Beartooth Pass
In the western Wyoming mountain ranges at a safe distance from Yellowstone National
Park it is nearly impossible to find a road that is not
worth bicycling. The highest paved pass of this corner of
the west, Beartoooth Pass, has another advantage. It is
not plagued by the traffic of a large adjacent
metropolitan area. Other potential crowds, the summer
vacation tourists, head straight for Yellowstone. This
leaves Beartooth Pass to be enjoyed by cyclists who
appreciate a good climbing work out and unparalelled
scenery. The pass across the high rolling Beartooth
Plateau above treeline is surrounded by the Absaroka,
Beartooth and other ranges. Good weather is a prerequisite
for this ride. This pass is a personal favorite and a
description of a ride in the "touring stories
section" is on this
page, under the heading "my first Rocky Mountain
Bicycle Pass"
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01.(mile00,5580ft):
START-END NORTH: Red Lodge (jct 9th street,
Broadway)
02.(mile10+1/2,6690ft) Lake Fork dirt road
leaves on right
03.(mile12+1/2,7120ft) FR421 leaves on right
04.(mile27+1/2,10880ft) first summit
05.(mile29,10600ft) intermediate low point
06.(mile31,10940ft) Bear Tooth Pass
07.(mile50,7050ft) START-END SOUTH: jct with
Chief Joseph Highway (Dead Indian Pass) on left
08.(mile52,6870f) START-END SOUTH ALTERNATE: low
point towards Coulter Pass. |
Approaches
From East. The long distance tourist approaching
from Billings will notice the shallow slope to Red Lodge.
That's where the Beartooth Highway and the pass road begins.
After an extended forest climb, passing many camping
opportunites (public land as well as National Forest
campgrounds), the road turns into a series of ramps climbing
the plateau. But this plateau is anything but flat. The road
has two summits, and spectacular scenery separting them.
From West. The western approach begins at the
junction of three paved passes, Beartooth Pass, Dead
Indian Pass and Colter Pass.
The character of this side is quite different, drier, more
sage and fewer pines, more varied colors and less green. Pilot
Peak, keeping watch above Colter Pass is sure to get attention
because of its shape from this vantage point.
Tours
Dayrides. An out and back roadride from Red Lodge to
the eastern summit measured 53 miles. The measured elevation
gain of 6710ft overshoots the real value, either because
of a week battery or a passing weather front.
Two or Three Day road Tour. The pass can be
cycled in a circle combined with Chief Joseph Highway over
Dead Indian Pass, completing the circle over Wy120 between
Cody and Red Lodge. In order to sleep somewhere halfways
civilized on a three day tour it is necessary to add on an out
and back section to Cody. The other overnight stop is Red
Lodge. An additional out and back section to Cooke City or
West Yellowstone over Colter Pass is also worthwhile. A two
day version of this ride, starting in Silver Gate ( located
between Cooke City and West Yellowstone ) and skipping the
detour to Cody, measured 112 miles over Colter Pass, Dead
Indian Pass and Wy120, between Silver Gate and Red Lodge, 70
miles between the same endpoints over Beartooth Pass and
Colter Pass again (no measured altitude data available).
It is described further in the touring stories section, linked
in the first paragraph on this page.
Extended Tour. This pass is also in a prime location
for an extended tour, right on the way to Yellowstone and the
Tetons. Therefor it is not surprising that I have met long
distance tourists every time that I have cycled this pass. It
was also a highpoint on my first long distance bicycle tour
from New York to California.
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