Beartooth Scenic Highway

Our trip out of Yellowstone took us over one of the most beautiful highways in the United States: the Beartooth Scenic Highway. It winds for 68 miles, with numerous switchbacks, through one of the highest and most rugged areas in the lower 48 states, with 20 peaks reaching over 12,000 feet in elevation. In the surrounding mountains, glaciers are found on the north flank of nearly every mountain peak over 11,500 feet high. The road itself is the highest elevation highway in Wyoming (10,947 feet) and Montana (10,350 feet), and is the highest elevation highway in the Northern Rockies. It opened in 1936, and is reputed to follow a route which was first traveled by horse by General Philip Sheriden in 1872 when he and 120 men were returning from an inspection of the newly created Yellowstone National Park, and taking the advice of an old trapper, Shuki Greer, went over the Beartooth pass. The wildflowers were at their height, and we stopped several times to get out and just marvel at them. It was a beautiful, sunny day with spectacular clouds, mountain views, a perfect day for taking photos. There was still deep snow in places beside the road - on July 13th.

Here are some scenes: