Private Beartooth Highway Tour from Bozeman

Experience one of America’s most spectacular mountain drives with a private SUV tour from Bozeman through Red Lodge, across the legendary Beartooth Highway, and into Cooke City, Montana.

There are scenic drives—and then there is the Beartooth Highway.

Rising from the historic mountain town of Red Lodge into an extraordinary landscape of switchbacks, alpine lakes, glacial valleys, rugged peaks and high-elevation tundra, the Beartooth Highway climbs to nearly 11,000 feet before descending toward Cooke City and the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Bozeman Car Service offers a private Beartooth Highway tour from Bozeman for travelers who want to experience this remarkable part of Montana and Wyoming without spending the entire day concentrating on the road.

Your day can be customized around scenery, photography, wildlife, short hikes, alpine lakes, local food, history—or simply taking your time and enjoying one of the great mountain roads of North America.

This is not a crowded bus tour with a fixed schedule.

It is a private Montana road trip built around you.

Full-Day Beartooth Highway Experience — $1,550

Private premium SUV • Custom itinerary • Scenic stops • Short hikes available • Wildlife viewing • Dining stops • Flexible pace

View Bozeman Car Service tour pricing and policies

The Beartooth Highway: Montana’s Highway to the Sky

The Beartooth Highway—U.S. Highway 212—connects Red Lodge, Montana, with Cooke City and the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

The highway crosses some of the highest road-accessible terrain in the northern Rocky Mountains, climbing from forested mountain valleys through dramatic switchbacks before emerging above treeline onto the Beartooth Plateau.

At its highest point, the highway reaches approximately 10,947 feet above sea level.

The scenery changes constantly.

One moment you may be looking thousands of feet down into Rock Creek Canyon.

A short time later, you may be standing among alpine tundra, patches of summer snow, mountain lakes and distant peaks.

Continue west and the landscape changes again as the highway travels past alpine lakes, forests and rugged mountain formations before reaching Cooke City.

The Beartooth region provides habitat for wildlife including elk, deer, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, black bears and grizzly bears.

It is a part of Montana and Wyoming that deserves much more than simply driving through it.

Your Beartooth Highway Tour from Bozeman

A typical private Beartooth Highway tour begins with pickup at your hotel, residence or other agreed location in Bozeman.

From Bozeman, we travel east across Montana toward Red Lodge, where the true high-country portion of the adventure begins.

Because this is a substantial full-day trip, an early departure is recommended.

A typical route may include:

Bozeman → Red Lodge → Rock Creek Canyon → Beartooth Pass → alpine lakes and overlooks → Cooke City → Beartooth Highway → Red Lodge → Bozeman

But there is no requirement that every tour follow exactly the same schedule.

Guests who want a relaxed sightseeing day can concentrate on scenic overlooks, photography, wildlife and easy walks.

More active guests can incorporate short hikes or longer walks when time, weather and trail conditions permit.

Food, coffee, shopping and local stops can also be incorporated throughout the day.

And if we return through Red Lodge at the right time, we can finish the mountain portion of the trip with dinner, a walk through town or even a Montana beer before returning to Bozeman.

Explore Historic Red Lodge, Montana

Before climbing into the Beartooth Mountains, we travel through Red Lodge, one of Montana’s classic mountain towns and the eastern gateway to the Beartooth Highway.

Red Lodge sits beneath the Beartooth Mountains and provides a natural stopping point before or after the high-country portion of the tour.

Depending on your itinerary, Red Lodge can be:

• A breakfast or coffee stop before entering the mountains

• A chance to walk through historic downtown

• A shopping stop

• A lunch stop

• A dinner stop on the return trip

• A place to enjoy a local Montana beer after coming down from the mountains

For guests who enjoy breweries, a visit to a local Red Lodge brewery can also be incorporated when timing and operating hours allow.

There is no need to rush through town.

If something catches your interest, we can stop.

Climb the Beartooth Highway Switchbacks

Leaving Red Lodge, Highway 212 follows Rock Creek toward the mountains.

This is where the road quickly becomes spectacular.

A succession of switchbacks climbs thousands of feet above the valley, revealing increasingly expansive views of Rock Creek Canyon and the surrounding Beartooth Mountains.

Each turn seems to open another view.

This is also one of the biggest advantages of experiencing the Beartooth Highway with a private driver.

Instead of concentrating on steep mountain roads, tight curves, traffic and navigation, you can look out the window and actually enjoy the scenery.

