Chief Joseph Scenic Byway Reviews

On our homeward journey from Yellowstone in September, we travelled via the Chief Joseph Highway. It was awesome! The most wonderful and varied scenery that you could ever imagine. Well worth a detour if you are in Western Wyoming or Montana.

What a beautiful view as you drive Cheif Joseph's Highway. It will be well worth planning your trip thru the mountains. You will not regret it. Bring your cameras...

I loved riding this road! We were on a motorcycle trip and this road came highly recommended and it did not disappoint, the switchbacks, curves and scenery are amazing!,

I've been taking this drive since it was just a gravel road. It doesn't get the press other routes get but if you're driving from Cody into Yellowstone (or the other way 'round) this is the best choice.

If you are staying in Cody and headed over to Yellowstone then consider driving the Chief Joseph Highway over to the Northeast Entrance of the park. The highway heads to the northwest from Cody over some beautiful mountains and then goes thru the small town of Cooke City which is a fun place to stop for a meal. As your drive the Chief Joseph Highway, take some time to stop and read the signs about Chief Joseph and and his people and the history of that area which is very interesting. The other benefit of driving this route from Cody to Yellowstone is that it will take you thru the Lamar Valley which is some of the best wildlife viewing in Yellowstone but often missed by visitors.

This road is amazing! Incredible scenery, fun twisties, sharp hirpin turns... for a biker it doesn't get any better. I've done Tail of the Dragon in TN and this is SO MUCH more fun especially since we basically had the road to ourselves! I can't waitto go back and ride it again.

It doesn't feel right to call this route just a path to Yellowstone Park. Because this path itself is beautiful and the ride already looks like an excursion. We drove from Cody via the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway to the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone Park and had the most beautiful day of our whole road trip. And the day began with the beautiful scenery on this byway. Be sure to stop at the Dead Indian Summit Overlook and enjoy the view.

The Chief Joseph Scenic Highway is an incredible drive. The 46 mile drive is from Cody to Montana along the northeastern edge of Yellowstone National Park. Dead Indian Overlook is a great stop. We enjoyed watching the chipmunks. The Sunlight Creek Bridge is the highest bridge in Wyoming. Be prepared for spectacular scenery.

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, also known as Wyoming Highway 296 and the Sunlight Basin Road, is a spectacular 46-mile drive from Cody, Wyoming, to Cooke City, Montana, allowing drivers and passengers to view the beautiful landscapes and abundant wildlife along the northeastern edge of Yellowstone National Park, passing spectacular Yellowstone River and Heart Mountain. It follows the same route that Chief Joseph did during the Nez Perce War of 1877 as he and his tribe were running from the US Army as they tried to flee into Canada to avoid being confined to a reservation. On your trek, you will pass over the Sunlight Bridge, which crosses Sunlight Creek, as well as Dead Indian Pass. Notice the unbelievably sheer cliffs on each side of the creek, reaching 1,000 feet in height. It is known as Sunlight Gorge or Dead Indian Gorge. As you get closer to the Beartooth Scenic Byway junction, you can't help but notice two incredibly prominent peaks to the West. The sharpest spine--and the tallest--is Plot Peak, which has an elevation of 11,708 feet. To its immediate north is Index Peak, which has an elevation of 10,709 feet. The Chief Joseph Scenic Bywan connects with the Beartooth Scenic Bywan, also known as the Beartooth All-American Highway, several miles east of Cooke City and the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone Park. Once described as the most beautiful drive in America, there is no shortage of highlights in the awesome scenery. Not only is the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway a stunning drive, it is historically significant and a reminder of the Native American struggle. Sadly, Chief Joseph was forced to surrender after the six-day Battle of the Bear Paw in northeastern Montana, only 30 miles from their destination, the Canadian border.

This drive takes you up high and you get a great view of the Sunlight Basin area. There's an outhouse at the top view point. The drive has nice guard rails on all the switchbacks so it feels very safe, except for the occasional cow in the road. They keep this route pretty well cleared in the winter. For a really spectacular trip from Cody take the Chief Joseph Highway (296) to the Beartooth Highway (212) and head Northeast to adorable Red Lodge (about a 2.5 hours), but only in the summer months because Beartooth closes once it gets cold.

This drive is simply amazing. Right off the bat we saw a large herd of antelope. The views are spectacular and we saw so many beautiful plants and wildlife. We stopped and stuck our feet in Dead Infian Creek and enjoyed various stops along the way.

I grew up in Wyoming, but it's been years since I've been on this amazing highway. There are gorgeous red rock formations, mesas, and scenery a-plenty surrounded by an impressive collection of 12,000+ -foot peaks. A nice little bonus for me was experiencing Wyoming's highest bridge, the Sunlight Creek Bridge. The 285-foot bridge spans a narrow gorge, as Sunlight Creek rushes below. The sheerness of the cliffs on both sides really accentuate the height, and it's impossible to avoid a little sphincter contraction as you look down. I didn't take it all the way to Cooke City and the Bear Tooth Mountains this time, but I have in the past, and it's worth every mile. This is truly one of Wyoming's greatest gems.

This was an incredible drive with amazing views. It is well worth the time it takes. The pull off at Dead Indian Pass was breathtaking and thrre are gravity RRs there. Some of the hairpin turns are a little scary but views make up for it. Beware that your GPS might not work well.

Enjoy the views. Be gracious and aware of all other means of transportation. We all wish to enjoy this scenery and get home safely.

Beautiful ride in Wyoming! Lots of pullovers to take in the amazing views! Make sure to take a right at the end and continue your ride over the Beartooth Hwy. into Red Lodge, Montana. We thoroughly enjoyed the ride after leaving Cody WY and our visit to the Buffalo Bill Museum (what an amazing place!)

