Scenic Overlanding: The Beartooth Highway Experience
Scenic Overlanding: The Beartooth Highway Experience
The Beartooth Highway is a scenic route known for its breathtaking views and access to numerous outdoor activities. Running from Deer Lodge, Montana, to Cooke City, Montana, the highway spans two states, with most of it winding through Wyoming. Though the highway itself is paved and well-maintained, making it accessible for regular vehicles, it’s the plethora of side roads and trails branching off from the main route that attract overlanding enthusiasts. These offshoots offer opportunities for exploration and adventure, allowing travelers to experience more rugged and less-traveled paths that embody the spirit of overlanding. The highway also provides a route to the northeastern entrance of Yellowstone National Park, further enhancing its appeal as a gateway to wilderness exploration.
Day 1:
We spent the first two days of an eight-day overlanding trip exploring the Beartooth Highway. We started in Red Lodge, MT, heading down a dirt road into a canyon. It took a bit of searching, but we were able to find a suitable campsite. For this trip, we were camping in a ground tent, so we had to find a dry area to set it up. That proved to be a bit of a challenge at this first location, but it all worked out.
Day 2:
The next morning, we woke up early and headed to the Glacier Lake trailhead. This was a stunning hike and really set the tone for a great day ahead. The scenery in this part of Montana is truly something to behold.
After our hike, we got back on the road and followed the Beartooth Highway, stopping at pullouts along the way. We then turned off the Beartooth Highway onto Crazy Lakes Road and explored the area until we found a suitable campsite. Our day two campsite offered wonderful views of Pilot Peak in the distance.
In the middle of the night, I woke up to the sound of a large animal next to my head, just outside the tent. Being in grizzly territory, my first thought was, “Is that a bear?” Then I heard some chewing and quickly realized it was not a bear. We were camped on National Forest land, which is open to free-range cattle grazing. Apparently, in the middle of the night, a group of cows had decided to come graze at our camp.
Day 3:
When we woke up the next morning, the cows were still hanging around as we cooked breakfast. After packing up camp, we headed back to the Beartooth Highway. This was just the beginning of a larger trip through Yellowstone and on to the Tetons, but it served as a great introduction to the Beartooth Highway and some of the spur roads branching off it. We will definitely be returning to this area to explore further.
July 20, 2024
