Never Made it to Yellowstone Day 18, July 6, 2017 Red Lodge

Because it was too beautiful outside of Yellowstone.  After breakfast at Prindy’s Café (Morning Food Done Right) in Red Lodge, MT, we headed out towards Yellowstone on Highway 212 – The Beartooth Scenic Highway and they weren’t kidding!!

As an aside, having lived in Truckee, CA, I have, many times seen our little town as one of the top places to visit.  Well, I don’t understand why Red Lodge , MT has not made that list.  It has all the requisites (including a roundabout).  So far, of all the places we have visited, it is the most like Truckee.  The only thing we can figure is that it is too far off the beaten path.  This is a really sweet little town and well worth deviating off your path.  It is located near the Shoshone National Forest, it is just 10 miles from where we are camping at USFS Greenough Campground $8.50 a night.

Back to our drive today.  We did a big circle starting on the Beartooth Scenic highway 212.  Here we witnessed spectacular peaks with rushing waterfalls resulting from still visible snow melt.  At the top of Beartooth pass we chatted up a ranger who explained the ski lift operation we saw.  There is actually a ski area up there (at 11,000’) that is open only from Memorial Day to July 4th .  If you ski, and I don’t, the ranger explained that there was only one run and it is a 50 degree downslope.  Doesn’t sound like anything I would be interested in.

When we reached the end of the Beartooth Scenic Highway, we thought we had seen it all but our return was along Chief Joseph Scenic Highway – was just as much if not more of a vision to behold.  Who knew this stuff was here? And who had the foresight to put a road through here?  Unbelievable.  I will never forget it and by the way – pictures cannot duplicate the views.  You must visit.  (BTW, little competing traffic here like there would be in the national park).

Pictures when I can upload, but remember, can’t compare to being here – EVER!  We actually saw a mountain lion (my first ever) cross the road. 


Tomorrow the plan is to head back to Bighorn Mountains for a couple of nights. 

One of Many Alpine Lakes

The View Along Chief Joseph Highway

Two of my Favorite Things 

More Spectacular Vistas




Lots of Great Fishing Lakes here!



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