Red Lodge Things to See and Do:
Museums
Carbon County Museum (1011 South Broadway, 406-446-3914) was started in 1959 by Alice
Greenough to house the collection that tells the story of her world-renowned rodeo family.
Over the years it has grown to include exhibits on homesteading, coal mining, Native
American culture and history, moonshining, cowboy artifacts, the town’s first telephone switchboard, fire wagons from the 1890s, the original homesteading cabin of Jeremiah
Liver-Eatin Johnston and an extensive historical gun collection.
The Beartooth Nature Center (Located in the north end of town, 406-446-1133) is the only public
facility in Montana to house native animals that cannot be returned to the wild due to injury or
habituation to humans. It cares for more than a dozen different species including wolves,
mountain lions, black bears, moose, elk, antelope, bobcat, fox, coyote and many more. Open
daily from 10 AM to 5 PM in the summer and 10 AM to 2 PM in the winter.
Shops and Galleries
Red Lodge has a very “walkable” downtown. You’ll find lots of gift shops worth browsing, but here are the places we particularly like along Broadway, Red Lodge’s main street, listed from north to south.
Magpie Toymakers (115 North Broadway, 406-446-3044) is a unique toy store featuring lots of
Montana homemade puzzles and toys as well as the “classics.”
Kibler & Kirch (101 North Broadway, 406-446-2226) has a new showroom, so it’s easier to dream
about new ideas for your home. Their unique home furnishings, gifts, accessories and interior
design are very “Montana.”
Red Lodge Books (406-446-2742)sells new and used books, maps, gifts and
has a great selection from local writers.
Montana Candy Emporium (7 South Broadway, 406-446-1119) features every kind of candy
known to man. If you’re the nostalgic type, this place will fill you with memories of when
you were a kid. And if you are a kid…well, then you’ll be in some version of heaven.
Sylvan Peak Mountain Shoppe (9 South Broadway, 406-446-1770), sells backpacking and other
outdoor gear and maps, and is a good source of outdoor information.
Boomerang Beads (212 South Broadway, 406-446-2008) is more than a bead shop and features a
funky collection of beads, jewelry, ethnic imports and clothing.
Carbon County Art Depot (Located at the north end of town adjacent to the Carnegie Library and the Beartooth Market, 406-446-1370) is three galleries in an historic train depot which house high quality art, fine crafts and frequent showings of local artists.
Red Lodge Clay Center (123 South Broadway, 406-446-3993) is a beautifully walkable gallery of
unique ceramic sculpture and functional pottery by nationally and internationally known artists.
It is truly one of the best collections of pottery you will find anywhere in the country.Spirit Horse
(21 North Broadway), 406-446-0171 features works of well-known Native American painter Ivan Long, Ogallala Sioux, and excellent examples of Indian beadwork.
Coleman Gallery and Studio (223 South Broadway, 406-446-1228) is the home of Merv Coleman’s award-winning photography, specializing in nature and landscape images of the Americas with an emphasis on the Beartooth and Yellowstone areas.
Kevin Red Star Gallery (103 South Main Street in Roberts, 13 miles north of Red Lodge, 800-858-2584) features the works of this internationally known and highly acclaimed artist who draws material for his historical and modern subjects from his Crow culture.
Charles Ringer Studio and Gallery (Located on Main Street in Joliet, 23 miles north of Red Lodge,
(406-962-3705) is a “must-see.” This gallery exhibits the metal sculptures of internationally known, local artist Charles Ringer, whose works are featured in galleries throughout the West as well as the Smithsonian Museum of Art.
| Hiking
There are spectacular hikes around Red Lodge, both near town and up from the pass. Consult the Forest Service office (located on Hwy 212 just south of Ski Run Road.406-446-2103) for trail maps and trail conditions.
Trailheads on Beartooth Pass
Trails from the pass area are unique in that you have gained most of the elevation the easy way, by car! You can travel a longer distance without feeling like your hike is too strenuous. In addition, you’re in serious alpine country, with rocks, lakes, stunted wildflowers, and unbeatable views!
Clay Butte (42.1 miles from Red Lodge or 22.3 from Cooke City) is a good hike for getting in a terrific panoramic view of the area.
Island Lake (37.4 miles from Red Lodge and 27 from Cooke City) is an easy hike with lots of lakes, and great fly fishing opportunities. There are potentially seven lakes you can hike to. The trailhead is on the west side of Island Lake. From there you hike north to Night Lake, then Flake Lake, then past Beauty Lake. If you want, you can also walk around Flat Lake to the north and on towards another series of lakes, including Becker, Albino, and Jasper. Note: This can be a somewhat water-logged trail in spots.
Sheepherder Lakes (35.8 miles from Red Lodge or 28.6 from Cooke City) is accessible by dirt road that heads north just 1.6 miles northeast of the Island Lake Campground turnoff. Follow this road for 0.2 miles and you’ll be at the trailhead. There you will follow a small stream up a valley to reach both Lower and Upper Sheepherder Lakes on a lightly worn trail.
