We headed for Red Lodge, MT to drive the Beartooth Highway in south central Montana, a couple hours past Bozeman. As we have come to expect, things didn’t go the way we planned, for one, road construction in Montana is an interesting thing. They completely tear the road out for miles… you’re on dirt/gravel/potholes, on a highway. I’ve never seen highway construction done like this, we encountered it on the way to get the truck, and again for about 20 miles on this trip. When we go there, the Hwy was closed at the Wyoming border (Wy. didn’t feel like plowing the roads after last weekend’s snow). From the campground (Perry’s RV and campground – who does NOT have full hookups, regardless of what they say on the phone, but we did enjoy the site right on Rock Creek), we spent a little time in Custer-Gallatin National Forest, then were able to travel about 20 miles of the Beartooth before hitting the roadblock. We parked there and walked 3 miles in, far enough to hit some switchbacks and get to an amazing vantage point. It was pretty cool, being able to walk up the middle of the road, hearing the groan of the snow measuring sticks against the railings, and enjoying the fresh (COLD) wind. We then headed to the Absorka-Beartooth Wilderness area, right off the highway and drove about 20 miles of dirt roads, with stunning views around every bend. Dinner at a couple local places, LaPalmita and Bogarts (highly recommend the margaritas), was awesome. I’m really going to miss Montana – we’re going to have to come back. We could easily spend a summer in this part of the state and never get bored.
Jim and Sherry's RV Life 