Snow Closes Beartooth Pass In June? Wyoming/Montana

While much of Wyoming is struggling and begging for more wet weather, Beartooth Pass is closed - again - due to snow.

The Beartooth Highway (US-212) is currently closed at the Wyoming/Montana state line due to extreme winter weather and hazardous snow and ice conditions. While you may be able to drive from Red Lodge, MT, to Vista Point, the Wyoming side of the pass is closed to through traffic until conditions improve. (The Beartooth Highway).

Plows have been dispatched to clear the route.

High-elevation mountain passes are highly susceptible to sudden closures, even during the summer months.

The Beartooth Highway (U.S. 212) is a 68-mile stretch of road connecting Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana, renowned as one of the most scenic drives in the United States. It rises to 10,947 feet above sea level at Beartooth Pass, making it the highest elevation highway in both Wyoming and Montana. At that altitude, any moisture that falls usually comes in the form of snow, no matter what time of year.

Originally conceived to connect Red Lodge and Cooke City, supporting the mining industry and providing a tourist gateway to Yellowstone National Park.

Construction began in 1931 during the Great Depression and was completed in just five years. The work was notoriously dangerous, with crews facing extreme weather, heavy snow, and high-altitude, rocky terrain requiring constant dynamite blasting.

As of June 2026, the goal for the highway is to have it open roughly from Memorial Day to mid-October, with snow removal still a major annual challenge, often requiring clearing 26-foot drifts.