The Beartooth Highway in Montana is one of the most spectacular alpine highways in North America. It offers sweeping vistas of snow-covered mountains, unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities, unparalleled wildlife watching, and panoramic views of hundreds of high alpine lakes.
Getting to the Byway:
###From Bozeman, MT### * Take I-90 east to Livingston. * Exit onto US-89 and go south to Mammoth in Yellowstone National Park. * On Grand Loop Rd., go east to Tower Junction. * Take NE Entrance Rd. east to Montana where it becomes US-212, the Beartooth Highway. ###From Billings, MT### * Take I-90 southwest to Laurel. * Get on US-212 and go southwest to Red Lodge where the byway begins. ###Alternate Route from Billings, MT### * Take I-90 south to Columbus. * Get on MT-78 and go south to Red Lodge where the byway begins.
Navigating the Byway:
Montana's portion of the Beartooth Scenic Byway, U.S. Highway 212, is comprised of two segments, reached by continuing on the same route through Wyoming. The western section travels through the Gallatin National Forest, starting between Red Lodge and Gardiner, just north of Yellowstone National Park, and ending at the state line. The eastern section resumes about 40 miles later at the state line and travels through the Custer National Forest to end at Red Lodge, Montana.