Along the Drive
45 miles from Laurel, the town of Red
Lodge features a rustic main street with
several motels and private campgrounds. The town is
a National Historic District with buildings
constructed between 1893 and 1910, during the
town's coal mining boom. You may wish to drive four
miles east of town to the site of the Smith Mine
Disaster where 74 men died in an underground
explosion in 1943. In town, the Carbon County
Museum displays Red Lodge history with pioneer
artifacts and the homestead cabin of John Garrison.
South of Red Lodge, Rock Creek Resort provides
sophisticated accommodations, at the foot of the
Beartooth Range.
From Red Lodge, the road has been designated a
National Forest Scenic Byway and the highway
begins its steep climb toward the summit. There are
frequent switchbacks with fresh views at every turn
and hikers will enjoy the Gardiner Lake
Trail which leads to the small, blue alpine
lake.
The Beartooth Summit lies at an elevation
of 10,947 feet. There is snow at the summit for
much of the year, although summer driving is
painless. Those with 4WD vehicles may want to
explore two sideroads leading across the plateau
near the summit. Morrison Jeep Road leads
south from the highway to the Dollar Lake
Trailhead. Fantan Lake Road provides a 2.5-mile
drive to this scenic little lake.
Two campgrounds are situated north of the
highway just past the summit. The Top of the
World Store and Motel is also located here.
Between the summit and Cooke City -- near the
park entrance -- are several forest campgrounds and
two overlooks with splendid views of the Clarks
Fork River. Clay Butte is a high peak accessed
by a short sideroad which leads three miles to
another lookout.
Still in high country, Chief Joseph Scenic
Highway (Road # 296) leads southeast, past
Sawtooth Mountain to the Sunlight Wildlife Habitat.
Past the junction, there is another overlook
pulloff with views of the high Absarokas. Chief
Joseph Highway runs 57 miles to Cody, Wyoming.
There are four additional forest campgrounds
past the scenic highway junction. Goose Creek
Jeep Trail leads five miles to Lulu Pass and
more thrilling views.
Cooke City is a small gold mining town, dating
from 1876, lying just east of the Yellowstone
National Park boundary. Right at the boundary is
the village of Silver Gate, with gas, a cafe and a
general store.
From the park gate, the highway leads for 47
miles to the park headquarters at Mammoth Hot
Springs. Just past the Warm Creek Picnic
Area the highway enters Montna and cuts through
Icebox Canyon. There are several park trails
leading from the highway between the boundary and
Pebble Creek Campground where another trail
is available to hike.
After descending through the canyon, the road
enters the wide Lamar River Valley, where
bison spend the winter months. The Specimen Ridge
Trail crosses sub-alpine meadows filled with
wildflowers, past the summit of Amethyst Mountain
(at 11.5 miles). A shorter walk provides views of
the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Tower Junction is a major crossroads in
the park. Here is Roosevelt Lodge, open
during summer months. From the junction, the
highway continues for 18 miles to Mammoth Hot
Springs. The junction is on the Yellowstone Park
Loop and the loop road leads south toward the Grand
Canyon of the Yellowstone and on toward Old
Faithful and other park attractions.
The Hellroaring Creek Trail leads from
the highway to the northern boundary of the park
and into the Gallatin National Forest. Just one
mile from the trailhead is a suspension bridge over
the Yellowstone River, reached after descending 600
feet. Past the bridge is sag eland and the trail
connects with the Buffalo Plateau Trail (at 1.5
miles) and the Yellowstone River Trail (at 2
miles). The trail then heads upward to a bridge
over Hellroaring Creek. (3.5 miles).
The highway continues. passing the Lava Creek
Picnic Area, to Mammoth Hot Springs,
where you will probably encounter elk relaxing on
the lawn next to the park information center.
Nearby Destinations:
Billings,
Montana
Red
Lodge, Montana
Yellowstone
National Park
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