Red Lodge and the Beartooth — Streaming Sunsets

(Originally posted by Sandra on Facebook on August 30, 2026)

August 14–18 — Red Lodge, MT, Parkside Campground, and the Beartooth

Rested and ready to venture onward, we were excited for the second leg of our trip.

Wes and Hailey left Missoula, Montana, towing their new Airstream World Traveler. They joined us in the Parkside Campground in Custer National Forest on Friday the 14th. Six months earlier we had reserved side-by-side river front spots.

A pine-shaded campsite at Parkside Campground with a picnic table and fire ring, Rock Creek and the forested canyon wall beyond — Side-by-side river front sites, reserved six months earlier

The evening of their arrival, we had a delicious enchilada casserole I had prepared and frozen. Wes, Hailey, and Bennett ferried our favorite ice cream sandwiches from Missoula. An item on our “Summer to Remember” list was to enjoy huckleberry ice cream sandwiches with Ben. We limited ourselves to one each inside our trailer as it began to rain.

After the rain stopped, and Ben was sound asleep, we caught up with Wes and Hailey beside a warm campfire.

Enjoying our first blue sky morning since arriving in Montana, we shared a camp breakfast then drove north to Red Lodge to visit a few stores (sticker hunt) and a local farmers market. After lunch we visited the Sentinel Ranch Alpaca Farm. It was a bit stinky, but educational and entertaining at the same time.

Ben holding a grown-up’s hand as they walk out across the green pasture toward a herd of alpacas under a big cloud-filled Montana sky — Sentinel Ranch Alpaca Farm — a bit stinky, but worth it

We ended our day back at the campground where we played with Ben while Wes and Hailey cooked chicken and vegetable kabobs.

Ben crouched down on the campground road, holding a pair of binoculars up to his eyes and studying the pines — Serious wildlife watching at Parkside

Saturday, August 15th

We began the drive from the campground (6,200 ft elevation) through one of America’s most scenic drives: the Beartooth Scenic Byway. The drive is known for its dramatic climb from Red Lodge, then opening to 30 more miles of dramatic alpine scenery and open vistas. Topping out at nearly 10,900 ft above sea level, the drive includes vistas of mountain peaks and valleys and hidden lakes as far as the eye can see. The pass is cleared for travel June – October.

The Beartooth Highway switchbacking across a high open plateau, with lakes scattered below and range after range of mountains fading to the horizon — The Beartooth Scenic Byway, near the top of the pass

We used the entire day to enjoy the expansive scenic views and overlooks.

Sheer gray cliffs and snowfields tucked into the high peaks of the Beartooth Mountains — Snow still tucked into the high country in mid-August

Our first hike of the day was a two-mile out and back trail beside Island Lake and Night Lake. The first mile or so, Wes carried Ben on his back as we crossed the stream and continued along the wildflower-filled lakeside.

Wes stepping across a rocky alpine stream on stones, trekking poles in both hands and Ben riding in the pack on his back, with the rest of the group following on the trail behind — Crossing the stream on the Island Lake trail, Ben along for the ride

Ben is such a trouper… I swear he walked half of the four-mile trip. Once back at the trailhead we enjoyed a picnic lunch then continued driving down the pass toward Cooke City, Montana. After crossing into Wyoming, we turned around at Beartooth Lake Campground and began the scenic drive back across the Montana border.

Beartooth Butte rising in bands of red and tan above Beartooth Lake, a towering bank of clouds filling the sky above it — Beartooth Butte over Beartooth Lake, our turnaround point in Wyoming

It’s pretty amazing how the late afternoon sun transformed the same vistas we had admired early in the day, making them even more spectacular.

A deep blue alpine lake set in a rocky basin far below the overlook, with snow-streaked peaks running along the horizon — The same country, a few hours later

Sandra and Tom standing together at a Beartooth overlook in sunglasses, an alpine lake and snow-dusted mountains behind them — Us, somewhere near the top

The next day began with another drive, this time 11 miles along a gravel road to the Glacier Lake Trailhead. Bennett was ready to hike and didn’t want to get in the backpack, so Wes left it in the truck and the five of us hiked up the side of the mountain. As Ben began to slow, Hailey and I left the boys to continue the hike up the wildflower-filled trail to the point where the trail became impossibly steep terrain. We turned around to rejoin the boys. We enjoyed a quick fly-filled lunch creekside before making it back to the campground.

We relaxed for the rest of the afternoon before cleaning up and going into Red Lodge for dinner. Everyone was pretty worn out after five days of nonstop exploring.

Wes kneeling at the edge of Rock Creek, holding up a small speckled trout over the clear running water — Rock Creek delivered

Tuesday, the 18th

We both prepped our trailers for a travel day.

Onward! They made their way back to Missoula and we made our way to North Dakota.