We can stop at appropriate overlooks along the climb for photographs and sightseeing.

Rock Creek Vista Point

One of the first major scenic stops can be Rock Creek Vista Point.

Located high above the canyon, the viewpoint offers expansive views back toward Rock Creek and the valley below.

A short pathway through the overlook area makes this an excellent place to get out, stretch your legs, take photographs and begin appreciating just how quickly the highway has climbed out of Red Lodge.

On a clear day, the scale of the landscape is extraordinary.

Alpine Tundra and the High Country

As the highway continues upward, the forest gradually gives way to open alpine terrain.

Above treeline, the landscape becomes dramatically different.

Low tundra vegetation, exposed rock, distant mountain ranges, glacial basins and patches of lingering snow create a setting that feels much more like the far north than a typical Montana road trip.

During parts of summer, wildflowers may appear across the tundra.

Snowfields can remain nearby even when temperatures are warm in Red Lodge.

This is an exceptionally beautiful area for photography and short walks.

Because alpine environments are fragile, guests should remain on established paths and durable surfaces whenever possible.

The 45th Parallel

Along the route we can make a quick stop near the 45th Parallel.

This latitude is approximately halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.

It makes for an interesting landmark and quick photograph while continuing toward the highest portions of the highway.

Beartooth Basin

High in the mountains is Beartooth Basin, one of the most unusual ski areas in the region.

Because of its extreme elevation, the area has historically been known for skiing late into the season when conditions permit.

Even when no skiing is taking place, the surrounding terrain provides another reminder of just how high the Beartooth Highway climbs.

Gardner Lake and High-Alpine Views

The Gardner Lake area provides another opportunity to experience classic Beartooth scenery.

Glacial basins, alpine lakes and rugged mountain terrain spread out around the highway.

Depending on weather, time and interest, this can be a photography stop, a chance to walk briefly through the high country, or simply a place to enjoy the view.

Long hikes are not required to appreciate the Beartooths.

Even a short walk away from the vehicle can completely change the experience.

Look for the Bear’s Tooth

The Beartooth Mountains take their name from one of the range’s most distinctive geological features.

The Bear’s Tooth is a sharp rock formation rising dramatically from the surrounding mountain terrain.

When weather and visibility cooperate, we can stop at an appropriate viewpoint where the formation may be seen and photographed.

It is one of the signatures of the Beartooth landscape.

Beartooth Pass — Nearly 11,000 Feet

Eventually we reach one of the highlights of the entire trip:

Beartooth Pass

At approximately 10,947 feet above sea level, this is true high-alpine country.

The summit area provides enormous views across the Beartooth Plateau and surrounding mountains.

Weather permitting, this is a place worth spending some time.

Walk around.

Take photographs.

Look across the alpine tundra.

Watch clouds move over the mountains.

See patches of snow that may remain long after winter has disappeared from the valleys below.

Temperatures can be dramatically colder here than they were earlier in the day in Red Lodge.

That extreme change in environment is part of what makes the Beartooth Highway so memorable.

Island Lake

As the route continues across the plateau, Island Lake provides another beautiful high-country stop.

Surrounded by mountain scenery, the lake offers opportunities for photography, relaxing beside the water, picnicking and walking.

Depending on your interests and available time, Island Lake may work well as:

• A photography stop

• A picnic location

• A short lakeside walk

• A place to simply relax and enjoy the mountain air

• A starting point for additional hiking when incorporated into a custom itinerary

For many guests, simply spending a little time along the water is enough.

Beartooth Lake

Another beautiful possibility is Beartooth Lake.

The lake sits beneath dramatic mountain terrain and provides classic high-country scenery.

Depending on the itinerary, we can stop here for photography, walking, a picnic or simply a quiet break from driving.

Guests interested in incorporating more hiking into their trip can discuss available options when planning the tour.

For more active outdoor experiences around Bozeman and Southwest Montana, see our Private Montana Hiking Trips & Trailhead Transportation page.

Clay Butte Lookout

When road and seasonal conditions allow, Clay Butte Lookout can potentially be incorporated into the day.

The historic lookout sits high above the surrounding landscape and provides far-reaching views across the Beartooth country.

On clear days, the panorama can include numerous surrounding peaks and vast areas of wilderness.

Because this side trip requires additional time and includes an unpaved access road, it may be best for guests who want to emphasize scenery and photography rather than fit the maximum number of destinations into the day.

