The entire Beartooth Highway closed at 11:28 a.m. Tuesday because of an anticipated winter storm that would imperil anyone traveling the 68-mile route between Red Lodge, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.
It’s tentatively set to reopen Thursday morning and allow access to one of Wyoming’s most spectacular — yet unpredictable — stretches of scenic highway that snakes through Wyoming and southern Montana.
It’s still too early for the Beartooth Highway to close for the season, but it’s getting more unpredictable as September progresses. And it’s more than likely that there are only a few weeks left to take it all in this year.
“This is not an unusual occurrence in September,” said Charity Burns, spokeswoman for the Montana Department of Transportation. “The Beartooth Highway closes and opens periodically at this time of year, but at some point, we raise our arms and say we're done.”
Open, Closed, Open
The opening and closing dates of the Beartooth Highway are always erratic. MDOT and the National Park Service have primary responsibility for opening and maintaining the 68-mile section of U.S. Highway 212, with a small section managed by the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
The three agencies always aim for the same schedule — opening the Beartooth Highway by Memorial Day and keeping it open until mid-October. However, the weather always dictates these decisions.
“We hope to keep that highway open and safe for travel through into October,” Burns said. “But as conditions change and the weather becomes unpredictable, we'll close it early, but that’s not our first choice.”
A sudden snowstorm closed the Beartooth Highway last week and snowplows were needed to clear the road. The temporary closure didn’t last long, but the signs of the seasonal change were evident on the snow-covered peaks.
Incoming And Inclement
The National Weather Service was predicting snow would begin covering the Beartooth Highway on Tuesday night, accompanied by wind gusts more than 40 mph. Over 5 inches of snow could fall by Wednesday evening, with a slight chance of more rain and snow once the pass tentatively reopens Thursday morning.
Burns said there wasn’t any indication that the winter weather would signal a seasonal closure for the Beartooth Highway. Still, it’s possible that the weather could become too treacherous to keep it open.
“We’re still optimistic that we’ll be able to open (Thursday), but sometimes winter comes early,” she said. “We base our assessment on the weather conditions and what our maintenance people see on the road as they try to plow and keep the pavement clear.”
The extended forecast for the Beartooth Highway has daytime highs in the low 40s, with an omnipresent chance of overnight snow.
See The Signs
The only thing as unpredictable as the Beartooth Highway’s fall schedule is the reliability of cell service across the expanse. While MDOT, WYDOT and the National Park Service constantly post updates on U.S. 212’s status, that’s not always enough for some drivers.
On Friday, Park County Search and Rescue responded to an early morning call for a vehicle stuck at milepost 33 on the Beartooth Highway. Two people left Red Lodge unaware of the winter weather and got stuck in a snow drift during the ascent.
Wyoming and Montana's 511 apps are the most reliable and up-to-date sources of information on the status of the Beartooth Highway. However, in areas without guaranteed connectivity, Burns said drivers should be aware of several road signs along the main routes leading to the pass — and believe what they say.
“When the pass closed on the Wyoming side today, two variable message signs on I-90 were changed to indicate Beartooth was closed at the Wyoming state line,” she said. “One sign is eastbound just before Columbus, and the other is westbound near Laurel. A portable sign is also being deployed on U.S. 212 just south of Red Lodge.”
Several road signs are posted throughout the Greater Yellowstone region with lights indicating which areas of Yellowstone National Park are open and accessible, including the Beartooth Highway.
See The Best, Expect The Worst
By mid-October, the Beartooth Highway will likely be closed for the rest of 2024. It won’t reopen until Summer 2025, whether that’s the intended Memorial Day opening or later in the season.
Several other temporary closures might happen between now and mid-October, but that shouldn’t dissuade anyone from taking the trip. Many people believe September is the best time to drive the Beartooth Highway.
“It’s a beautiful time of year up there,” said lifelong Wyoming resident Cody Beers. “The leaves are there and have already turned, and there are some beautiful colors. And there’s no construction, so drivers should have little to no delay. People just need to have a plan and check the road conditions and the weather before heading up there.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
