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#9 on this list
Beartooth Highway
Montana / Wyoming
The high alpine drive is fully open; wildflowers at 10,000 feet.
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#10 on this list
Lake Tahoe
California / Nevada
Clear alpine water warm enough to swim; trails snow-free.
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Specs side by side
| Spec | Beartooth Highway | Lake Tahoe |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Elevation | 10,947 feet (Beartooth Pass) | — |
| Total Distance | 68 miles (Red Lodge to Cooke City) | — |
| Typical Season | Late May through mid-October | — |
| Route Designation | US Route 212 / All-American Road | — |
| Managing Agencies | USFS (Custer Gallatin & Shoshone) and NPS | — |
| Jurisdiction | Montana and Wyoming | — |
| Surface Elevation | — | 6,225 feet |
| Location | — | California and Nevada border, Sierra Nevada |
| July Water Temp | — | 63°F to 68°F near shore |
| Primary Land Manager | — | USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit |
| Key Wilderness | — | Desolation, Granite Chief, Mount Rose |
| Loop Trail Length | — | 165 miles (Tahoe Rim Trail) |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Beartooth Highway
- Direct highway access to rare arctic-alpine tundra ecosystems
- Spectacular July wildflower blooms across high plateau scree
- Seamless connection to the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley in Yellowstone
- Abundant roadside access to alpine lakes and wilderness trails
- Sudden summer snowstorms can prompt abrupt, unannounced road closures
- Heavy RV and camper traffic crawls up steep, narrow switchbacks
- Total absence of cellular phone service along the mountain pass
Lake Tahoe
- Peak access to snow-free high-elevation trails and alpine passes
- Lake surface temperatures warm enough for open-water swimming
- Exceptional water clarity paired with world-class granite singletrack
- Extensive trail network spanning both rugged wilderness and ridge routes
- Heavy vehicle congestion and filled trailhead parking lots by early morning
- Strict permit quotas for overnight camping in high-demand wilderness areas
- Afternoon lake winds create hazardous chop for small non-motorized watercraft
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