US-212 climbs toward 11,000 feet through Rock Creek Valley—alpine aspens and canyon maples turning while snow dusts the Beartooth Plateau. Late September color here is brief and weather-dependent.
Photo: Acroterion / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
The highway links Red Lodge to Cooke City—a high-country chase before you follow color downhill into river corridors.
Quaking Aspen
Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Rocky Mountain Maple
Viewing notes
Map pins mark public viewing hubs—not private ranches or closed tribal land. Fall color is weather-dependent; chase elevation downhill from late September peaks to late-October river corridors.
Viewing ethics
This guide is for viewing and photography only. Stay on durable surfaces, respect wildlife closures, and never collect branches or needles on federal or tribal land.
Visitor Access
- Nearest town: Red Lodge
- Color focus: Mixed Deciduous
- Best season: Late September at highest elevations; valley cottonwoods follow in October
- Access: Beartooth Highway typically opens late May and closes with autumn storms. Stay on durable surfaces; weather changes fast at altitude.
- Reminder: National Parks and Montana State Parks prohibit collecting plants. View from designated routes and pullouts.