions set by land managers.
The region’s contemporary character reflects several overlapping histories: Indigenous use of the mountains, nineteenth-century mineral exploration, ranching and tourism. Red Lodge retains links to early coal mining and the arrival of the railway, while the high country is protected largely through the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and surrounding public lands. Travelling here is consequently about understanding a vast mountain environment whose access, communities and seasons are all governed by altitude, distance and weather.

Getting to and around The Beartooth Mountains

How to get there

The Montana gateway is usually Red Lodge, reached by road from Billings, which has the nearest major commercial airport, or from the west through Montana’s mountain corridors. Smaller commercial air services may be available at regional airports, but a vehicle is generally needed for the mountain approaches. The Beartooth Highway begins near Red Lodge and crosses into Wyoming towards Cooke City and the Yellowstone area; the route is seasonal and may close because of snow. Billings lies outside the Beartooth Mountains but is the principal larger air gateway for the Montana side.

Transportation

A private car or hired vehicle is the most practical way to explore the Montana Beartooths, particularly for reaching trailheads, viewpoints and dispersed communities. US Route 212 is steep, winding and exposed, so drivers should allow generous time and avoid rushing. Red Lodge is walkable in its central area, while Cooke City and Silver Gate have limited local services and no urban-style public transport network. Cycling is possible but demanding because of gradients, distances, traffic and weather. Backcountry travel requires detailed maps, route planning and awareness that mobile reception can disappear.

Destinations in The Beartooth Mountains

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in The Beartooth Mountains

The main attraction is the mountain landscape itself, experienced along the Beartooth Highway, at high-elevation pull-offs and on trails leading into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Near Red Lodge, the road climbs through forest and open slopes towards Beartooth Pass, where broad alpine views and exposed granite replace the lower valley scenery. The route continues into Wyoming, so travellers should recognise that the complete highway journey is cross-border rather than wholly within Montana. Hiking ranges from short viewpoint walks to demanding wilderness routes, while fishing, camping, climbing, wildlife watching and landscape photography are central activities. Granite Peak attracts experienced mountaineers, not casual walkers, and requires serious planning. Red Lodge adds galleries, local history and a traditional mountain-town main street, while Cooke City and Silver Gate provide access to remote trails and the northeastern Yellowstone gateway. Wildlife may include elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and bears, although sightings are never guaranteed. The attraction landscape is defined by scale, altitude and access to public land rather than by a concentration of built attractions.

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Best landmarks in The Beartooth Mountains

Beartooth Pass is the range’s most recognisable road landmark, marking the high point of the Beartooth Highway and opening expansive views across alpine plateaux and glaciated terrain. The pass lies near the Montana-Wyoming boundary, so its significance belongs to the wider cross-border mountain route rather than to Montana alone. Granite Peak, within the Montana portion of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, is the state’s highest summit and an important mountaineering landmark, though its ascent is a serious undertaking. The broad granite uplands, high lakes and stark ridgelines around the highway form natural landmarks as much as individual peaks. Red Lodge’s historic commercial centre provides a contrasting human landmark, reflecting the town’s development as a coal, railway and mountain-tourism community. Cooke City’s compact settlement marks another important gateway, linking the Beartooth high country with routes towards Yellowstone in Wyoming. Together, these places express the region’s defining relationship between rugged geology, engineered mountain access and small communities at the edge of public wilderness.

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Best restaurants in The Beartooth Mountains

Dining in the Montana Beartooths is concentrated in Red Lodge, Cooke City and Silver Gate, with a smaller and more seasonal choice than in Montana’s larger cities. Expect cafés, bakeries, bars serving meals, casual grills, traditional American mountain-town food and restaurants catering to hikers, skiers, workers and scenic-road travellers. Menus commonly draw on wider Montana and Rocky Mountain traditions, including beef, trout where available, burgers, soups, hearty breakfasts and locally produced beer. Red Lodge offers the broadest range of places to eat and is the most reliable point for stocking provisions before a high-country journey. Cooke City and Silver Gate are useful for simple meals and supplies near the northeastern approach, but visitors should not assume late service or extensive choice outside the main season. Farmers’ markets, local produce and Montana-made goods may appear seasonally, while fine dining is limited compared with larger regional centres. Reservations and advance planning are sensible during summer and winter peaks.

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Best bars in The Beartooth Mountains

Nightlife in the Beartooth Mountains is low-key and community-based rather than centred on nightclubs. Red Lodge has the region’s broadest evening scene, with traditional bars, pubs, restaurants, occasional live music and a social main-street atmosphere that varies by season. Cooke City and Silver Gate offer a smaller selection of bars or meal-serving establishments, where evenings generally focus on conversation, food and mountain travellers rather than late-night entertainment. Winter brings activity associated with skiing and snow sports in Red Lodge, while summer evenings often revolve around dining, outdoor events and early starts for the next day’s drive or hike. Visitors should expect rural opening patterns and limited transport between communities, so drinking and driving is particularly unsafe on winding mountain roads. Breweries and Montana-made drinks may feature on local menus, but alcohol is only one part of the region’s evening culture.

