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Beartooth Pass
In the mountain ranges surrounding Yellowstone National Park it is
nearly impossible to find a road that is not worth bicycling. The
highest paved pass of this corner of the west, Beartoooth Pass,
has another advantage. It is not plagued by the traffic of a large
adjacent metropolitan area. Other potential crowds, the summer
vacation tourists, head straight for Yellowstone. This leaves
Beartooth Pass to be enjoyed by cyclists who appreciate a good
climbing work out and unparalelled scenery. The pass across the
high rolling Beartooth Plateau above treeline is surrounded by the
Absaroka, Beartooth and other ranges. Good weather is a
prerequisite for this ride. This pass is a personal favorite and a
description of a ride in the "touring stories section"
is on this page, under the
heading "my first Rocky Mountain Bicycle Pass". Better
pictures are in the picture
page of cycling Beartooth Pass.
Approaches From East. The long distance tourist approaching from Billings will notice the shallow slope to Red Lodge. That's where the Beartooth Highway and the pass road begins. After an extended forest climb, passing many camping opportunites (public land as well as National Forest campgrounds), the road turns into a series of ramps climbing the plateau. But this plateau is anything but flat. The road has two summits, and spectacular scenery separting them. From West. The western approach begins at the junction of
three paved passes, Beartooth Pass, Dead
Indian Pass and Colter Pass. The
character of this side is quite different, drier, more sage and fewer
pines, more varied colors and less green. Pilot Peak, keeping watch
above Colter Pass is sure to get attention because of its shape from
this vantage point. Tours Dayrides. An out and back roadride from Red Lodge to the eastern summit measured 53 miles. The measured elevation gain of 6710ft overshoots the real value, either because of a week battery or a passing weather front. Two or Three Day road Tour. The pass can be cycled in
a circle combined with Chief Joseph Highway over Dead Indian Pass,
completing the circle over Wy120 between Cody and Red Lodge. In order
to sleep somewhere halfways civilized on a three day tour it is
necessary to add on an out and back section to Cody. The other
overnight stop is Red Lodge. An additional out and back section to
Cooke City or West Yellowstone over Colter Pass is also worthwhile. A
two day version of this ride, starting in Silver Gate ( located
between Cooke City and West Yellowstone ) and skipping the detour to
Cody, measured 112 miles over Colter Pass, Dead Indian Pass and Wy120,
between Silver Gate and Red Lodge, 70 miles between the same endpoints
over Beartooth Pass and Colter Pass again (no measured altitude data
available). It is described further in the touring stories
section, linked in the first paragraph on this page. Extended Tour. This pass is also in a prime location for an
extended tour, right on the way to Yellowstone and the Tetons.
Therefor it is not surprising that I have met long distance tourists
every time that I have cycled this pass. It was also a highpoint on my
first long distance bicycle tour from New York to California.
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