Industry News
The Beartooth Highway, one of the highest and most scenic roads in the United States and home to summer-only ski area Beartooth Basin, is expected to open for the season on Friday, May 23, as crews wrap up final snow removal and road repairs ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
“The work involves more than just snow removal,” transportation officials wrote in a social media post. “Crews are also repairing slides and road damage.”
Motorists are asked to check real-time status updates at 511mt.net and avoid relying on third-party navigation apps, which may not reflect active closures or gate restrictions.
Once open, the highway will provide access not only to sweeping alpine vistas but also to Beartooth Basin Ski Area, one of North America’s few lift-served summer skiing destinations. The ski area, located near the 10,947-foot (3,337-meter) Beartooth Pass, plans to open on Tuesday, May 28, conditions permitting.
Beartooth Basin operates without a traditional lodge or winter season. Instead, it opens for a short but intense period from late May through June, catering to skiers and snowboarders chasing high-elevation snowpack well after most U.S. resorts have closed. With a pair of surface lifts and steep terrain, the area draws a mix of freeriders, race camps, and backcountry enthusiasts each year.
The Beartooth Highway, which connects Red Lodge, Montana, with Cooke City, just outside the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park, is typically open from late May until mid-fall, depending on snowfall. The route has been recognized both as an All-American Road and a National Scenic Byway for its dramatic switchbacks and panoramic mountain views.
Summer ski season is on in the Beartooths.
