Bear Tooth Highway

the beartooth descent into Red Lodge MT is straight down the side of a cliff, with about 6 switchbacks snaking the road down. there are no pull outs that I recall on that part of the descent. the switchbacks themselves are wide enough for you unless you meet some yeahoo just as big who is coming UP the road. LOL
it's just not a good road for a long, wide, heavy rig. period.
it won't be any fun for the driver and the passenger will probably be scared stiff.
do yourself a big favor and drive it in your truck. :)

n7bsn wrote:

knshook wrote:
It's an amazing drive but we left the 5er at camp and took the truck. In my book not only would it be stressful and foolish to tow but you'd have no ability to get out and enjoy the stunning vistas. Leave the 5er and drive it-you won't regret it.

what he said

Yep.

I did it with my 34 foot fifth wheel four years ago. I took my time and didn't have any problems. We saw a good variety of wild life and beautiful scenery. No overheating problems and I pulled off whenever someone came up behind me.

smkettner wrote:
Pictures above look easy. Is the grade over 10%?

I posted the pictures for the information of the OP, who is from mountain-free Wisconsin, just in case he had no prior mountain driving experience. The pictures date from our drive over the Chief Joseph from Cody to Yellowstone back in June 2010. I don't recall the numbers on the grade signs, but 7-8% is most likely. A lot of the switchbacks aren't visible in the pictures, so the descent is more "interesting" than shown. I'm sure we used 2nd gear and light to moderate braking on occasion going down.

We drove the Chief Joseph in the Yellowstone to Cody direction last year and needed lots of 2nd gear going up to the pass. The climb seemed a lot longer than what I remembered from the descent four years earlier.

The Beartooth is obviously more of a mountain drive since it tops out at 11,000 feet vs. 8,000 feet for the Chief Joseph. We did that drive from Red Lodge to Yellowstone in our Class C back in 2007.

People seem to worry most about the north side loops. That grade is long and steady, but I don't think it is exceptionally steep. And the corners look sharp at a distance, but up close I doubt if they are worse than a city corner.

The south side of the pass also has some loops, but more spread out. But I think the lanes are narrower and with less of a shoulder. I believe there was some construction to widen those curves, but I'm not sure it they have improved them all.

If you have adequate power, including braking power, the curves themselves shouldn't cause problems. It's pressure from yourself, or other traffic, to take grades and curves fast that is going to give you problems.

paulj wrote:


It's pressure from yourself, or other traffic, to take grades and curves fast that is going to give you problems.

You are right, it's those pesky other people that are the issue. Though they should feel honored to drive 5 MPH behind someone who cannot or will not drive any faster, they often get frustrated. Then they get even more frustrated when that 5 MPH driver won't utilize the infrequent pull outs to let the line of traffic pass. Some will just salute you with an outstretched finger, others will pass when it is not advisable, putting you, themselves and other travelers at risk. In my opinion, it is very selfish to plan a route where you know you won't be able to travel the speed of the traffic, just to prove you can. I can't think of too many situation where someone would need to drive the Beartooth highway. It is traveled almost exclusively because it is an incredibly scenic drive. Do everyone a favor and park your big rig and drive it in an appropriate vehicle.

But one could argue that a car that isn't using the pullouts and is going as fast as it can shouldn't be on the Beartooth either. There are faster ways in/out of Yellowstone if you are in a rush.

I've driven it once - in a car in mid September with snow flurries. I was on a cross country drive, but the Beartooth/Chief Joseph leg was an intentional sight seeing detour. I was there to relish the mountain drive and sights.

It's one thing to take the tighter corners a 5-10 mph, another to run the whole grade at that speed.

We did Bear Tooth Pass years ago on our Gold Wing, that was fun! Now with our 38' Suites,not a chance, not that I'm "afraid" of it, I want to enjoy the drive and pulling a fiver over that pass wouldn't be enjoyable to me. Others may disagree but that's just my two cents. Remember you're on vacation, it's all about the enjoyment, why stress yourself needlessly unless you're used to driving mountain passes?

Dan

westernrvparkowner

You are right, it's those pesky other people that are the issue. Though they should feel honored to drive 5 MPH behind someone who cannot or will not drive any faster, they often get frustrated. Then they get even more frustrated when that 5 MPH driver won't utilize the infrequent pull outs to let the line of traffic pass. Some will just salute you with an outstretched finger, others will pass when it is not advisable, putting you, themselves and other travelers at risk. In my opinion, it is very selfish to plan a route where you know you won't be able to travel the speed of the traffic, just to prove you can. I can't think of too many situation where someone would need to drive the Beartooth highway. It is traveled almost exclusively because it is an incredibly scenic drive. Do everyone a favor and park your big rig and drive it in an appropriate vehicle.

Well said!! Beautiful drive if you are in something that can do this route, but there is always someone who wants to prove how macho it is to drive a
motor home and tow across. Why? Creep up the side of the mountain and creep down the other side. Not enough room to get into a pull out (if there is any there) with that hookup and the people behind you are getting more frustrated wanting to get around. Like the man said, do everyone a favor, be safe and drive something meant to take a route like this.

mabynack wrote:
I did it with my 34 foot fifth wheel four years ago. I took my time and didn't have any problems. We saw a good variety of wild life and beautiful scenery. No overheating problems and I pulled off whenever someone came up behind me.

There you go. It's all in how you drive. ;)

And to all the impatient drivers, best you stick to the interstate highways. :R