Connecting Red Lodge to the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, the Beartooth Highway is a scenic route that passes through some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in North America. It has been a popular tourist destination since it opened in 1932, but despite its popularity, the Beartooth Highway has steep grades, hairpin turns, and narrow lanes. Blackfoot bannock recipe its difficulty to navigate, it’s a designated All-American Scenic Byway and is a must-see when you’re in the area.
The highway was built between 1932 and 1936 and named after the Beartooth Range, which it traverses. The route was originally used to transport supplies to various mining camps and military posts in the region, though today it’s a popular destination for travelers who want to take in the natural beauty of Montana. Many portions of the highway were originally paths used by the Shoshone and Crow for thousands of years. These paths became popular with settlers, fur trappers, and loggers in particular.
But when mining operations began to dominate the nearby counties is when local entrepreneurs began to realize how lucrative a paved road across the Beartooth Range could be to transport mining supplies and ore. The project was greenlit and finally surveyed in 1927, though construction didn’t begin until 1931. Nonetheless, its completion in 1936 was heralded as a massive achievement for the state of Montana and was eventually added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2014. Things To See Along The Beartooth Highway Many folks travel the Beartooth Highway after exiting Yellowstone National Park through the Northeast Entrance. Here’s a brief overview of some of the major stops along the way to Red Lodge. If you’re beginning in Red Lodge and traveling to Yellowstone, you can simply follow the guide in reverse. Silver Gate is a small town in the Flathead Valley of Montana.
It is a popular tourist destination because of its natural beauty, small-town atmosphere, and proximity to Yellowstone National Park. Silver Gate Chamber of Commerce site for even more information about local tourist attractions and events happening in the area. They also provide a visitor’s guide that includes a map of the town, information on lodging, dining, and shopping options, as well as scenic drives in the area. Woman-owned and operated since founder Hannah Oie built this modest cabin from local, hand-hewn logs, The Log Cabin Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day from May until October. They have a variety of menu items including burgers, sandwiches, and salads, but folks always return for their famous lumberjack-style breakfasts like the fried trout or their extra-fluffy pancakes made from Hannah’s original depression-era secret recipe.
Only a mile from Yellowstone, this modest sundry and gift shop is known for its ice cream and its incredibly hospitable owners, Cheryl and Jill. Here you’ll find plenty of snacks and souvenirs, and maybe even a few tips on the best places to see in the area. Bannock Trailhead On the outskirts of Silver Gate is the trailhead to the Bannock Ski Trail, a two-mile cross-country ski trail that follows a retired mining path from Silver Gate to just inside Yellowstone. There’s also a snowmobile road that begins here and connects to Cooke City. Though Cooke City is a small town with a population of only around 250, it’s considerably larger than the tiny community of Silver Gate and has a considerable amount of infrastructure for visitors. This is the perfect place to stock up on supplies, enjoy a meal, or stay overnight before you continue along the Beartooth Highway.
