The Perfect Beartooth Highway Day Trip: Your Stop-by-Stop Guide from Red Lodge
**TLDR:** This complete Beartooth Highway itinerary covers every essential stop from Rock Creek Vista Point to Beartooth Pass summit, Island Lake lunch spots, and optional detours like Clay Butte Lookout. Specific time budgets, photography tips for each location, and practical advice on fuel, weather, and altitude help you plan a realistic full-day drive. The guide includes what first-time Beartooth drivers wish they knew and how to avoid common rookie mistakes.
You've checked the road status. The highway is open. The weather forecast looks decent. You're fueled up, caffeinated, and ready to experience what Charles Kuralt called "the most beautiful drive in America."
Now what?
Here's the problem with most Beartooth Highway guides: they tell you it's 68 miles of scenic wonder and then leave you to figure out where to actually stop, how long each stop takes, what's worth the detour, and whether you really need to pack a lunch or if there's food up there.
Spoiler: pack the lunch.
This is your complete stop-by-stop itinerary for a perfect Beartooth Highway day trip from Red Lodge. We're talking specific mile markers, realistic time estimates, photography tips that actually work, and the kind of insider details that separate tourists who rushed through from travelers who actually experienced it.
Assume you're doing an out-and-back from Red Lodge (the most common route). We'll also cover the loop option via Chief Joseph Scenic Byway for those who want the full circle.
Let's do this right.
Your Beartooth Highway Itinerary at a Glance
Total Time: 7-9 hours round trip
Distance: ~120 miles out-and-back from Red Lodge
Best Season: Early-mid September for stable weather
The Perfect Day Timeline:
7:00 AM - Depart Red Lodge (fuel up first!)
7:45 AM - Rock Creek Vista Point (45 min) - Canyon overlook, restrooms, interpretive panels
9:00 AM - Rock Creek Switchbacks (30 min) - Multiple photo pullouts on the climb
9:45 AM - Beartooth Pass Summit (15 min) - The iconic 10,947 ft sign and 360° views
10:15 AM - Gardner Lake Trail (60-75 min, optional) - Short alpine lake hike with steep return
11:30 AM - Island Lake & Beartooth Lake (90 min) - Lunch, shoreline walks, reflections
2:00 PM - Pilot & Index Peaks Overlook (20 min) - Classic skyline turnaround photo
3:00 PM - Begin return journey with different light on same stops
6:30 PM - Back in Red Lodge
Optional Add-Ons:
Clay Butte Lookout detour (add 45-75 min)
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway loop instead of backtracking (add 3+ hours, early start required)
Don't Forget: Layers, water, lunch, full tank of gas, and morning road status check
Now let's break down each stop in detail.
How Long Does It Take to Drive the Beartooth Highway?
The drive from Red Lodge to the Cooke City area and back takes 7 to 9 hours with stops for photos, short walks, and lunch. Without stops, you could drive it in 4 to 6 hours round trip, but that defeats the entire purpose. Plan a full day. Budget more time if you're adding optional detours like Clay Butte Lookout or hiking to Gardner Lake.
What Should I Do Before Leaving Red Lodge?
Fuel Up in Red Lodge
This is non-negotiable. Top of the World Store sits at roughly mile 39 (about 9,400 feet elevation) and sometimes has fuel, but it's seasonal and not guaranteed, especially in shoulder seasons. The next reliable services are in Cooke City, 68 miles away. Fill your tank in Red Lodge and don't gamble.
Pack Real Food and Water
Top of the World Store can provide snacks and drinks when it's open, but don't count on it for meals. Pack a cooler with lunch, plenty of water, and more snacks than you think you need. Altitude burns calories faster and dehydrates you quicker than you realize.
Check Status One More Time
Pull up Montana 511, Wyoming 511, and the Yellowstone NPS Park Roads page before you leave The Yodeler. Weather at 11,000 feet changes fast. Summer squalls can close the pass for hours with minimal warning. Verify it's open and conditions are favorable.
Bring Layers
It might be 75 degrees in Red Lodge. It can be 40 degrees with 40 mph winds at Beartooth Pass. Pack a warm jacket, hat, gloves (yes, even in July), sunscreen, sunglasses, and rain gear. Altitude weather doesn't care about your summer vacation plans.
