The Beartooth Highway and Epic Motorcycle Rides from Red Lodge, Montana (Rider's Guide Part 1 of 3)
**TLDR:** Red Lodge serves as basecamp for the Beartooth Highway, Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Bighorn Mountain crossings, and Going-to-the-Sun Road, delivering world-class motorcycle riding. This guide covers route details, seasonal access, difficulty levels, and why these roads make Red Lodge a premier motorcycle destination. Complete information on distances, timing, and how routes connect helps riders plan multi-day tours.
Let's address the elephant in the room: you've probably seen the photos.
The Beartooth Highway switchbacks snaking up Rock Creek Canyon. The endless alpine plateau at 11,000 feet. The "most beautiful drive in America" quote from Charles Kuralt that every motorcycle blog has recycled a thousand times.
Here's what those photos don't show you: the wind that'll push you sideways at the summit. The elevation change that makes your ears pop and your carburetor reconsider its life choices. The fact that this road can close for snow in July without warning. The way your right wrist will ache from holding yourself back on the descent because you want this ride to last forever.
The Beartooth Highway starts in Red Lodge. Not near Red Lodge. Not "within striking distance" of Red Lodge. It literally begins at the edge of town and climbs into the sky.
Which makes Red Lodge the basecamp for what might be the best concentration of motorcycle roads in the American West. The Beartooth is the headline act, but it's surrounded by supporting players that would be headliners anywhere else: Chief Joseph Scenic Byway's flowing sweepers, the Bighorn Mountain crossings, Paradise Valley's wildlife-lined corridor, and a dozen lesser-known ribbons of asphalt that deliver more soul than traffic.
This is Part 1 of our complete Red Lodge motorcycle guide. We're starting with the epic passes because if you're considering Red Lodge as a riding destination, these are the roads that brought you here. Parts 2 and 3 will cover hidden gems, backcountry ADV routes, Sturgis connections, and all the practical logistics that turn good trips into legendary ones.
Let's talk about the roads that make riders plan entire vacations around a single town in Montana.
What Makes Red Lodge a Great Motorcycle Destination?
Red Lodge sits at the base of the Beartooth Highway, arguably America's premier alpine motorcycle road, with direct access to multiple iconic passes including Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, the Bighorn Mountain crossings, and connections to Yellowstone National Park. The town offers rider-friendly culture, strategic positioning for multi-day tours, and services designed around motorcycle tourism.
The Beartooth Highway: Red Lodge's Backyard Legend
US Route 212: Red Lodge to Cooke City / Yellowstone Northeast Entrance
This is it. The ride that brings people from across the country. The All-American Road that climbs to 10,947 feet and makes you understand why motorcycles were invented.
How Long Is the Beartooth Highway?
The Beartooth Highway runs approximately 68-69 miles one-way from Red Lodge to Cooke City, Montana. Plan 2 to 3 hours of riding time without extended stops, though most riders take significantly longer due to frequent photo stops, scenic overlooks, and the simple fact that you'll want to savor every mile.
What Makes the Beartooth Highway Special for Motorcycles?
The Route and What You'll See
Red Lodge to Rock Creek Vista Point to Beartooth Pass to the Top-of-the-World area to the Beartooth Plateau lakes to Cooke City. It sounds simple until you're actually doing it.
The Rock Creek switchbacks alone are worth the trip. Eleven hairpin turns climbing from forest to alpine tundra in just a few miles. The engineering is spectacular. The views are absurd. And the pavement is smooth enough that you can focus on lines instead of dodging potholes.
Rock Creek Vista Point comes early in the climb (about 19-20 miles from Red Lodge) with a short paved trail, restrooms, and interpretive displays explaining how they built this road in the 1930s. Worth the stop for the canyon views alone.
Then you hit the plateau. Miles of high-alpine riding through terrain that looks more like Alaska than Montana. Lakes everywhere. Rock gardens. Tundra. The occasional confused tourist in a rental car wondering why they can't breathe properly.
The high plateau pullouts are where you'll burn through memory cards trying to capture what 11,000 feet of elevation and endless sky looks like. Good luck. The photos never quite get it.
Cooke City marks the end (or turnaround point) with fuel, food, and the gateway to Yellowstone's Northeast Entrance if you want to extend the day.
