WYOMING – SHOSHONE NATIONAL FOREST – Beartooth Scenic Byway

Photo Experience:  I think the ideal time to visit this area is as close to the middle 10 days of July as you can manage. The reason for this is the profusion of wildflowers that come alive around that time. I found an especially large patch of blooms near the Montana-Wyoming state line, about a half-hour drive from Red Lodge, Montana. (See Other Info below.) Snow buttercups, pleated gentian, American bistort, lupine, and forget-me-nots were common. Note that this spot is a part of a broad expanse of alpine tundra (just below 10,000 feet). As such, there is no wind break, so photographing here will require some patience.

About two miles west of the state line is an unmarked dirt/gravel pullout on the right side of the road. Looking down on picturesque Twin Lakes and then up at snow-clad hillsides and rocky mountain peaks was a magnificent sight.

Approximately 28 miles from Red Lodge is Gardner Lake Trailhead, which is a worthwhile stop. When I was there, snow buttercups provided a colorful foreground for Gardner Lake and the surrounding mountains.

A little over 40 miles from Red Lodge is Beartooth Lake and Beartooth Butte. I found the best photo opportunity was to continue a short distance past the dirt road (which leads down to the lake) to an asphalt parking area on the right. Behind the rock wall, take the trail to the left, just above the shoreline. In this area are several openings between the trees, which provide some shelter from the wind and offer better chances for a reflection.

The locations I’ve highlighted here are only some of the opportunities along the 68 miles of what Charles Kuralt called “the most scenic road in America.”

My 24-120mm lens was the one I used most often here.

Other Info:   I suggest using Red Lodge, Montana, as your base for exploring the Byway. While it certainly caters to tourists, Red Lodge seemed to me like more like a normal town than Cooke City, Montana, which is the western terminus. (All of the references in Photo Experience above assume Red Lodge as the starting point.) I found the folks at the Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center to be helpful. Also, the only printed, “carry-with-me” info I found on the Beartooth was here. Accommodation options and restaurants are reasonably plentiful in Red Lodge.

Note that the same snow melt that provides moisture for the colorful carpets of wildflowers also provides an excellent environment for mosquitoes. Therefore, bring along mosquito repellent and perseverance. The only public “near-the-road” toilet facilities I found to be available during my visit were at Rock Creek Vista Point, the Top of the World Store, and Beartooth Lake. I suggest bringing and using sunscreen. Stay hydrated internally with water and externally with moisturizing lotion. And, having some food along will enable you to stay away from civilization longer.