Where Is the First Stop on the Beartooth Highway?
Rock Creek Vista Point, located approximately 19 to 20 miles south of Red Lodge at about 9,190 feet elevation, is the first major stop. This wheelchair-accessible overlook offers dramatic views of the glacial U-shaped Rock Creek Canyon and the signature switchbacks you're about to climb. Restrooms are available on site.
Stop 1: Rock Creek Vista Point (Mile 19-20, Elevation 9,190 Feet)
Time Budget: 40 to 60 Minutes
This is your introduction to what the Beartooth delivers. Rock Creek Vista Point sits at the edge of a massive glacial canyon with interpretive panels explaining the geology and engineering that made this road possible.
Why Stop Here:
Wheelchair-accessible paved paths to overlook points
Restrooms (always appreciated before climbing to altitude)
Interpretive panels about the road's 1936 construction
First real "wow" moment of the drive
Photography Tips:
Morning light rakes across the U-shaped canyon walls, creating dramatic shadows and definition. If you're doing this trip in one day, you'll likely hit Vista Point in morning light on the way up and potentially late-day light on the way back. Both are excellent.
Use the railings and paved paths for elevated leading lines. Wide-angle lenses capture the canyon's scale. Look for layered compositions with the canyon, distant peaks, and sky.
What Happens After Vista Point?
After Vista Point, you'll climb the famous Rock Creek switchbacks—a series of dramatic hairpin turns that gain serious elevation quickly. Drive slowly, use lower gears, and take advantage of numerous pullouts for safe photos. This is where the Beartooth's engineering really shows off, and where weather can change rapidly.
The Rock Creek Switchbacks: Where Legends Are Made
This is the postcard section everyone recognizes. Tight hairpin turns carved into steep mountainside, climbing from forested canyon to alpine tundra in just a few miles.
Driving Tips:
Use second or third gear on the descent (going back down)
Pull completely into designated pullouts for photos
Never stop in lanes or on blind curves
Watch for motorcycles and cyclists (yes, people ride bikes up this)
Photography Opportunities:
Every pullout offers a different angle on the switchbacks below or above you. The classic shot is looking down at the hairpins snaking through the canyon. Late morning and mid-afternoon side-light sculpts the terrain best.
Don't rush this section. Every turn reveals something new.
Stop 2: West Summit / Beartooth Pass (Mile 30, Elevation 10,947 Feet)
Time Budget: 10 to 15 Minutes
This is it. The summit. The iconic Beartooth Pass sign at 10,947 feet where everyone stops for the obligatory photo.
What to Expect:
Wind. Serious wind. Even on calm days in the canyon, the summit can have 30 to 40 mph gusts. Hold onto hats, sunglasses, and small children. The views stretch in every direction: alpine tundra, distant peaks, and the sense that you're standing on top of the world.
Quick Stop Strategy:
Get your summit sign photo, take in the 360-degree views, and don't linger too long unless you're acclimated to altitude. Some people feel lightheaded or short of breath at nearly 11,000 feet. That's normal. Hydrate and take it easy.
Is There Hiking Near Beartooth Pass?
Yes. Gardner Lake Trail near the summit offers a short but steep descent to a turquoise alpine lake, requiring about 45 to 75 minutes round trip with a 600-foot elevation gain on the return. The trail showcases wildflowers and lake reflections. For an easier option, various pullouts along the plateau offer short walks through tundra landscape.
Optional Micro-Hike: Gardner Lake Trail
Time Budget: 45 to 75 Minutes
If you want to actually hike instead of just driving, Gardner Lake is your best bet without committing to a full backcountry trek.
The Details:
Trailhead is near the summit at about 10,536 feet elevation. The trail descends steeply to a stunning turquoise lake surrounded by granite and tundra. It's gorgeous. It's also a lung-burner coming back up at altitude.
Photography Notes:
Best on calm late afternoons when wind dies down and you can catch lake reflections. Wide-angle lenses capture the lake plus skyline. Bring a polarizing filter to cut glare on the water.
Real Talk:
This hike is short but not easy. The descent is manageable. The return climb at 10,500+ feet will humble even fit hikers. Take your time, hydrate, and turn back if you feel dizzy or nauseous.