When Is the Beartooth Highway Open?
The Beartooth Highway typically opens on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and closes in mid-October, but these dates vary significantly based on snowpack and weather. Summer snow squalls can force temporary closures at any time, even in July. Always check Montana 511 and the MDT seasonally closed roads page for current status before riding.
What's the Difficulty Level of the Beartooth Highway?
Technical But Manageable
This is advanced-intermediate riding. The road itself is well-maintained pavement with clearly marked curves. The challenge comes from elevation (10,947 feet at the summit), exposure to wind, tight switchbacks on the Rock Creek climb, and rapidly changing weather conditions that can turn a sunny day into sleet in under an hour.
If you're comfortable with mountain riding, sustained elevation gain, and managing your bike in crosswinds, you'll handle the Beartooth fine. If you're still working on basic cornering skills or get nervous on exposed roads, consider riding as a passenger first or building up with gentler mountain passes.
Where Should I Stop on the Beartooth Highway?
Don't-Miss Stops and Photo Opportunities
Rock Creek Vista Point (Mile 19-20): Paved accessible trail, restrooms, interpretive panels, and massive glacial canyon views. This is your first "holy crap" moment of the day.
Gardner Lake Pullout: A steep but short trail down to a turquoise alpine lake. Worth the leg stretch if you have time and energy.
Countless Plateau Lakes: Every pullout reveals another alpine lake with different character. Stop when light and mood align. Trust your instincts.
Top-of-the-World Store (Mile 38-39, elevation ~9,400 feet): Seasonal snacks, drinks, sometimes fuel. Don't count on it being open, but it's a classic stop when it is.
Cooke City: Rustic main street with fuel (Exxon), food, and that end-of-the-road Montana vibe. Good turnaround point or lunch stop before continuing into Yellowstone.
What Are the Practical Considerations for Riding the Beartooth?
Road Status: Check Same-Day
The Beartooth appears on Montana's seasonally closed roads list (US-212 MP 45-56 is the typical designation). Montana 511 provides real-time status updates. Summer thunderstorms can close the pass with minimal warning. Check morning-of, check again at lunch, and watch weather if you're up there for hours.
Yellowstone Connection
From Cooke City, you can enter Yellowstone National Park via the Northeast Entrance. Inside the park, the Gardiner to Cooke City road is generally the only road open year-round to regular vehicles (weather permitting), giving you access to Lamar Valley and the park's northeast corridor.
Fuel, Food, and Lodging
Fuel is available in Red Lodge (Cenex Zip Trip) and Cooke City (Exxon). Nothing in between. Top off before you climb.
Red Lodge offers full services including The Yodeler (that's us, with parking designed for bikes and riders who appreciate a cold beer after a day on the pass), plus numerous other lodging options and USFS campgrounds along Rock Creek.
Early Season Bonus: Summer Skiing
If you're riding in late May or early June, you might catch Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area operating near Twin Lakes. It's the U.S.'s only summer-only ski resort, typically spinning lifts late May into June or early July depending on snow. Seeing people ski in June at 11,000 feet while you're in riding gear is surreal and worth a quick stop.
Why Do Riders Call the Beartooth a Must-Ride?
Because it delivers sustained alpine riding that doesn't exist elsewhere in the Lower 48. This isn't a brief mountain pass you knock out in 30 minutes. This is 68 miles of elevation drama, technical switchbacks, high-plateau flow, and scenery that makes you pull over every few miles just to process what you're seeing.
The Beartooth doesn't feel like you're riding through mountains. It feels like you're riding on top of them.
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway: The Perfect Partner to Beartooth
Wyoming Route 296: The Cooke City to Cody Connection via Dead Indian Pass
If the Beartooth is dramatic alpine intensity, Chief Joseph is smooth, flowing rhythm.
What Is the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway?
The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY-296) runs approximately 45 miles from the Beartooth Highway/Cooke City area to Cody, Wyoming, crossing Dead Indian Pass at roughly 8,000 feet. The route features sweeping curves, expansive valley views, and historical significance tied to the Nez Perce flight of 1877.
Why Should Motorcyclists Ride Chief Joseph Scenic Byway?
