Fifth wheel trailer on the Beartooth Highway
1800s, it boasted 1,180 residents by 1892. Today the population has nearly doubled to just over 2,200 people, but that grows by as much as 50% in the summertime when tourists come to relax in the stunning scenery and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Red Lodge hosts a wide variety of special events throughout the year, from rodeos to music and songwriting festivals to races and rallies of all kinds. However, we enjoyed the simple pleasure of strolling down the main drag, Broadway Avenue, and poking our heads into the boutique stores. Back Alley Metals is a unique shop filled with beautifully crafted metal works, and a clerk told us she'd moved to Red Lodge so she could ski as much as her heart desired at nearby Red Lodge Mountain. She said she particularly loved spring skiing, which starts after Memorial Day and continues through the end of June. Skiing is such a beloved sport in this area that one of the park benches we saw around town was made from old skis. The front window of the adorably named shop "Lewis & Bark's Outpost" features an image of two dogs paddling a canoe, and that store caters to visitors of the four-legged variety. There are lots of inviting bistros and coffee shops to choose from in town. We savored a tasty morning brew at the Coffee Factory Roasters and a delicious evening brew along with a burger at the Humphrey Bogart themed Bogart's Restaurant.
Drive along the picturesque Chief Joseph Highway
PRECIOUS JEWELS OUTSIDE YELLOWSTONE Story by Emily Fagan Photos provided by Emily and Mark Fagan The Beartooth Highway is a spectacular scenic drive through the mountain peaks of Montana and Wyoming that is so awe inspiring it has been given the well-deserved designation of “All American Road.” Few roads in America have been singled out for this distinction, and since the others we've been fortunate enough to drive have all knocked our socks off, the Beartooth Highway became a "must see" for us. The lesser known but equally stunning Chief Joseph Highway branches off the Beartooth Highway, and two lovely towns and a small village offer delightful hospitality at the starting and end points of each of these drives, making the whole region east of Yellowstone National Park a fabulous place to visit. RED LODGE, MONTANA - WESTERN CHARM We began our adventure in Red Lodge, Montana, a small town with an enchanting vibe. Founded as a coal mining town in the late
PRECIOUS JEWELS OUTSIDE YELLOWSTONE
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 | 14
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