Things to do / Travel Guide
With so many spectacular sights, you will be hard pressed to find a drive through the region that isn't scenic. Here are a few of the highlights.
Yellowstone National Park Grand Loop Drive
Yellowstone National Park's 140-mile figure-eight shaped Grand Loop Road leads visitors past practically all the park's primary attractions. The views are always exceptional, whether passing alongside Yellowstone Lake or enjoying miles of open valley. The road crosses the Continental Divide three times between Old Faithful and the park's South Entrance, and can be broken up into two shorter loops by the 12-mile Norris-Canyon road which links Norris and Canyon Junctions. The road divides the eight-shaped Grand Loop route into two shorter loops: the 96 mile southern loop and the 70 mile northern loop.
Scenic Drives in Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park's main “inner” route, Teton Park Road, offers some of the best roadside views of the towering Teton Mountains. The road links Moose Junction to Jackson Lake Junction and US 89/191/287 via Jenny and Jackson Lakes. The shorter, one-way, 5-mile Jenny Lake Scenic Drive will lead motorists to a great overlook of the lake with dramatic views up Cascade Canyon. The road links North Jenny Lake to South Jenny Lake Junctions.
Signal Mountain Summit Road is another great one-way route toward a scenic overlook, with fine views of the Tetons along the way. The 5-mile paved road lies east of Teton Park road and ends up on Signal Mountain's summit, where with a short walk south of the parking area visitors can access an overlook point with panoramic views of Jackson Hole.
Centennial Scenic Byway in Wyoming
For motorists with a little more time, the drive east from Moran Junction along Highway 26 to Togwotee Pass toward Dubois, offers breathtaking views of the Tetons and continues on to the very pleasant Brooks Lake. The road is actually part of the horseshoe-shaped Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway, which takes motorists west from Dubois to Grand Teton and then southeast from Jackson to Pinedale.
Paradise Valley on US 89 in Montana
Heading north out of Yellowstone, visitors will get a treat driving through the beautiful Paradise Valley. Stretching through miles of ranchland, and with mountains to the east and west, US 89 from Gardiner to Livingston follows the Yellowstone River 53 miles through the broad valley. The Gallatin range lies to the west and the Absaroka Range to the east in this valley that was once the first travel corridor to Yellowstone National Park. Running parallel to US 89, the scenic East River Road is a quieter alternative to the rather busy interstate.
Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive (US 212) in Wyoming and Montana
Topping off the list of scenic drives is certainly the famous Beartooth Highway (US 212). Ranking as one of the country's most beautiful highways, the 65-mile route winds its way through the highest drivable points in both Montana and Wyoming, often climbing above 10,000 feet. It takes drivers from the northeastern entrance of Yellowstone National Park, through Cooke City, to the scenic town of Red Lodge at its eastern boundary. The route passes through the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, a 1,500 square mile stretch of steep national forest (including the Shoshone and Custer) and mountain ranges characterized by steep forested valleys and high plateaus over 10,000 feet. The highway climbs and descends among these striking mountains and jagged peaks, passing excellent pull-over points, fishing areas and picnic grounds. The highway is usually closed between October and late May, but in the summer months it definitely provides the most dramatic and scenic drive into Yellowstone.
Chief Joseph Scenic Highway – Wyoming and Montana
Often serving as an add-on to the Beartooth Highway, the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (Hwy 296) connects Cody to Beartooth and Yellowstone's North East Entrance via the Wapiti Valley. The Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River runs along much of the scenic highway as it climbs Dead Indian Summit offering spectacular mountain vistas, including snow-capped ridges and dramatic spires. The 47-mile route enters the Shoshone National Forest for spectacular viewpoints at more than 8,000 feet. Views of Granite Gorge and Dead Indian Creek Waterfall are visible from trails off the main highway. When the highway branches southwest into beautiful Sunlight Basin, USFS Rd 101 provides drivers a 36- mile round trip to some tremendous vistas, but it's a slow and bumpy trip. When the highway crosses Sunlight Creek, drivers can experience Sunlight Bridge, the highest bridge in Wyoming, with thrilling views of the gorge below.
Buffalo Bill Scenic Highway from Cody to Yellowstone
Teddy Roosevelt dubbed the Wapiti Valley from Cody to Yellowstone's east entrance “the most scenic 52 miles in the United States.” Today, drivers can experience that praiseworthy scenery for themselves along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Highway (US 14/16/20). As it follows the scenic North Fork of the Shoshone river from Cody to the East Entrance of Yellowstone, the 52-mile route travels through the semi-deserts of Wyoming, past the eroded volcanic cliffs of the Absaroka Range, and finally out onto striking alpine scenery. To the north and south of the highway, the North Absaroka Wilderness Area and the Washakie Wilderness Area are home to exciting local wildlife, including grizzlies, bears, deer, elk and moose.
For the absolute premier scenic drive in the Yellowstone region, combine the Beartooth Hwy, the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and the Buffalo Bill Scenic Highway into one 180-mile-route.
Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway – Dubois to Pinedale via Grand Teton
Stretching along the Togwotee Pass, the Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway takes motorists in a horseshoe shaped loop west from Dubois to Grand Teton and then southeast from Jackson to Pinedale. The 163 mile route starts about 15 miles northwest of Dubois on Highway 287 and crosses the Continental Divide, passing through dramatic alpine forests and sage-covered hills. In addition to beautiful views of the Breccia Cliffs and Teton Range, the byway gives motorists access to several of the regions main attractions. These include Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, and the recreation lands of the Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests.
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