Posted in Wyoming
February 05, 2017
The Highest Road In Wyoming Will Lead You On An Unforgettable Journey
Wyoming rules when it comes to intriguing landscapes and breathtaking scenery so it should come as no surprise that there’s a road in Wyoming that is the most scenic drive in the United States. In fact, it’s the highest and most rugged road in Wyoming and it will take you on an unforgettable journey.
Beartooth Highway is a National Scenic Byways All-American Road. It's a 68 mile byway that winds its way through southwest Montana and northwest Wyoming and leads to the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.
The highway is a section of U.S. Route 212 that runs from Red Lodge, Montana, dips into Wyoming and ends in Cooke City, Montana. The road is a series of steep zigzags and switchbacks that snake along the Wyoming/Montana border and lead to Beartooth Pass.
The pass rises to a height of 10,947 feet. Due to the heavy snowfall at the top, the pass is usually open from mid May through mid October. This is the same pass that was crossed by Civil War General Phillip Sheridan and his men in 1872 who were returning from an inspection tour of Yellowstone National Park.
The road features breathtaking views of the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains. Along the drive, the landscape consists of high alpine plateaus, glacial lakes, forested valleys, waterfalls and wildlife.
The road with hairpin curves stretches through Custer, Gallatin and Shoshone National Forests, runs parallel to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and butts up against Yellowstone National Park.
This area is surrounded by 20 peaks all over 12,000 feet in elevation...
....and over 950 alpine lakes.
The Beartooth Scenic Highway is accessible from the south through State Highway 120 also known as Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. The section that passes through Wyoming is around 47 miles and takes an hour to drive.
The Top Of The World Store is located along the scenic highway 6 miles from the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The store was originally built on Beartooth Lake and moved to its current location in the 60s. This is a great stopping point along the way.
Have you ever driven along this highway? If so, comment below.
For other scenic drives, check out These 12 Beautiful Byways In Wyoming Are Perfect For A Scenic Drive.
