Wildflowers on Chief Joseph Highway
Sunrise at Dead Indian Summit on the Chief Joseph Highway
on, as darkness began to settle over the land, we came to Dead Indian Summit where dark green mountain peaks and valleys filled our view. We promptly decided to return to see Dead Indian Summit at sunrise the next morning, and when day dawned we were blessed with a soft pink sky that kissed the craggy peaks and made them glow. If a dazzling sunrise in a magnificent setting weren't enough glory for one day, we then drove a little farther on Chief Joseph Highway and saw meadows overflowing with vibrant wildflowers in the peak of bloom. A two-track trail crossing a meadow and heading into the woods lured us out of the truck for a hike to see these flowers up close. The meadow was alive with busy bees, and the flowers lifted their pretty faces to the warm sunshine. The two-track road took us deep into the forest where we found massive bouquets of wildflowers forming a carpet of color between the trees. It was a wildflower display like you'd see in brochure photographs and quietly mutter, "That can't be real." But it was. Gold, magenta, azure, lavender, scarlet, and white wildflowers of all imaginable shapes and sizes filled the fields and forests, and we wandered among them for hours. As with the Beartooth Highway, we stayed in this area for several days and explored different aspects of the Chief Joseph Highway each day. Both of these scenic highways and their anchor towns are truly mesmerizing. Being located
next to America's oldest and possibly most famous National Park, not to mention having Grand Teton National Park next door to that, this lesser-known neighboring area is an unsung hero in the world of travel. If you take your RV to this corner of America, allow some time to drive these two highways and feel your spirit soar. SIDEBARS Completed in 1936 after 5 years under construction, the Beartooth Highway is a 69-mile- long section of US Route 212 that goes between Red Lodge, Montana, and the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Heading west from Red Lodge, the Beartooth Highway ascends over 5,700 feet in just 12 miles and ultimately reaches a peak of 10,947 feet above sea level. The Chief Joseph Highway is Wyoming Highway 296, which runs for 46 miles between US-212 and Wyoming Highway 120. Both highways feature tight switchbacks and steep climbs and descents. It is best to use other roads for traveling with your RV to your destination and then admire these scenic drives as daytrips in your tow vehicle or toad.
FOR MORE INFORMATION See the map at: goo.gl/maps/wYhCoakJoy5JAyCPA www.redlodge.com/beartooth-highway.asp enjoyyourparks.com/Chief-Joseph-Scenic-Byway.html
PRECIOUS JEWELS OUTSIDE YELLOWSTONE
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 | 18
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