Forum Discussion

rv2go's avatar
rv2go
Explorer II
Jun 24, 2013

Beartooth and Chief Joseph scenic highways in a day!!!

OK, Call me crazy but I am thinking about driving this route in a day. :E
I will be starting in Mammoth Hot Springs CG in Yellowstone NP.

I have never driven either one. I will be in my Jeep Cherokee.

The Beartooth is my main quest. Would I enjoy it better going UP or Down?
I want to choose my loop to better enjoy the Beartooth.
My thoughts are going Down the Chief Joseph and UP the Beartooth.
Roads and Routes
  • Not_a_Clue's avatar
    Not_a_Clue
    Explorer
    Jun 25, 2013
    TexasShadow wrote:
    you can go over Beartooth and down to Red Lodge and then run down highway 72 and 120 to 296 Chief Joseph highway, and take it back up to Cooke City and onward.


    We did this a couple of years ago....lots of construction on Bear Tooth....stopped in Red Lodge for lunch....made for one long day.....
  • trailertraveler's avatar
    trailertraveler
    Explorer
    Jun 25, 2013
    We did a loop from Cody. WY-120 West out of Cody to the Chief Joseph. East on the Beartooth over Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge. Stopped for a break in Red Lodge to walk around town and get something to eat. MT-308 East out of Red Lodge to MT-72/WY-120 back to Cody. The loop is about 180 miles. Your loop from Mammoth will be about 270 miles.
  • TexasShadow's avatar
    TexasShadow
    Explorer II
    Jun 25, 2013
    you can go over Beartooth and down to Red Lodge and then run down highway 72 and 120 to 296 Chief Joseph highway, and take it back up to Cooke City and onward.
  • paulj's avatar
    paulj
    Explorer II
    Jun 25, 2013
    Coming from Cooke City, both roads involve a climb and drop. The north one (Beartooth) is higher and more spectacular. In a car, I'd let weather dictate the direction, preferring to cross Beartooth when it is clearest. For example if they expect afternoon thunderstorms, I'd go north first.
  • paulj's avatar
    paulj
    Explorer II
    Jun 25, 2013
    To give you an idea of reasonable time frames, I drove Belgrade to Gillette in one day using these. Passed through Red Lodge mid morning, up Beartooth, over Chief Joseph. This was in a car. We stopped at the main overlook near the top of Beartooth, another stop at the summit, and a third at the main bridge on Chief Joseph for lunch. No stop in Cody.

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