We went over Beartooth in 1971 with a heavily loaded 1970 half ton Suburban with a 350, piece of junk travel trailer--17', and didn't have any problems. It was gorgeous--we were going west to east. That was in our dumb days--didn't know it was considered dangerous until now!
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"...but I sure wouldn't take an RV of any kind."
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There are many RVs (and RV drivers) who can and do travel the Beartooth Hwy. safely and enjoyably; the success of the trip depends mainly on, one, whether the "RV" in question is appropriate in size, power, and "equipment" for the road, and two, the mountain driving skills and experience of the person behind the wheel.
However, in the case of the original poster, wolfe0606 (and anyone else with "too big, too long, or too puny" set-ups), I'd agree that he would have a much better ride if he dropped the trailer at a campground on one end of the road or the other and traveled the "ups and downs and rounds and rounds" in the small pickup.
The Beartooth is one of the most beautiful drives in North America; enjoy it!
I am in agreement with JT. Towing over Bear Tooth Pass depends on many variables, including the equipment, but depends most heavily on the driver's experience and comfort level. Personally I wouldn't be afraid to tow over Bear Tooth, but then again I've been in worse places with equipment much bigger than my RV. I was also crazy enough to take a motorhome up Pike's Peak. Not difficult if you have mountain driving experience and approach it with the proper frame of mind. But I would still prefer to do Bear Tooth as a day trip and leave the RV behind.
I was just wondering, why shouldn`t I go over bear tooth mountains? we plan on going out to Yellowstone in a few years, when the kids can appreciate it! is it the grades (what is the percent of grade?), dropoffs (what is the height of beartooth?) is it like the scene from The Long Long Long Trailer??????? I`m just curious.
We went out to Glacier NP via I90. how is it compared to going over the Rockies on 90? I know some of you may laugh at this question, but it is the only mountain I have to compare it to! and to me it was like going over a big overpass, no problems at all!
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We went out to Glacier NP via I90. how is it compared to going over the Rockies on 90? I know some of you may laugh at this question, but it is the only mountain I have to compare it to! and to me it was like going over a big overpass, no problems at all!
If you have been on the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park then you have experienced a small sample of the Beartooth Highway. The Beartooth reaches about 11,000 feet and has 6 miles of 6% grade, lots of switchbacks. I don't think the Beartooth has a limitation on length like Going to the Sun does, but I would like to push the limit if I didn't have to. I would rather enjoy the scenery than to worry about braking. Your trip on I-90 is not even close to the passes that Beartooth goes over. Even the Going to the Sun Road only tops out at about 6700 feet at Logan's Pass
Check out this link with photos at http://montanahereicome.com/Bearhwy/. That will give you an idea of the road and some of it's twist and turns.
We traveled it Father's Day of 2004 and had snow and heavy clouds, so we had a few beautiful spots, but turned around and drove it with snow covered roads back to Canyon in Yellowstone. Made for some slow driving and quite the bummer for us.
John, they managed to open it up towards the end of the season, I'm not sure even how long it was open before closing for winter. So it should be all set for 2006, provided everything holds up with the spring thaw.
Thanks DaYooper! thats is about how I pictured it. if you take it slow and easy, it looks to be pretty spectacular. about how many miles is it from start to finish (up and over).
I believe that the Beartooth is still closed due to slide damage. Last I heard, you can get to part of it from the southwest, but then have to turn around and go back the way you came. From the north, it's closed just south of Red Lodge, MT
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