Trailheads south of Red Lodge
Lake Fork Trail to Lost Lake (Lake Fork Road 8 miles outside of Red Lodge as you’re heading south on Route 212) is a lovely, easy hike along Lake Fork Creek through forests and meadows. Lost Lake is five miles from the trailhead. Hike 4.5 miles to the junction and follow the sign to the lake.
Glacier Lake Trail (Rock Creek Road is 12 miles south of Red Lodge on Route 212, then drive 7 miles to trailhead) is a short 2.5 mile trail that takes you up hill to Glacier Lake, as well as Emerald and Triangle lakes. Shelf and moon lakes are also accessible from this trail.
West Fork Trail (West Fork Road is 1.2 miles from Red Lodge, and there are a multitude of trailheads along this road, all of which offer good day hiking along the West Fork of Rock Creek. Closest to town is Silver Run (the local dogs’ favorite place to walk their humans), then Wild Bill Lake (handicap accessible and a great place to bring children for a short hike), Basin Lakes, and Timberline Lake. Drive all the way to the end of the road and then hike in to Quinnebaugh Meadows, one of the prettiest day hikes around, and not as steep as some of the others.
Trails west of Red Lodge
These trails are in drainages west of Red Lodge in the Roscoe and Fishtail area.
East Rosebud (From Red Lodge take Route 78 northwest for 24 miles to Roscoe, and from Roscoe get on the East Rosebud Road and follow it to its end at Alpine Lake) The East Rosebud drainage is one of the most scenic in the Beartooths, filled with lakes, streams and waterfalls. In 1996, a devastating forest fire burned much of the lower valley, but if you’re willing to hike through lushly covered ground with no trees for the first couple of miles, you’ll be nicely rewarded! There are three trails that originate here. Phantom Creek begins on the west side of the road just before you get to Alpine lake and takes you 2.5 miles to Slough Lake, then up 3,900 feet to Phantom Lakes or the Froze to Death Plateau. From the East Rosebud Campground you can access the two other trails. One heads up on open slopes with not much cover at all to Sylvan Lake on the plateau. The other trailhead, and probably the East Rosebud’s most impressive, is the trail to Elk, Rimrock and Rainbow Lakes. The entire trail follows the path of the raging East Rosebud Creek. Elk Lake is 3 miles up the trail, Rimrock is another 1.5 miles from Elk, and Rainbow is another mile or so from Rimrock. A spectacular dayhike!
Stillwater Canyon (From Red Lodge take Route 78 northwest for 24 miles to Roscoe, then beyond to Dean, and Nye to Woodbine Campground and the trailhead) is one of the most beautiful hikes in Montana. The Stillwater River rages through a breathtaking canyon until it opens up into meadows with wonderful mountain views, varied terrain and superb wildflowers. Go as far as you like!
West Rosebud and Mystic Lake (From Red Lodge take Route 78 northwest for 24 miles to Roscoe, then Fishtail and south along the West Rosebud Creek Road to the campground) is a beautiful, albeit uphill, hike for three miles to Mystic Lake, which is dammed by the hydro-electric facility that you see at the trailhead, but somehow even the most skeptical find a way to overlook that. It’s a beautiful, large lake!
Around Town:
King's Cupboard gourmet dessert sauces, hot chocolates, & pudding all allow you to take home a piece of Red Lodge, where these original, quality products are made.
Silver Run Elk Refuge (Drive south of HWY 212 & turn right onto Rock Creek Road. After 2.5 miles, you will see a shallow pullout with signage on the left side of the road where you can pak. If you get to where the road splits off to the left, you've gone too far. In late winter and early spriing, herds of elk come down from the mountains to feed on the new growth. If you're lucky you'll be able to see dozens of them from the viewing area next to the road. Even in the summertime, when the elk have headed back up to cooler, higher ground, it is worth driving the few miles to read the information posted at the site.
The City Swimming Pool (14th & Hauser) is open to the public from June - August.
Adventure Whitewater (406-446-3061) does raft trips for all ages of the Stillwater River beginning new Absarokee (roughly 35 miles from Red Lodge). Call for a reservation.
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"Show us your Rack Discount"
ATTENTION: Climbers, Skiers/Boarders, Bikers, & Cyclists.
We offer special discounts for folks en route to an adventure. Show us what's in your vehicle,
ie climbing gear, gear racks, and we will extend the AAA discount price for your room.
DISCLAIMER: Subject to Owners' discretion.....may get advice on how to improve you rack or may be subjected to the owners' climbing gear rack...circa 1930's and on models.
Come show off your Rack!!!!
This is one interpretation of "Show us your Rack." These guests definitely used their imaginations and
kept us laughing for awhile. We appreciate your creativity and sense of humor!
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