When it comes to scenic drives, Montana's highways and byways are second to none. After all, we are home to Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park's most stunning (and at times, harrowing) routes. That being said, there's nothing quite like a drive down the magical, almost otherworldly Beartooth Highway.
Montana shares the Beartooth Highway and Beartooth Canyon with Wyoming, but we don't mind.
The byway is 68 miles long in its entirety, and you'll find stunning scenery around every corner.
The Beartooth Highway is a National Scenic Byway, winding its way through southwest Montana and northwest Wyoming and leading into Yellowstone National Park at its northeast entrance.
In the summertime, this is a pretty popular route.
The highway's history goes all the way back to the late 1800s, when a rapid influx of tourists who wanted to see Yellowstone National Park was brought on by years of exploration by trappers, gold seekers, and government expeditions.
It was obvious that a reliable mode of transportation was needed from Red Lodge to Yellowstone.
By the 1920s, the automobile was the preferred mode of transportation for visitors to the area, and it was clear that a good road system was needed.
The majority of the Beartooth Highway was built between 1932 and 1936. And now, it's one of the most scenic drives in the country.
In 2002, the Beartooth Highway became one of the first 10 highways in American to be given the designation of All-American Road.
This is a road you won't want to rush. Pull over, have a picnic, and enjoy the overlooks.
Of course, this is not a highway you'll want to take any time of year.
The road closes for the season before winter hits, and for good reason.
But if you can manage to take a Beartooth Highway drive in the summer, this will be one of your many visual rewards.
If you've never taken a long, winding drive down this highway, you owe yourself the quintessential Montana experience.
Have you ever driven the Beartooth Highway? Share your experiences with us below!
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