Beartooth Lake Viewpoint
An alpine lake sitting at 9,000 ft in Shoshone National Forest on the Wyoming side of US-212. A short roadside pull-out offers views of the lake nestled between rugged mountain slopes — one of the most accessible and photogenic stops on the Wyoming portion of the Beartooth Highway before the route climbs toward the Montana state line.
Beartooth Lake sits along the Wyoming stretch of US-212 inside Shoshone National Forest, visible from the highway as the road begins its final climb toward Beartooth Pass. The pull-out here puts you roadside above an alpine lake framed by rugged slopes, with Beartooth Butte — a distinctive block of limestone and sandstone — rising from the far shore. It's a low-effort stop: park, stretch, take it in. No admission required at the viewpoint itself.
The associated Forest Service campground sits right on the lakeshore and runs on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations accepted. Elevation at the lake is around 9,000 feet, which means cold nights are common even mid-summer, afternoon thunderstorms can roll in fast, and snow is possible on either end of the season. This is active bear country — the Forest Service requires proper food storage at the campground, and bear boxes are on site. Cell service is essentially nonexistent up here, so plan accordingly before you leave the pavement.
Classic high-country lake pull-out on the WY stretch of Beartooth — a natural pause point between the Top of the World Store and the switchbacks toward Beartooth Pass. No fee to stop at the viewpoint; campground nearby for overnight stays.
Shot by the riders who've run it.
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