Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6. Beartooth Pass
Marking the crest of the byway, the pass, at 10,947 feet above sea level, makes this section
of road one of the world's highest. Turn-outs allow you to stop and breathe the pure,
crisp—and very thin—air. And the view (visibility can reach 75 miles) takes in snow-
capped peaks, glacier-etched valleys, flowery meadows, and coniferous forests. Look to
the north for the Bear's Tooth, a rocky peak piercing the sky.
7. Beartooth Lake
The road descends 2,000 feet to this shimmering lake, which lies in the shadow of Bear-
tooth Butte. The great rock—bulky and banded with colorful layers—was once part of an
ancient seabed. Today archaeologists search its slopes for fossils, some more than 500 mil-
lion years old.
But scientists aren't the only ones who enjoy this area; the lake and the surrounding
plateau attract anglers, campers, and hikers. Even admirers of waterfalls can have their fill:
Beartooth Falls, on the opposite side of the highway, makes a plunge of 100 feet.
8. Clay Butte Lookout
The fire tower at Clay Butte, another imposing monolith, permits a far-reaching vista. The
dramatic,jaggedskylineisdefinedbytheBighorn,Beartooth,andAbsarokaranges;stand-
ingguardonthedistantnorthwesthorizonis12,799-footGranitePeak,thehighestpointin
Montana.
9. Chief Joseph Scenic Highway
After descending through a forest of pine, spruce, and aspen, Rte. 212 meets the Chief
Joseph Scenic Highway (Rte. 296). Consider taking a side trip along the road: It rambles
beside the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River, which has carved a stunning gorge 1,200 feet
deep. Of particular note along the way is Sunlight Basin, where a secluded 50,000 acres of
verdanthillsarelacedwithwillow-linedcreeksandroamedbyanarrayofwildlife,includ-
ing coyotes, moose, deer, and elk.
Did you know…
DeadIndianHillsitsnearthetopoftheChiefJosephScenicHighwayandover-
looks Sunlight Basin. Several tours of this unique area offer the story behind
Chief Joseph and the flight of the Nez Perce Indians in 1877.
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