Near Red Lodge in Carbon County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

High Country Thoroughfare

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 26, 2011

1. High Country Thoroughfare Marker

Inscription. Lieutenant General Philip Sheridan and 124 men forged the first documented passage over the Beartooth Mountains in 1881. Once thought impassible, the route was later modified by E. E. Van Dyke - a miner from coal rich Red Lodge, Montana. His route provided access through Rock Creek to Red Lodge but it remained a steep and rugged trail.

Although early Native Americans, trappers and prospectors are part of the past, today’s travelers can cross much of the original route created over a century ago… and experience one of America’s most scenic highways.

Early visionaries foresaw a scenic route over these mountains accessing Yellowstone National Park. Carving an expensive road over an 11,000’ plateau, however, was not popular with Congress. Persistence paid off and finally in 1936 — after two years of construction — the Beartooth Highway opened to the public. The highway was designated a National Forest Scenic Byway in 1989.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 45° 2.601′ N, 109° 24.437′ W.

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Marker is near Red Lodge, Montana, in Carbon County. It can be reached from Beartooth Highway (U.S. 212) 8.2 miles west of Rock Creek Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located at the Rock Creek Vista Point Rest Area (elevation 9190'). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Red Lodge MT 59068, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Yellowstone Country

and in Greater Billings.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Beartooth Plateau (approx. 12.1 miles away); Red Lodge (approx. 12.1 miles away); The Red Lodge Country (approx. 12.1 miles away); Neithammer Brothers Meat Market (approx. 12½ miles away); Roman Theatre (approx. 12.6 miles away); W.R. Hall Building (approx. 12.6 miles away); Montana Bakery

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 26, 2011

2. High Country Thoroughfare Marker

(approx. 12.6 miles away); Red Lodge Commercial District (approx. 12.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Red Lodge.

Also see . . . Beartooth All-American Road. Friends of the Beartooth All-American Road (Submitted on July 30, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Rock Creek Vista image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 26, 2011

3. Rock Creek Vista

Pilot Peak in Wyoming on Beartooth Hwy west of the marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 25, 2011

4. Pilot Peak in Wyoming on Beartooth Hwy west of the marker.

Beartooth Plateau image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dan Fisher, July 25, 2011

5. Beartooth Plateau

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,063 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 30, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on August 1, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.