Trail: Beartooth Loop
National Park: Shoshone National Forest
Features: Climbing area(s)
Creek(s)
Geological feature(s)
Glacier(s)
Lake(s)/pond(s)/reservoir(s)
Meadow(s)
Mountain peak(s)
Scenic viewpoint(s)
Waterfall(s)
Activities: Bicycling (any)
Camping
Camping - Backpacking
Dogs - Mushing
Dogs - On leash
Equestrian - riding
Equestrian - pack trips
Equestrian - other stock
Fishing
Motorized vehicles - Snowmobiling
Motorized vehicles - Motorcycling
Shooting - Archery
Snow - Skiing, cross-country
Snow - Showshoeing
Wildlife observation - Birds
Hunting (any)
Hunting - Archery
Hunting - Big game
Hunting - Bird
Hunting - Small game
Rock climbing
Rockhounding
Snow - Skiiing, downhill
Snow - Snow play, general
Snow - Snowboarding
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 10530 ft
Miles: 9.7 miles
Desc: The Beartooth Loop trail is a scenic loop trail that originates near the Gardner headwall, a well-known geologic feature adjacent to the Beartooth All American Highway. This trail traverses a scenic piece of the alpine and sub-alpine Beartooth Plateau. After a relatively steep plunge from the Highway to Gardner Lake, the trail follows a relatively gentle grade in a large loop. In addition to stunning scenery, the trail takes users in close proximity to three large lakes noted for small but hungry fish. The fauna of the area includes pike, marmots, mule deer, raptors and occasionally a grizzly bear or wolf which inhabit the wilds adjacent to the trail. The trail serves as a compliment to the scenic Beartooth All American road which traverses the Plateau and on to Yellowstone National Park.
38 miles W of Red Lodge, MT on US 212 or 16.5 miles NW of Cody,on Hwy 120 to Sunlight Basin Road - 51 miles. To US 212 junction. Go E on 212 to Hauser (n. of Hauser lake, on Beartooth Hwy), Gardner (above Gardner Lake) or Dollar Lake (access by 4WD) trailheads.