Access always depends on road conditions and suitability on the day of the tour.

Pilot and Index Peaks

As we travel toward Cooke City, one of the most dramatic mountain views along the route is the area surrounding Pilot Peak and Index Peak.

These striking peaks rise sharply above the surrounding landscape and create one of the signature views on the western side of the Beartooth corridor.

This is a particularly impressive area for landscape photography.

When conditions and safe stopping locations allow, it is a stop worth making.

Lake Creek Falls

Guests who would like to add some walking without committing to a substantial mountain hike may enjoy a stop around Lake Creek Falls.

This area can provide a chance to stretch your legs, experience moving mountain water and enjoy a different type of scenery than the highway overlooks.

It is exactly the kind of stop that can make a private tour more interesting than simply driving from one scenic viewpoint to another.

Crazy Creek

Another possible stop along the western portion of the route is the Crazy Creek area.

Mountain water tumbles through the forested landscape near Highway 212, with flows often especially impressive earlier in the summer.

Depending on timing and conditions, Crazy Creek can be incorporated as another photography or walking stop before continuing toward Cooke City.

Cooke City, Montana

Eventually we arrive in Cooke City, one of Montana’s most distinctive mountain communities.

Cooke City sits only a few miles from the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park and has a long history as a mining and mountain town.

But you do not need to enter Yellowstone to enjoy Cooke City.

The town works beautifully as the midpoint destination of the Beartooth Highway experience.

Depending on timing and your preferences, we can stop for:

• Lunch

• Burgers or sandwiches

• Coffee

• Ice cream

• Drinks

• Shopping

• Souvenirs

• A casual walk through town

• Time to simply relax before beginning the return trip

Rather than treating Cooke City as a place to immediately turn around, the itinerary can intentionally leave enough time to enjoy it.

Add a Short Hike to Your Beartooth Tour

One of the advantages of a private Beartooth Highway tour is the ability to incorporate hiking or walking.

You do not necessarily have to choose between a scenic driving tour and an outdoor adventure.

We can combine the two.

Easy Scenic Walk

Approximately 10–30 minutes.

Ideal for guests primarily interested in sightseeing, scenery and photography.

Short Mountain Hike

Approximately 30–60 minutes.

A good addition for active guests who want to experience some of the terrain beyond roadside overlooks.

Longer Custom Hike

For guests who specifically want hiking to be a major part of the day, a longer trail may be incorporated depending on available time, trail conditions, weather and daylight.

The hiking portion can be planned around your age, ability, comfort level and interests.

Bozeman Car Service also offers dedicated Private Montana Hiking Trips & Trailhead Transportation for guests who want hiking to be the primary focus of their day.

Wildlife Along the Beartooth Highway

The greater Beartooth ecosystem supports an impressive variety of wildlife.

Possible sightings can include:

• Mountain goats

• Bighorn sheep

• Elk

• Moose

• Mule deer

• Black bears

• Grizzly bears

• Marmots

• Foxes

• Raptors

• Other mountain birds and wildlife

Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.

Animals move according to season, weather, time of day and countless other factors.

But private touring gives us the flexibility to safely stop or adjust our pace when opportunities arise rather than following a rigid group-tour schedule.

Wildlife must always be viewed from a safe and respectful distance.

A Great Tour for Photography

The Beartooth Highway is exceptional for landscape photography.

Guests interested in photography can devote additional time to:

• Rock Creek Canyon

• The highway switchbacks

• Alpine tundra

• Snowfields

• Wildflowers

• Beartooth Pass

• Island Lake

• Beartooth Lake

• Mountain reflections

• Pilot and Index Peaks

• Waterfalls and mountain streams

• Wildlife

• Cooke City

• Red Lodge

• Evening mountain light

A photography-focused tour can reduce the number of destinations and increase the amount of time spent at carefully selected viewpoints.

The itinerary is yours.

Lunch, Picnic and Dining Options

There are several ways to approach food during a Beartooth Highway tour.

We can plan a restaurant meal in Cooke City or Red Lodge, make a quicker casual stop, or organize the day around a scenic picnic.

For travelers who want to maximize time in the mountains, a picnic can be particularly enjoyable.

For travelers who enjoy exploring mountain towns, sitting down for lunch in Cooke City may become part of the experience itself.

We can also make time for coffee, snacks or dessert along the way.

The goal is not to force the entire day into a rigid schedule.

Finish the Mountain Adventure in Red Lodge

Driving the Beartooth Highway in both directions is not simply repeating the same road.

