Ride Up Into The Sky On This Stunning & Heart-Pounding Drive To Yellowstone National Park

There are plenty of reasons to visit Yellowstone National Park. It is home to a tremendous amount of wildlife, including a herd of bison. There are miles of amazing hiking trails, it's recognized as one of the best national parks for freshwater fishing, and affords countless other outdoor recreational opportunities.

By the same token, there are also plenty of ways to get to Yellowstone. However, one stands out among the rest. In fact, the drive along the section of U.S. Highway 212 that leads from Red Lodge, Montana, to the entrance on the northeast side of Yellowstone National Park is so stunningly scenic, it has been designated as a National Scenic Byways All-American Road. According to the Federal Highway Administration, this stretch of roadway was built in the early 1930s to try to increase tourism in towns of Red Lodge and Cooke City by establishing another route for visitors to take to Yellowstone as automobile travel became more common.

Closing in on a century later, the roadway has certainly accomplished its original goal and has become somewhat of an attraction unto itself. This is due in part to the uniqueness of the highway itself. Rising to more than 10,000 feet, it is one of the highest highways in the United States and is the highest road in Montana. It is also largely due to the stunning landscapes that appear all along the 68-mile stretch between Red Lodge and Yosemite as it winds through 20 peaks, some of which rise to over 12,000 feet. The experience makes one feel as if they are on a ride up into the sky on this stunning and heart-pounding drive to Yellowstone National Park.

American's love taking road trips and visiting national parks. Combining a stretch of highway that is on many road trip bucket lists makes the Beartooth Highway a unique travel experience. The only caveat to this epic road trip is you must do it during summer or early fall, as the roadway is only open from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. 

When driving along U.S. Highway 212, you don't want to let your mind wander too much about what to see and do once you reach Yosemite, lest you miss some amazing sights along the way. One of the most popular stops is at the 21-mile mark heading away from Red Lodge. There, at 9,190 feet, is the Vista Point Rest Area. In addition to stunning views, the Vista Point Rest Area features a trail with interpretive signage explaining the area's natural history. A bit further up the road, travelers cross the 45^th parallel, the imaginary line of latitude that splits the Northern Hemisphere in half. Continuing on toward Cooke City, you won't want to miss getting a glance at the peak which gave this road its name. The Bear's Tooth is a jagged peak given its name by Native Americans for its resemblance to the dental work of a bear.

Roughly two-thirds of the way to Yellowstone from Red Lodge, you'll arrive at the Top of the World Store. This general store is perched at an elevation of 9,400 feet is a great place for a quick pit stop before continuing. A bit further down the road is Beartooth Lake. Although it is just one of the hundreds of alpine lakes along the trail, it offers an array of outdoor activities.