We live on Route 212 in Red Lodge MT, and i wanted to address something that was said about travel in our area, i think that the writer got the towns mixed up.
Here is what was said; "If you'll have a TOAD, make sure you take the Chief Joseph Highway to the Beartooth (US 212) and then over to Red Lodge, MT."
First the drive over the Beartooths from or to Red Lodge on HIghway 212 is truly beautiful, but is fully of long long -- 12+ miles long -- switchbacks. But you really want to think about whether you want to drive a MH up or down, with or without a toad. The down is more than 5,500 feet and always down, few pull offs with most of the road at the edge of the canyon.
If you are in Cody, just take the highway -- only road north to Belfry WY then 18 miles to Red Lodge, flat and strait
Drive the toad up or down withouut the MH. That way be what the writer meant to say.
Or the writer may have been telling you the best way to go to Cook City from Red Lodge when you are concerned about the long up road. Then the advice is to avoid Highway 212, and instead go south through Belfry WY south toward Cody and then take the Chief Joseph Highway to Cook City. You pick up highway 212 about 30 miles up the Chief Joseph highway. not a bad road, some switchback, but shorter and more gentler climbs and about 1,000 feet lower than the Beartooth pass on highway 212.
In either case be aware that with budget sequestration, we were just told the Beartooths will not be open ( snow removal delayed until sometime in mid June). Could be a harbinger of what may come.
Also if you look at a map from Gillette to Cody you see several highways going across the mountains (e.g., highway 16) if you consider taking this -- and even i won't take this one down or up -- i take my E450 up the Beartooths because otherwise i could not go anywhere -- wife just gets white nuckles.
One last comment: Gilletteis a boom town with little housing, the local RV facilites are full of oil workers, so make resevations in advance.
If anyone needs specific information please contact me.
Greg & Kathy Matthews