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Best nightclubs in The Beartooth Mountains

Nightlife in the Beartooth Mountains is low-key and community-based rather than centred on nightclubs. Red Lodge has the region’s broadest evening scene, with traditional bars, pubs, restaurants, occasional live music and a social main-street atmosphere that varies by season. Cooke City and Silver Gate offer a smaller selection of bars or meal-serving establishments, where evenings generally focus on conversation, food and mountain travellers rather than late-night entertainment. Winter brings activity associated with skiing and snow sports in Red Lodge, while summer evenings often revolve around dining, outdoor events and early starts for the next day’s drive or hike. Visitors should expect rural opening patterns and limited transport between communities, so drinking and driving is particularly unsafe on winding mountain roads. Breweries and Montana-made drinks may feature on local menus, but alcohol is only one part of the region’s evening culture.

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Best shops in The Beartooth Mountains

Shopping in the Beartooth Mountains is practical and locally focused rather than extensive. Red Lodge has the widest choice, with independent shops, galleries, outdoor outfitters, books, clothing, Western-inspired goods, artwork and souvenirs connected with Montana and the surrounding mountains. Visitors can also look for locally made food, craft products and regional beverages, although stock and opening patterns vary seasonally. Cooke City and Silver Gate have smaller collections of visitor-oriented shops and supplies, useful for last-minute outdoor needs and locally themed gifts rather than a full retail day. Red Lodge’s historic centre is best explored on foot, combining shopping with cafés, restaurants and architectural character. Outdoor equipment, fuel, groceries and warm clothing are particularly valuable purchases before entering the high country, where retail options are sparse. Avoid removing rocks, plants or historic objects from public land; photographs, locally made crafts and regionally produced food are more appropriate souvenirs.

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The Beartooth Mountains essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD), as throughout Montana and the United States. Cards and contactless payments are commonly accepted in established businesses in Red Lodge and other developed visitor areas, but smaller or remote establishments may have limited connectivity or payment options. Carry some cash for rural purchases, emergencies, campsites or services along the highway. Fuel and supplies should be obtained before entering the high country, since distances are considerable and facilities become sparse outside the principal communities.
Safety
Mountain weather is the main regional hazard: snow, ice, lightning, high winds and sudden temperature changes can occur even during summer. Altitude may cause fatigue or headaches, particularly on strenuous walks or at high passes. Drive cautiously on narrow, winding sections and be prepared for wildlife near roads. Hikers should carry water, navigation equipment, extra clothing and a clear route plan. Keep a safe distance from bears, moose and other animals, never feed wildlife, and store food securely when camping. Check land-management notices, fire restrictions and road conditions before departure.
Emergency Situations
Dial 911 for police, fire or ambulance emergencies, using the national system that applies throughout the United States. Tell the operator your precise location, route, trailhead, mile marker or nearby landmark, because the mountains contain areas with weak or absent mobile coverage. Search and rescue assistance is available through local and land-management agencies, but response times can be long in remote terrain. A satellite messenger or emergency beacon is sensible for overnight journeys or routes far from roads. Do not rely solely on a mobile phone for wilderness safety.
Do's and Don'ts
Do follow Leave No Trace principles, use established campsites where required and keep dogs under control around wildlife and livestock. Do check whether fires are permitted and observe all restrictions. Do give uphill traffic room on narrow roads and use designated pull-offs rather than stopping in the carriageway. Do not approach animals, remove rocks or plants, or assume that a visible trail is easy at high altitude. Respect private land boundaries, Indigenous communities and wilderness rules, and remember that collecting natural or historic objects is generally prohibited on public lands.
Local Tips
Plan around the road rather than assuming that all Beartooth viewpoints or trailheads can be linked quickly; distances and gradients make even short-looking journeys slow. Red Lodge is the best place on the Montana side to combine supplies, food, local history and access to the highway. Cooke City and Silver Gate are useful for a quieter base near the northeastern end, but services are limited and seasonal. Start high-country walks early, carry layers and allow flexibility for afternoon storms. If continuing towards Yellowstone, verify the status of every connecting road before setting out.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHowdy[Haw-dee]
GoodbyeSee ya later[See ya lay-ter]
YesYup[Yup]
NoNah[Nah]
Please/You're welcomeSure thing[Shur thing]
Thank youThanks a bunch[Thanks a bunch]
Excuse me/SorryPardon me[Par-dun mee]
How are you?How's it going?[How's it goin'?]
Fine. And you?Good, and you?[Good, an' you?]
Do you speak English?Do ya speak English?[Doo ya speak English?]
I don't understandI ain't got it[I ain't got it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu?[Can I see the menu?]
I don't eat meatI don't do meat[I don't do meat]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseCan I get the check?[Can I get the check?]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Leave me be![Leave me be!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![Call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doctor![Get a doctor!]
I'm lostI'm turned around[I'm turned around]
I'm illI'm feeling sick[I'm feelin' sick]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[I wanna buy...]
I'm just lookingJust browsing[Just browsing]
How much is it?What's the price?[What's the price?]
That's too expensiveThat's a bit steep[That's a bit steep]
Can you lower the price?Can ya cut me a deal?[Can ya cut me a deal?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time ya got?[What time ya got?]
It's one o'clockIt's one[It's one]
Half past (10)Half past ten[Half past ten]
MorningMorning[Mornin']
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvening[Evening]
YesterdayYesterday[Yesterday]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorrow[Tomorrow]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
9Nine[Nine]
10Ten[Ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[Where's the...?]
What's the address?What's the address?[What's the address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ya point it out?[Can ya point it out?]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next bus?[When's the next bus?]
A ticket (to ....)One ticket to...[One ticket to...]