Mountain scenery can look completely different when viewed from the opposite direction.

As we descend toward Red Lodge, the enormous Rock Creek Valley gradually opens below us.

Depending on the time of day and your preferences, the return through Red Lodge can include:

• Dinner

• A walk through downtown

• Shopping

• Coffee

• Ice cream

• A brewery stop

• A Montana beer before the drive back to Bozeman

Because you have a private driver, everyone in the group can relax and enjoy themselves.

Your Private Tour, Your Pace

There is no reason every Beartooth Highway tour should be identical.

Some guests want to see as much as possible.

Others want to stop frequently for photographs.

Some want to hike.

Some want very little walking.

Some want a picnic beside an alpine lake.

Others would rather have lunch in Cooke City and a beer in Red Lodge.

That flexibility is exactly why this experience works so well as a private tour.

Your day can be adjusted around:

• Photography

• Wildlife

• Hiking ability

• Mobility

• Weather

• Alpine conditions

• Dining preferences

• Available daylight

• Children or older travelers

• Special interests

• Desired return time

• Scenic priorities

• The conditions we encounter that day

How Long Is the Beartooth Highway Tour from Bozeman?

This is a substantial full-day Montana adventure.

The drive from Bozeman to Red Lodge requires significant travel before the Beartooth portion of the tour even begins.

Once we enter the mountains, this is not a road that should be rushed.

A complete Bozeman → Red Lodge → Beartooth Highway → Cooke City → Beartooth Highway → Red Lodge → Bozeman experience can become a long day once scenic stops, meals, photography and walking are included.

Guests should generally plan for approximately 12 hours or potentially longer, depending on the itinerary, traffic, weather, wildlife activity, stops and hiking.

That is also one of the strongest reasons to experience the Beartooth Highway with private transportation.

Instead of spending an entire day driving one of the region’s most demanding mountain roads yourself, you can enjoy the scenery, relax between stops and concentrate on the experience.

When Is the Beartooth Highway Open?

The Beartooth Highway is a seasonal high-elevation road.

It normally opens in late spring or early summer and closes again in the fall, but exact opening and closing dates depend on snow and weather.

Even during the normal operating season, snow, ice, storms, wind, construction or other conditions can occasionally affect access.

For that reason, every Beartooth Highway tour is dependent on:

• Highway status

• Weather

• Snow and ice

• Road construction

• Wildfire conditions

• Safe driving conditions

• Seasonal access

Conditions at nearly 11,000 feet can be dramatically different from conditions in Red Lodge or Bozeman.

A beautiful warm day in the valley does not guarantee identical weather at Beartooth Pass.

Flexibility is an important part of any high-country tour.

What Should You Bring?

Even on a warm summer day, bring layers.

Recommended items may include:

• Light jacket

• Warm insulating layer

• Rain shell

• Comfortable walking or hiking shoes

• Sunglasses

• Sunscreen

• Hat

• Camera or phone

• Water bottle

• Small daypack for hikers

• Any personal medications

Temperatures on Beartooth Pass can be significantly colder than temperatures in Bozeman or Red Lodge.

Weather can also change quickly at high elevation.

Why Tour the Beartooth Highway with Bozeman Car Service?

Bozeman Car Service provides a different type of Montana touring experience.

This is private transportation in a premium SUV with direct communication and an itinerary designed around your party.

Instead of concentrating on mountain driving, parking areas, navigation, traffic and timing, you can concentrate on the reason you came:

Montana.

Your private Beartooth Highway tour can include:

• Private premium SUV transportation

• Bozeman hotel or residence pickup

• Customized itinerary

• Red Lodge

• Beartooth Pass

• Cooke City

• Scenic overlooks

• Alpine lakes

• Photography stops

• Wildlife viewing

• Short walks

• Optional hiking

• Dining coordination

• Picnic stops

• Flexible pacing

• Complimentary premium bottled water and refreshments upon request

• Complimentary snacks upon request

Your group has the vehicle to itself.

No unrelated passengers.

No crowded tour bus.

No rigid itinerary simply because someone else designed it.

Beartooth Highway Tour Price

Full-Day Beartooth Experience — $1,550

Premium private touring with customizable itineraries, scenic stops, short walks or hikes, wildlife viewing, dining coordination and flexible pacing.

Because of the considerable distance involved and the many ways the tour can be customized, total duration can vary.