Where Should I Stop for Lunch on the Beartooth Highway?
Island Lake and Beartooth Lake, located roughly 45 to 50 miles from Red Lodge, offer the best lunch stops with picnic areas, restrooms, and scenic shorelines. Island Lake has a campground with day-use facilities. Beartooth Lake offers views of Beartooth Butte and a boat ramp. Both provide easy shoreline walks and excellent photo opportunities.
Stop 3: Island Lake and Beartooth Lake Area (Mile 45-50)
Time Budget: 45 to 90 Minutes Including Lunch
This is your midday break. Time to eat, stretch your legs, and enjoy the fact that you're having lunch at an alpine lake at 9,000+ feet.
Island Lake:
Campground with day-use picnic areas
Restrooms at the campground
Easy shoreline strolls
Calm water often provides mirror reflections
Beartooth Lake:
Separate picnic area with tables
Boat ramp (if you're ambitious)
Classic views to Beartooth Butte for compositional scale
Shoreline access for wade-in photos
Photography Strategy:
Midday light can be harsh, but on calm days you'll get incredible mirror-like reflections. Include shoreline granite and alpine vegetation for foreground interest. Beartooth Butte provides dramatic background scale.
Golden hour (if you're still up here in late afternoon) turns these lakes into pure magic.
Can You Ski on the Beartooth Highway in Summer?
Yes, briefly. Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area operates at approximately 10,737 feet elevation near Twin Lakes, offering skiing and snowboarding from late May through mid-June when snow conditions allow. In 2025, they operated May 28 through June 15. It's the only summer-only ski area in the United States and makes for a unique photo stop.
Optional Curiosity Stop: Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area
Time Budget: 10 to 20 Minutes (Early June Only)
If you're driving the Beartooth in late May or early June, you might catch Beartooth Basin during its brief operating window. This is the U.S.'s only summer ski area, typically running a short season when snow conditions permit.
In 2025, they operated May 28 through June 15. It's a tiny window, completely weather-dependent, and absolutely surreal to see people skiing in shorts and t-shirts at 11,000 feet in June.
Worth a quick stop for photos if you're there when it's operating. Don't plan your entire trip around it, but if the timing works, it's a unique Beartooth moment you won't see anywhere else.
What Is the Top of the World Store?
Top of the World Store sits at approximately 9,400 feet elevation, roughly 38 miles from Red Lodge and 25 miles from Cooke City. This seasonal mid-route facility sometimes offers food, snacks, souvenirs, and fuel. Hours and services are weather-dependent and not guaranteed in shoulder seasons. Always plan to be self-sufficient rather than relying on this stop.
Mid-Route Services: Top of the World Store (Mile 38-39)
Reality Check Time
Top of the World Store exists. It sits at about 9,400 feet. When it's open, it provides snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and sometimes fuel. When it's closed, it's a building you drive past while wishing you'd packed more snacks.
Do not build your fuel or food plan around this place. Treat it as a nice surprise if it's open, not a guaranteed service stop. Peak summer weekends? Probably open. Shoulder season weekday? Maybe not.
Is Clay Butte Lookout Worth the Detour?
Clay Butte Lookout, accessible via a 3-mile graded gravel road (Forest Road 142), offers panoramic views of the Absaroka and Beartooth ranges from a historic fire lookout. The detour adds 45 to 75 minutes including drive time and offers restrooms and interpretive displays. Skip if weather is questionable, the road is wet, or you're short on time.
Optional Detour: Clay Butte Lookout
Time Budget: 45 to 75 Minutes Round Trip
This is the big optional detour that separates casual drivers from scenery completists.
The Deal:
A 3-mile graded gravel spur road (FR-142) climbs to Clay Butte Lookout, a historic fire tower with absolutely stunning 360-degree views of the Absaroka and Beartooth ranges. On clear days, you can see forever.
When to Skip It:
Road is wet or muddy
Weather is deteriorating
You're running behind schedule
Your vehicle isn't suitable for gravel roads
When to Do It:
Clear weather with stable forecasts
You have extra time built into your day
You want the absolute best panoramic views the Beartooth offers
The lookout itself has restrooms (vault toilets) and interpretive displays about fire detection history. It's day-use only, typically accessible during daylight hours in season.