History of The Beartooth Mountains

Indigenous Landscapes and the Apsáalooke

The Beartooth country lies within the wider homelands and cultural landscape of the Apsáalooke, or Crow people, whose traditional territory extended across parts of present-day Montana and Wyoming. Mountain valleys, rivers and high passes formed part of a broader network of travel, hunting and seasonal use rather than an isolated wilderness. The Apsáalooke Nation remains an important contemporary presence in Montana. Visitors should understand that public-land designations do not erase Indigenous connections to the landscape, and that many place names and historical accounts reflect later colonial mapping rather than the region’s earliest histories.

Geological Formation and Glacial Landscapes

The Beartooths are an ancient geological highland within the northern Rocky Mountains, dominated by resistant granite and other crystalline rocks. Uplift, erosion and repeated glaciation shaped the stepped plateaux, cirques, lakes and steep valleys visible today. The high elevations are unusually broad and exposed, giving parts of the range an alpine character uncommon in much of the surrounding northern Rockies. Glacial landforms and exposed bedrock are not merely scenic features: they explain the region’s thin soils, short growing season, sparse tree cover above timberline and demanding travel conditions.

Exploration, Mining and Red Lodge

Non-Indigenous settlement expanded in the late nineteenth century as prospectors, miners, ranchers and transport routes entered the northern Beartooth region. Red Lodge developed as a commercial and mining centre, particularly through coal production in the nearby Carbon County fields. Mining brought rail connections, workers and businesses, while also leaving an industrial legacy that remains part of the town’s historical identity. Mineral exploration occurred in the wider mountains, although the high country’s remoteness and severe climate limited large-scale development compared with lower valleys and established mining districts.

The Road over Beartooth Pass

The modern route across the range developed during the twentieth century as roads connected Red Lodge with the Yellowstone region through the high country. The Beartooth Highway, now US Route 212, became renowned for its dramatic engineering and scenery as it climbed through steep terrain towards Beartooth Pass before descending into Wyoming. Its value has always been both practical and recreational: it links communities and gateways while providing access to high-elevation landscapes. Seasonal snow and avalanches continue to make the route dependent on mountain conditions rather than a year-round corridor.

Protection of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Growing concern for the preservation of the range’s forests, lakes, wildlife habitat and largely undeveloped high country contributed to modern wilderness protection. The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness was established in 1978 under the National Wilderness Preservation System and is managed principally by the US Forest Service. Its designation limits roads and mechanised development while preserving extensive opportunities for hiking, climbing, camping and ecological study. The protected landscape extends across Montana and Wyoming, illustrating why the Beartooth Mountains are best understood as a cross-border mountain system rather than solely a Montana destination.

Tourism, Conservation and a Changing Mountain Economy

In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, tourism became increasingly important to Red Lodge, Cooke City and other gateway communities. Scenic driving, skiing, hiking, fishing, wildlife watching and access to nearby Yellowstone now complement the older economic foundations of mining, ranching and forestry. This transition has brought opportunity as well as pressure, including seasonal congestion, accommodation constraints, road-maintenance challenges and concerns about wildlife and fragile alpine environments. Contemporary travel in the Beartooths therefore depends on balancing public access with conservation and the needs of small mountain communities.

The Beartooth Mountains in Photos

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Nestled in the rugged terrain of Montana, The Beartooth Mountains promise adventurers an unforgettable experience. With the Evendo app, you can uncover the best of this breathtaking destination. Picture yourself standing on the Beartooth Highway, often regarded as one of the most beautiful drives in America, or conquering the trails of the Beartooth Pass. Let Evendo guide you to iconic landmarks like Granite Peak and mesmerizing spots such as Mystic Lake.

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