The Flow Factor
After the Beartooth's technical demands and high-altitude exposure, Chief Joseph feels like a reward. Fast, rhythmic sweepers with huge sight lines. Big views without the "one mistake and you're over the edge" exposure. The kind of road where you settle into a groove and just ride.
The climb to and descent from Dead Indian Pass (around 8,000 feet, though elevation figures vary by source) delivers the scenic payoff. The switchbacks below Dead Indian Summit Overlook are a classic photo backdrop: serpentine pavement cutting through red badlands with the Absaroka Range rising in the distance.
As you near Cody, the landscape shifts to valleys and dramatic rock formations that look like they belong in a Western film. Because they do. This is Wyoming at its cinematic best.
When Is Chief Joseph Scenic Byway Open?
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is generally kept open year-round except during active winter storms, though shoulder seasons can bring ice and temporary closures. Always verify current conditions on Wyoming DOT's 511 website or app, which includes surface conditions, advisories, seasonal closures, and live traffic cameras.
What Makes Chief Joseph and Beartooth a Perfect Loop?
The Legendary Red Lodge Day Loop
Here's why riders base themselves in Red Lodge: you can ride Red Lodge → Beartooth Highway → Cooke City → Chief Joseph Scenic Byway → Cody → MT-72/US-310 → back to Red Lodge as a single unforgettable day.
You get the alpine drama of the Beartooth in the morning, lunch in Cooke City or Cody, the flowing sweetness of Chief Joseph in the afternoon, and you're back in Red Lodge for dinner and cold beer while the day's riding is still fresh in your mind.
This loop is the reason people plan entire vacations around Red Lodge. It's not just two great roads. It's two completely different riding experiences that complement each other perfectly, both starting and ending from the same small Montana town.
What Are the Practical Details for Chief Joseph?
Distance and Duration
Approximately 45 miles, allow 1 to 2 hours with photo stops. The riding is moderate difficulty: well-maintained pavement, clear sight lines, but watch for wildlife (elk and deer are common) and wind gusts near the pass.
Stops Worth Making
Dead Indian Summit Overlook provides the classic vista and photo opportunity. The valleys approaching Cody offer numerous pullouts worth brief stops.
Fuel and Food
Full services in Cody (west side of town as you approach from Chief Joseph) and back in Cooke City. Limited to nothing in between. Plan accordingly.
The Bighorn Mountains: Three Ways to Cross a Range
US-14, US-14A, and US-16: Wyoming's Other Epic Passes
If you're riding from Red Lodge toward Sturgis, or just want to add serious mountain passes to your tour, the Bighorn crossings turn what could be boring Interstate miles into bucket-list riding.
What Are the Bighorn Mountain Routes?
The Bighorn Mountains in north-central Wyoming offer three distinct east-west highway crossings: US-14 (Shell Canyon), US-14A (Medicine Wheel Passage), and US-16 (Powder River Pass). Each delivers long climbs, huge vistas, and technical mountain riding with varying difficulty levels.
Which Bighorn Crossing Should I Ride?
US-14A (Medicine Wheel Passage): The Challenge
This is the steep one. Sustained grades of 10% or more climbing from Lovell to Burgess Junction. Spectacular scenery. Demanding riding. Not for the faint of heart or bikes struggling with power at elevation.
US-14A can close in winter and shoulder seasons. Ice and loose gravel are common issues outside peak summer. Always verify with Wyoming DOT 511 before committing.
US-14 (Shell Canyon): The Classic
Shell Canyon offers dramatic scenery without quite the intensity of 14A's grades. Shell Falls provides a worthy stop. This is the middle-ground option: challenging enough to be satisfying, forgiving enough to be enjoyable rather than exhausting.
US-16 (Powder River Pass): The Gentler Option
High-meadow summits with excellent views and less extreme grades than 14A. If you want Bighorn scenery without white-knuckling the technical sections, US-16 delivers.
All three routes are spectacular. Your choice depends on skill level, bike capability, comfort with steep mountain grades, and how much you want to be challenged versus how much you want to simply enjoy riding through mountains.
How Do the Bighorns Connect to Red Lodge?
From Red Lodge, ride the Beartooth and Chief Joseph to Cody, then take WY-120 south to Greybull or continue to Lovell. From there, choose US-14, 14A, or 16 to cross the Bighorns eastbound.
