These mountains hold a rich tapestry of geological, ecological, and cultural significance, making them a compelling destination for adventurers and nature lovers alike. Here’s our list of dynamic Beartooth Mountains facts you probably don’t know:
1. The Beartooths are part of the Rocky Mountains and are known for their diverse geology, with ancient rocks dating back more than 4 billion years, showcasing a variety of formations including granite, gneiss, and sedimentary rocks.
2. The Beartooth Highway is like a ribbon of pavement snaking through the mountains of Montana and Wyoming and is one of the most scenic drives in America, winding its way through stunning vistas, and alpine plateaus, and reaching heights over 10,000 feet.
3. Due to the high elevation and exposed nature, weather conditions in the Beartooths can be extreme and unpredictable, and even during the summer months, the weather can be as unpredictable as it is stunning. You might find yourself basking in the sun one moment and bracing against whipping winds. At some point, it has snowed on every calendar day at the top of Beartooth Pass.
4. Traveling along the Beartooth Highway you’ll cross the 45th parallel and find yourself at the exact halfway point between the North Pole and the equator, and you’ll feel as though you are hovering above the Earth with a bird’s eye view of Montana’s alpine country.
5. In Red Lodge, Montana—gateway to the Beartooths—you’ll find old west-style saloons and trendy restaurants, and a few minutes from downtown sits the Red Lodge Ales Brewery with creatively named beers such as the Dylly Vanylly Porter and Czechmate.
6. For a dozen or more miles you are on top of the Rocky Mountains and you can look across at the meadows and flat areas that make up this incredible landscape, even looking down at the tops of mountains that most people arch their heads up to see.
7. Large portions of the Beartooth Mountains are part of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, a protected area spanning over one million acres, ensuring the preservation of its natural beauty and ecosystems.
8. Thirty-eight miles from Red Lodge and 25 from Cooke City, it’s a great place to buy an ice cream or local artwork at The Top of The World Store.
9. The Beartooths are a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering opportunities for hiking, backpacking, camping, and fishing in pristine alpine lakes. The fishermen report they have good luck almost everywhere they cast their rod, catching cutthroat and small brook trout.
10. Native American tribes such as the Shoshone and Crow historically inhabited and traversed these mountains, leaving behind traces of their presence and cultural significance having used the valleys for hunting game animals and for winter shelter from the harsh winds of the plains. The Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains are the highest summits in the state soaring above an already cloud-piercing plateau, and this ‘land in the sky’ was named in part for the Absaroka people, also known as the Crow Indians.