Has anyone here ridden the Beartooth Highway? Runs between Red Lodge and Cook City, MT. I'm hoping to do it this summer. Also hoping to ride the Chief Joseph Highway in the same area.

 

Yep, three times, the last in 2010.

Both roads are beautiful but I'd suggest that you pick a clear, dry day to do this ride and be prepared for cooler temps and wind gusts.

Well worth the ride.

 

I've ridden over the "Cook City Hwy" several times and weather was an issue every time but It's beautiful. And usually quite chilly!

 

I've ridden both roads. Keep going East if you can and ride through the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming.

 

Two great rides. Have fun.

 

Howdy, That Beartooth ride is fantastic....unless heights make you nervous!!! Most important thing is to check the weather. On a bike, I'd not recomend going at all until July. It can snow up at the top of the pass anyday of the year. We're lucky in Montana...summer time offers more great places to ride....horses or Harley's then any other place in the world!!!! Have fun.

 

I'm in the other camp...that is, ride the Beartooth as early in the season as you can. Mountain peaks are still full of snow and riding alongside those 10' high walls of snow at the top is always a kick. Doesn't matter if it's July or August, you'll most likely need your jacket and gloves on the pass.

 

How bad is it? It does not bother me and I am looking forward to that ride in July. But the people that ride with me have a problem with heights. I used to think they were kidding but they are not.

 

There are a few places where the road's edge is fairly close to drop offs, since the road is mostly cut out of the side of mountains. But those spots have big guardrails and I think guardrails make a big difference for folks like your fellow riders who have height issues. There's a road that runs from Stanley, Idaho over to Lowman, Idaho and I'm telling you riding westbound there are sections where there isn't enough room to put a guardrail in if they wanted to. Go off there and it's adios ****. Beartooth isn't like that, your friends will be fine.

 

It's a narrow two lane climb, many hairpin twisties....lots of miles with no shoulders and a guard rail on the down side.....some with verticle drops...no shoulder and straight up rock walls on the other......Expect possible loose gravel from falling rocks and many places where the road will be wet from the melting snowpack. Cagers and bikers alike crawl along in the trickiest spots. The scenery is spactacular.....and there are turnouts and overlooks along the way to stop, rest, shoot photos and use the john.

Anybody can do it. The faint of heart might not be as happy as the rest is all.