This routing turns the approach to Sturgis (or the Black Hills in general) into a multi-day highlight reel instead of slab miles on I-90.
When Are the Bighorn Routes Open?
US-14 and US-16 are typically open year-round with winter closures during active storms. US-14A has more restrictive seasonal closures due to elevation and exposure. Summer is guaranteed. Shoulder seasons require checking Wyoming DOT 511 for current status.
What Should I Know About Riding the Bighorns?
Expect a half-day or more with scenic stops. Difficulty ranges from moderate (US-16) to advanced (US-14A). Wildlife (elk, deer, moose) is common. Wind can be significant, especially on exposed high-meadow sections. Grades test both rider skill and bike capability.
Full services are available at Lovell, Greybull, and Sheridan (depending on which crossing you choose). Plan fuel stops accordingly as services are limited mid-route.
The Bighorn National Forest manages much of the surrounding land. Check USFS resources for site-specific information about stops, hiking access, and campgrounds if you're planning to extend your time in the range.
Going-to-the-Sun Road: If You're Expanding North
Glacier National Park's Crown Jewel
Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park offers a completely different flavor of Montana riding: glaciated peaks, tight cliffside pavement, and carved-into-the-mountain drama that rivals anything in the Alps.
What Is Going-to-the-Sun Road?
Going-to-the-Sun Road is a 50-mile scenic highway crossing Glacier National Park, cresting Logan Pass at 6,646 feet elevation. The narrow, cliff-hugging road features numerous tunnels, tight curves, and spectacular mountain and glacier views. Plan approximately 2 hours of moving time, though traffic and stops typically extend this to a half-day experience.
Do I Need Reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road?
Yes, with important specifics. In 2025, Glacier National Park required timed-entry vehicle reservations from 7 AM to 3 PM for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road (St. Mary side generally did not require reservations). Motorcycles count as vehicles for the reservation system.
Reservation requirements and timeframes change annually. Always check the National Park Service Glacier website and Recreation.gov for current-year rules before planning your visit.
How Does Going-to-the-Sun Road Connect to Red Lodge?
This is a week-long itinerary component, not a day trip from Red Lodge. Build Going-to-the-Sun Road into a statewide Montana loop: Red Lodge → Paradise Valley (US-89) → Bozeman/Helena → Glacier → Missoula → Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway/Big Hole → back to Red Lodge.
This creates a complete Montana motorcycle experience that covers the state's diverse riding: alpine passes, broad valleys, backcountry byways, and two completely different national park experiences.
What's the Difficulty of Going-to-the-Sun Road?
Intermediate difficulty due to narrow lanes, cliff exposure, tourist traffic, and limited shoulders. The road itself is well-maintained. The challenge comes from managing traffic, staying focused despite constant distraction from scenery, and handling your bike on narrow pavement with significant drop-offs.
Not recommended for riders uncomfortable with exposure or new to mountain riding. The consequences of mistakes are severe, and you're sharing pavement with RVs, rental cars, and distracted tourists.
What's Coming in Parts 2 and 3?
We've covered the epic passes that define Red Lodge as a motorcycle destination. But Montana's best riding isn't limited to the famous roads everyone knows about.
Part 2 explores the hidden gems that separate good tours from legendary ones: MT-78 and the Stillwater loop, Paradise Valley's wildlife corridor, the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, plus backcountry ADV options including the Montana Backcountry Discovery Route (launching 2026), Gravelly Range Road, Skalkaho Pass, and the Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range. We'll also cover how Red Lodge positions you perfectly for the Sturgis rally with scenic routing through the Bighorns and optional Devils Tower detours.
Part 3 dives into practical basecamp logistics: where to fuel, eat, and wrench in Red Lodge; how to check road conditions and plan around weather; wildlife etiquette for riding through Yellowstone; the Beartooth Rally culture; and complete sample itineraries for 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day tours.
Because the epic passes get you here. The hidden roads make you stay longer. And the basecamp logistics ensure you'll come back.
Planning your Montana motorcycle tour? The Yodeler offers rider-friendly parking, gear storage, and the kind of basecamp comfort you need after a day on the Beartooth. Book your room and start planning the ride you'll measure all future rides against.