Special requests, unusually long itineraries, additional destinations, severe weather or other complex arrangements may require custom pricing.

For current rates and reservation policies, visit the Bozeman Car Service Pricing & Policies page.

Beartooth Highway or Yellowstone?

Both are extraordinary experiences, but they are very different.

The Beartooth Highway is primarily about:

• High-alpine mountain scenery

• Dramatic driving landscapes

• Mountain lakes

• Photography

• Short hikes and walks

• Red Lodge

• Cooke City

• Scenic overlooks

• A classic Montana and Wyoming road-trip experience

Yellowstone offers a different combination of geothermal features, geysers, wildlife, canyons, waterfalls, lakes and historic park destinations.

If Yellowstone is your priority, explore our Yellowstone Private Tours from Bozeman.

Travelers with enough time may want to experience both on separate days.

Can You Combine the Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone?

Potentially.

Cooke City sits just outside Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance, making the Beartooth Highway a natural geographical connection to Yellowstone.

However, trying to combine a full Beartooth Highway experience with major Yellowstone sightseeing in a single day from Bozeman can create an extremely long itinerary.

For guests who truly want to explore both areas, a custom itinerary or multi-day approach may provide a much better experience.

Contact Bozeman Car Service to discuss what is practical for your schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Beartooth Highway worth visiting from Bozeman?

For travelers who love mountain scenery, photography and road-trip experiences, absolutely.

It requires a substantial day from Bozeman, but the route reaches high-alpine terrain and scenery unlike almost anywhere else accessible by automobile in the region.

How high is Beartooth Pass?

The Beartooth Highway reaches approximately 10,947 feet above sea level at its highest point.

How long is the Beartooth Highway tour from Bozeman?

Guests should generally expect a long full-day experience.

Approximately 12 hours or more may be required depending on the route, stops, meals, hiking, traffic, road conditions and pace of the group.

Can we hike during the tour?

Yes.

Short scenic walks or more substantial hiking can potentially be incorporated depending on your ability, available time, weather, trail conditions and daylight.

Guests especially interested in hiking can also explore our Private Montana Hiking Trips & Trailhead Transportation.

Can we stop in Cooke City for lunch?

Yes.

Cooke City makes an excellent lunch, coffee, shopping or refreshment stop and can be incorporated into the itinerary.

Can we stop in Red Lodge?

Yes.

Depending on timing, Red Lodge can be used for breakfast, coffee, shopping, dinner, walking through downtown or a brewery stop.

Can we have a beer in Red Lodge?

Yes, provided the stop fits the itinerary and operating hours.

Because you are traveling with a private driver, adult guests can enjoy a drink with dinner or visit a brewery without having to drive the remainder of the trip themselves.

Is this a Yellowstone National Park tour?

No.

The primary focus of this experience is the Beartooth Highway, Red Lodge, the Beartooth Mountains and Cooke City.

Cooke City is located near Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance, but Yellowstone sightseeing is not automatically included.

For a dedicated park experience, see our Yellowstone Private Tours from Bozeman.

Can we combine Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone?

Potentially, but it can create a considerably longer itinerary.

Depending on what you want to see, a custom or multi-day experience may be a better way to properly enjoy both destinations.

Is the Beartooth Highway open year-round?

No.

The Beartooth Highway is a seasonal alpine road.

Snow and winter conditions normally close the highest portions of the highway for a significant part of the year.

Tours are always subject to current road and weather conditions.

Can the itinerary change because of weather?

Yes.

Conditions at nearly 11,000 feet can change quickly.

Stops, hiking plans, timing and routes may be modified because of weather, visibility, road closures, construction, wildfire conditions or other safety considerations.

Is the tour private?

Yes.

Your reservation is private to your party.

You will not be grouped with unrelated travelers.

Can the tour be customized?

Yes.

That is one of the main advantages of booking a private Beartooth Highway tour.

Tell us whether you are most interested in scenery, photography, wildlife, hiking, food, mountain towns or a relaxed sightseeing day, and the itinerary can be planned accordingly.

Reserve Your Private Beartooth Highway Tour

The Beartooth Highway is one of those rare places where the journey really is the destination.

From historic Red Lodge and the Rock Creek switchbacks to alpine tundra nearly 11,000 feet above sea level, mountain lakes, wildlife, waterfalls, spectacular overlooks and Cooke City, this is an extraordinary way to experience a part of Montana and Wyoming many visitors never see.

And because the trip is private, you can experience it at your own pace.

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