UPDATE 4:30 p.m.
According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the Beartooth Highway is now officially open.
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ORIGINAL REPORT
The Beartooth Pass was predicted to open in its entirety on Saturday, rescheduled from May 24. But to travelers’ surprise, it was closed at the Montana-Wyoming state line Saturday morning.
Kelsey Boggs/MTN News
Those who traveled to the gates from Red Lodge early Saturday stuck around and tried to make the most of their day, silently hoping crews would be able to open the road completely.
“If you haven’t driven it before, you really need to because it’s such a treasure for both Wyoming and Montana,” said Sharon Brownlee, who traveled from Joliet with her husband, Ron, on Saturday.
Kelsey Boggs/MTN News
The Beartooth Pass is full of breathtaking views and wildlife.
Kelsey Boggs/MTN News
“We were up here on Monday. We came up the other way from Gardiner,” Ron said. “We saw a grizzly bear (and) and a black bear. Right out of Cooke City, we saw a black bear with two cubs.”
The highway connects Red Lodge to the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park, stretching 69 miles and climbing to more than 10,000 feet above sea level.
Kelsey Boggs/MTN News
It typically opens on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and closes in mid-October, according to the Montana Department of Transportation.
But this year was a different story after winter weather complicated travel.
Charlie Klepps/MTN News
The road’s total opening was delayed on May 24. Instead, it partially opened from the lower gate to Vista Point.
But then, on May 28, an avalanche caused damage to the roads that required repairs.
The pass was forced to close again to Vista Point until May 30. It was then rescheduled to open entirely on June 1.
But when travelers got on the highway Saturday morning, they were shocked to see it was only open to the Montana state line.
“It’s different every time you come up here,” Ron said.
Kelsey Boggs/MTN News
Sharon and Ron said they showed up around 8 a.m. and were surprised to see the pass was closed at the state line.
“You got up here bright and early, 8:00 a.m., when it was supposed to open. What happened?” MTN News asked the couple.
“We sat and had coffee,” Ron responded with a laugh.
Grace Vesey and her father made the most out of their day.