What Is the Turnaround Point on the Beartooth Highway?
Most Red Lodge-based travelers turn around at Pilot and Index Peaks Overlook, a well-signed pullout offering classic views of the Clarks Fork basin skyline. This makes for a logical photo stop before retracing back to Red Lodge. Alternatively, you can continue to Cooke City or loop via the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway for a full-circle route.
The Turnaround Zone and Popular Far-Point Photo
Pilot and Index Peaks Overlook
This is the classic turnaround photo for most people doing the Beartooth out-and-back. The overlook is well-signed and offers the iconic skyline view of the Clarks Fork basin with Pilot and Index peaks dominating the scene.
Late afternoon back-lighting can create haze, so use a polarizing filter sparingly at high altitude. Morning light or overcast skies often provide better clarity.
After this stop, most travelers retrace their route back to Red Lodge, potentially stopping again at Vista Point if morning light was hazy or you want a different angle in late-day sun.
Should I Do the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway Loop?
The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY-296) loop extends your drive by several hours but offers dramatic views from Dead Indian Pass and creates a full circle back to Red Lodge via WY-120 and MT-308. This option works best with an early start and clear weather. Always check Wyoming DOT road status before committing, as this high-elevation route also experiences weather closures.
Loop Option: Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
If you prefer a circle route instead of retracing your path, continue east onto WY-296 (Chief Joseph Scenic Byway) toward Cody, then loop back to Red Lodge via WY-120 and MT-308.
Why Do It:
Massive vistas from Dead Indian Pass
Different scenery than the Beartooth corridor
No backtracking
Makes the trip feel more like an adventure than a drive
Why Skip It:
Adds significant time (plan a 10+ hour day minimum)
Requires very early start
Weather on two high-elevation routes instead of one
More driving, less time at individual stops
Always check WYDOT road status for WY-296 before committing to the loop. This is also a high-elevation route subject to weather closures.
What Are the Most Important Beartooth Highway Photography Tips?
Best photography happens at Rock Creek Vista Point in morning light, summit and plateau areas with mid-morning or late-day side-light, Gardner Lake on calm late afternoons, and Beartooth/Island Lakes during golden hour with reflections. Always include Beartooth Butte for scale, use polarizers carefully at altitude, and shoot during calmer morning hours before afternoon wind picks up.
Photography Pro Tips: Light, Angles, and Timing
Rock Creek Vista Point
Morning light is king here. The sun rakes across the U-shaped glacial canyon creating dramatic shadows and definition. Use the railings and elevated paths for leading lines. Wide-angle lenses capture the canyon's massive scale.
Summit and Plateau
Mid-morning and late-day side-light sculpts the tundra landscape. Look for small alpine pools that reflect sky and peaks. The flat light of midday washes out texture, so time your stops accordingly.
Gardner Lake
Best on calm late afternoons when wind typically dies down. The lake sits below road level, so wide-angle lenses can capture both the lake and surrounding skyline after the short descent.
Beartooth and Island Lakes
Golden hour reflections are spectacular. Include Beartooth Butte in your compositions from the picnic area for dramatic scale. On calm days, shoot from shoreline level to maximize reflection clarity.
General High-Altitude Photo Notes:
Polarizing filters work differently at altitude. Use them carefully and test results. The thin atmosphere creates intense blue skies that don't always need enhancement. Shoot RAW if possible—the dynamic range at altitude can be extreme between bright sky and shadowed valleys.
What Do First-Time Beartooth Drivers Wish They Knew?
First-timers commonly wish they'd budgeted more time, checked weather conditions more carefully, brought warmer layers, fueled up in Red Lodge, used lower gears on descents to avoid brake fade, and pulled completely into designated overlooks instead of stopping in lanes. Weather changes rapidly at altitude, so verify conditions before descending switchbacks for the return trip.
Practical Tips: What First-Timers Wish They Knew
Budget More Time Than You Think
Everyone underestimates how long a "quick photo stop" takes when the scenery is this dramatic. A relaxed out-and-back with lunch and one or two short walks takes 7 to 9 hours. Not 4 hours. Not "a quick morning drive." A full day.
Use Lower Gears on Long Descents
Coming back down the Rock Creek switchbacks, shift into second or third gear and let engine braking do the work. Riding your brakes for miles creates brake fade and can lead to brake failure. Downshift and take it slow.
