
Exploring the Breathtaking Beartooth Highway: A Scenic Adventure
Usa, north-america
107 km
3,342 m
moderate
Year-round
# The Beartooth Highway
If you're looking for one of the most spectacular drives in America, the Beartooth Highway is calling your name. This 67-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 212 winds through the heart of the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains, straddling the Montana-Wyoming border and serving as the perfect gateway to Yellowstone's northeast entrance.
Get ready for some serious elevation—this road climbs to a jaw-dropping 10,964 feet at Beartooth Pass, making it the highest highway in both Wyoming and Montana. The entire route is paved, but don't let that fool you. You'll navigate a series of thrilling switchbacks and tight corners that'll keep you on your toes, especially if you're a motorcyclist or cyclist (and trust us, plenty of adrenaline junkies make the pilgrimage here for exactly that reason).
The scenery? Absolutely unreal. You're surrounded by 20 peaks towering over 12,000 feet, 10,000 pristine mountain lakes, cascading waterfalls, and a dramatic shift from dense forest to stark alpine tundra in just a few miles. It's earned the nickname "the most beautiful drive in America," and once you experience it, you'll understand why.
Plan for 3-4 hours if you're just passing through, but honestly? Set aside a half-day. You'll want to stop constantly for photos and to soak in the views. The road typically opens mid-May through mid-October, but come prepared for anything—surprise snowstorms, fierce winds, and intense thunderstorms can strike even in summer.
Welcome to the adventure of a lifetime.
Where is it?
Exploring the Breathtaking Beartooth Highway: A Scenic Adventure is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 40.8114, -96.6225
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 107 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,342 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 40.8114, -96.6225
Related Roads in north-america
hardWhere is Hole-in-the-Rock Road?
🇺🇸 Usa
Hole-in-the-Rock Road is a scenic dirt road located in the U.S. state of Utah. It’s suitable for passenger cars in good weather but a 4WD vehicle is required the last miles. Where is Hole-in-the-Rock Road? The road straddles Garfield and Kane counties, in the southern part of Utah. When was Hole-in-the-Rock Road built? It was built in 1879 by early Mormon settlers who were trying to build a route for southward migration. How long is the Hole in the Rock Jeep Trail? Tucked away in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Hole in the Rock Road (BLM-200) is totally unpaved. It’s 89.80km (55.8 miles) long, running from UT-12 near Escalante to the Hole-in-the-Rock on the western shore of Lake Powell. The road (a treacherous, yet typical desert dirt road) brings a sense of adventure and demands a bit of preparation. Is the Hole-in-the-Rock Road challenging? It is a dirt road, wide and quite well maintained. Driving down Hole in the Rock Road isn’t an easy task – this long dirt road is often rutted out, washed out, washboard-like, and very rough. The unpaved sections of the road can be impassable when wet. For most of the way (the first 35 miles), it’s doable for a handy driver even without a high-clearance vehicle, but the last few miles within Glen Canyon, the going gets rough, and a proper 4x4 is absolutely necessary especially with wet conditions. How to get ready to drive the Hole-in-the-Rock Road? Persons travelling this road should carry plenty of water (at least one gallon--4 liters--per person per day) and be equipped to get themselves out of any difficulty they might encounter. This road is not routinely patrolled by any agency. Temperatures can range over 100° F (38°C) in summer to near 0° F (-17°C) in winter. Sudden heavy rains, especially in summer months may make this road impassable. If you are caught near the end of the road during a heavy storm, you may not be able to make it back to the paved highway, even with a four-wheel drive. There is limited cell service in this area. How long does it take to drive the Hole-in-the-Rock Road? Plan around 3-5 hours to complete the drive. However, due its beauty it can take longer. It provides access to a number of recreational and historic sites in both Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Devil’s Garden and the Dry Fork slot canyons are popular recreational destinations. Visitors interested in pioneer history should see Dance Hall Rock and Hole-in the-Rock at the end of the road. A pleasant gravel road in summers to Old Monarch Pass in Colorado The Chicken Corners Trail in Moab is a breathtaking road along the Colorado River Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
hardWhere is Summit Camp?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up for an adventure on Forest Road 140 in northern New Mexico! This isn't your average Sunday drive – it's a 2.48-mile climb to Summit Camp in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Get ready for some seriously steep grades that'll test your mettle (and probably your brakes!). We're talking serious elevation here, topping out at 10,282 feet! While you won't be able to drive all the way to the summit, as it's closed to private vehicles, a chairlift awaits to whisk you to the very top. Keep in mind this road is no joke and becomes impassable during winter. But when it's open, expect stunning views and an unforgettable, high-altitude experience in Carson National Forest!
extremeWhere is Sierra Negra?
🇲🇽 Mexico
Okay, picture this: you're in Puebla, Mexico, itching for an adventure, and someone whispers about Sierra Negra. This extinct volcano, also called Cerro La Negra, is nestled near Veracruz in the Pico de Orizaba National Park. The views? Absolutely insane! But here's the catch: the road to the top, also known as Tliltépetl or Volcán Atlitzin, is not for the faint of heart. Forget smooth tarmac – it's all unpaved and seriously bumpy. You absolutely NEED a 4x4 to even think about tackling it. Speaking of tackling, this road is twistier than a pretzel! Hairpin turns galore as you wind your way up. And steep? Oh yeah, some sections hit a crazy 17% gradient. From the town of Atzitzintla, it's about 18.5 km (11.5 miles) to the summit, climbing a staggering 1,849 meters. That's an average gradient of almost 10%! Heads up though: this is serious altitude. We're talking 4,576m (15,013ft) above sea level! The air gets thin, and the weather can be unpredictable. Plus, this road isn't generally open to the public. You need special permission to drive it. But if you can pull it off, you'll be rewarded with views and bragging rights that are out of this world. Oh, and you can check out the Large Millimeter Telescope at the summit, the biggest of its kind!
hardQueen City Summit, a climb on the legendary Extraterrestrial Highway
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up space cadets, because Queen City Summit on Nevada's Extraterrestrial Highway is out of this world! Located in the heart of Nevada, in Nye County, this pass tops out at a cool 5,967 feet. It's the highest point on the infamous Route 375, known for its, shall we say, *unusual* sightings. This stretch of highway is paved and clocks in at just under 100 miles long. It's a lonely ride through miles of desert, connecting Crystal Springs (near Route 318) to Warm Springs (near Route 6). Keep an eye on the weather, as things can change quickly out here. Plus, be ready for some steep climbs along the way. Who knows, you might even spot a UFO!