The Beartooth Pass

The Columbus to Silver Gate Day Drive features the famous Beartooth Highway, but the pine, sage, and grass country between Columbus and Red Lodge are stunning additions that make this a beautiful day drive.

We recommend extending the drive past the necessary four hours and exploring the area over a couple of days. There are multiple campgrounds along the route. A good camping spot is at Itch-Kep-Pe Park. Wherever you stop, expect temperatures to drop significantly the higher you climb in elevation.

The back-to-back communities that pave the route are an inviting collection of rural Montana towns. These towns have excellent museums and galleries that showcase the region's deep mining and homesteading history and some of Montana's finest art pieces.

Along the way, there are popular fishing spots and skiing opportunities. There are also several forest service trails that feature glacial lakes and other spectacular sceneries. Black Canyon Lake and Beartooth loop are just a couple.

At an elevation of almost 11,000, you can see massive surrounding peaks, distant glacier lakes, and the towering Spruce and Fir trees. If you're lucky, you might see mountain goats, elk, or even a grizzly bear.

If you want to explore further, Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley can be seen by the only year-round road in the Park.