Pull Completely Into Overlooks
Never stop in lanes or on blind curves for photos. Ever. Pull completely into designated overlooks, set your parking brake on steep grades, and watch for other vehicles when exiting.
Altitude Hits Different
Even if you're fit, 11,000 feet will make you breathe harder and tire faster. Hydrate constantly. Eat salty snacks. Take breaks. If you feel dizzy, nauseous, or disoriented, descend to lower elevation immediately.
Weather Flips Fast
Check status again before you start the descent back to Red Lodge. Summer squalls can roll in during the couple hours you were at the lakes. MDT and WYDOT post real-time updates. Use them.
Restrooms Exist But Are Spaced Out
Vista Point has restrooms. Campgrounds and day-use areas (Island Lake, Beartooth Lake) have vault toilets. Clay Butte Lookout has facilities. Top of the World Store may have restrooms when open. Plan accordingly.
How Long Should I Budget for a Beartooth Highway Day Trip?
Budget a full 7 to 9 hours for a relaxed out-and-back Beartooth Highway trip including Vista Point, summit stops, lunch at the lakes, and photography breaks. Add 1 to 2 hours if including Clay Butte or Gardner Lake. The Chief Joseph loop requires 10+ hours. Always start early to avoid afternoon weather and give yourself buffer time for unexpected stops.
Time Budgeting: The Reality Check
Here's a realistic timeline for a full Beartooth day from Red Lodge:
7:00 AM: Depart Red Lodge (fueled, packed, caffeinated)
7:45 AM: Rock Creek Vista Point (45-minute stop)
9:00 AM: Summit and switchback photography (30 minutes total across multiple stops)
10:00 AM: Gardner Lake hike (optional, 60-75 minutes) OR continue driving
11:30 AM: Arrive Island/Beartooth Lake area
12:30 PM: Lunch and lake time (60-90 minutes)
2:00 PM: Continue to Pilot & Index Peaks or other far-point stops
3:00 PM: Begin return journey
4:30 PM: Back through summit area (potentially different light for photos)
5:30 PM: Final Vista Point stop if desired
6:30 PM: Return to Red Lodge
That's a full day. And it doesn't include Clay Butte or any extended hiking.
If you're adding the Chief Joseph loop, start by 6:30 AM and expect to return by 6:00 or 7:00 PM at the earliest.
What Accessibility Options Exist on the Beartooth Highway?
Rock Creek Vista Point offers wheelchair-accessible paved paths to overlooks with accessible restrooms. Most scenic pullouts along the highway have level or gently graded parking areas. Island Lake and Beartooth Lake campgrounds provide accessible picnic areas and vault toilets. The highway itself is fully paved, making the driving experience accessible to all visitors with appropriate vehicles.
Final Thoughts: Make It a Day Worth Remembering
The Beartooth Highway isn't just a drive. It's an experience that requires preparation, respect for altitude and weather, and the willingness to slow down and actually see what's around you.
You'll pass people who blow through in four hours, stopping only for the summit sign selfie. You'll also see people who brought chairs, set up at Island Lake, and spent three hours reading a book with their feet in alpine water.
Both approaches are valid. But if you've driven this far, planned this carefully, and committed a full day, do it right.
Stop at Vista Point and actually read the interpretive panels. Pull over at random switchback overlooks because the light hit just right. Eat lunch at the lakes and watch weather roll across distant peaks. Take the Gardner Lake hike even though you're tired. Add Clay Butte if time and weather allow.
The Beartooth will still be here tomorrow, but you might not be. Make the day count.
And when you roll back into Red Lodge exhausted, sunburned, windblown, and completely satisfied, The Yodeler will be right where you left it. Same parking spot for your car, same room, same comfortable bed waiting for you to collapse into while you scroll through 400 photos trying to decide which ones to keep.
That's the Beartooth experience. That's what we mean when we say Red Lodge is your basecamp for America's most beautiful drive.
Now go make some memories.
Ready to plan your perfect Beartooth Highway adventure? Book your room at The Yodeler and use Red Lodge as your basecamp for exploring this iconic American road. We'll have coffee ready at 6:30 AM when you're loading up for an early start.