Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cody Scenic Byway (U.S. Highways 1
4/16/2
0) passes through several areas of hoodoos visible
from the road. It's 53 miles (85 km) from Cody to the East Entrance.
NORTHEAST ENTRANCE
The Northeast Entrance is the closest one to Billings, Montana, yet the fastest route to the
park from Billings is via the North Entrance, described below. Two high, spectacular moun-
tain roads approach Yellowstone from the northeast.
The most popular road, the Beartooth Scenic Byway (U.S. 212), crosses the Beartooth Plat-
eau on a series of switchbacks between Red Lodge and Cooke City. The late CBS news corres-
pondent Charles Kuralt asserted in his 1979 book, Dateline America, that “the most beauti-
ful road in America is U.S. 212, which leaves Red Lodge, climbs to Beartooth Pass at eleven
thousand feet, and drops down into the northeast entrance of Yellowstone Park.” Most visit-
ors agree with him when they see the tremendous panoramas and exquisitely colored wild-
flowers, especially above timberline. The distance from Billings to the Northeast Entrance this
way is about 130 miles (209 km). Allow about four hours to enjoy it. Note, however, that the
Beartooth Highway is open only from Memorial Day weekend (end of May) to early October.