One of the most magnificent drives you will ever encounter. Red rocks, tall green spruce + pines, white mountain faces.............this ride has them ALL!! Truly magnificent. Take a lunch with you for the ride and stop at one of the many pullouts to eat and enjoy the view. This is "America The Beautiful" at its BEST!!

We left Cody, WY early in the morning on our way to the NE entrance to Yellowstone NP. We took the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and the views were scenic, and very dramatic. We stopped at some of the scenic pulloffs to take some pictures. One we stopped at was very high up, and we found ourselves sorrounded by wild chipmunks. They were living on the sides of the rocks near a tree and came right up to you looking for food. Be careful they will nip you, however, it did not hurt. They were so cute. Great drive!!!!!!

What a beautiful drive. We went in the afternoon and the weather was perfect when we left, however we raced a snow storm on the way back. So pay VERY close attention to the weather forecasts!!!! It was a perfect way to spend the afternoon. We stayed in Cooke City which was an ideal location for this drive. We drove up to the highest point and then turned around and headed back due to the upcoming weather.

The most scenic drive in the Country! Just amazing. There is a quiet beauty along the way, that makes you take a breath of wonder.

We've been on the Beartooth a couple of times from Red Lodge into Yellowstone, but have not ever taken the Chief Joseph. This year we thought we'd take a different way, and based on a couple of comments from my uncle decided to take the Chief Joseph.

What gorgeous scenery as you travel this road. It was far better than we expected, and I wish we'd had time to drive it again. I would highly recommend taking this road if you have the time, as it's well worth the effort. Less trafiic and less switchbacks than the Beartooth make it an easier drive, too.

Beautiful drive from Northeast YNP to Cody. This was absolutely beautiful! The area is so vast! Worth it!

We drove the Chief Joseph from just north of Cody, Wy to where it meets with the Beartooth Highway. The Chief Joseph is spectacular and there is an interesting story behind the name.
I'm not, but if you're a motorcycle guy I would guess this is a great ride.

We had hoped to take in the better know Beartooth on our journey from Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore, but awoke to news that it was closed due to overnight snow. Bitterly disappointed we set of expecting this road to be a let down in comparison - but actually we really enjoyed it. The scenery is still pretty dramatic, & there is some interesting history to be learned a long the way. And when we still drove through quite a bit of the white stuff we were very glad to be safe at slightly a lower altitude!

I traveled this road last week on my motorcycle. The road was in great condition and the scenery was great. Team this with the beartooth highway for an unforgettable trip.

We got onto this scenic highway with great hopes of a beautiful drive. We weren't disappointed. The road is winding and it goes up and down as well. The sides are sometimes narrow without guard rails. The driver needs to be someone who doesn't go weak in the knees! The drive is beautiful. Enjoy it,

I left Cody and rode north to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone at Cooke City Montana and it was a great ride. The road is good with a lot of curves and hills. So much beautiful scenery with many good pull-offs to enjoy the view. If you are on a cycle, this is a great place to ride.

What a gorgeous scenic drive this is. The Chief Joesph highway closely follows the path taken by the fleeing Nez Perce in 1877 from the US cavalry. Its 46 miles of joy as you follow the road around many curves. The valleys are beautiful. The Beartooth and Absaroka mountains in the distance covered in snow were magical. Stop at all the pullouts, especially dead Indian pass. This is a must scenic drive and 1 of our favourites in all of the US.

We left Cody to drive into Yellowstone and chose to take this scenic route. Oh my, it was one of the best highlight of our vacation. Found a beautiful lake close to highway for a picnic lunch and then drove along the Wind River as it winds through the canyon. AWESOME! Numerous places to stop for pictures especially at the top!

We've done the Cody to Yellowstone drive several times.

This time we decided to enter Yellowstone through the Northeast entrance, which led to our decision to take this route. It was spectacular. Great place to travel through. Make sure that you stop at the Bridge Overlook -- amazing views -- enjoy!

(NE entrance to Yellowstone was a great choice too --- large bison herd wandering all over the road made for an interesting drive)

We drove from Silver Gate, Montana to Cody, Wyoming on this road. We intended to go into Yellowstone and work our way back up to Silver Gate after our visit, but instead went back the same way just to do this drive again. It was beautiful. Right up there with the Beartooth. I got some gorgeous panoramic photos at the many stops and pull-outs. Beware of the roaming cattle! They were right in the road sometimes.

I left Cody, WY at 10am and made the entire loop across Montana and back to Cody in 5 hours. Amazing views....even if you do not continue to "top of the world" that takes you into Montana, this drive is worth the time. Highly recommend this!

If traveling from South to North, the first 1/2 is the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. This is the Wyoming compliment to the Beartooth Highway. It starts out with long, sweeping switchbacks, then just keeps climbing. The views and flora are much different from the Beartooth. Today we saw a couple of HUGE grizzly bears lounging by the side of the road, eating what looked to be wildflowers. I may be all wrong, they could have been eating one of the silly tourists that were parked along the roadside as I wizzed by on my bike. (I'm not stopping for bears). Bring a picnic lunch, don't be one is my motto.

We had't planned on taking this route, but beartooth pass was closed due to snow, and this was our alternate route. What a wonderful treat! The scenery was absolutely beautiful and there was some snow on the mountains. So very glad we went this route. Definitely take this scenic highway if you get a chance.

One of the top scenic drives in the USA. Take your time and enjoy the scenery because it is so beautiful. I have done it twice and both times in June....don't know what it would be like other times of the year.

Chief Joseph Scenic drive is breathtakingly beautiful with high peaks and deep gorges. The road is the path Chief Joseph led his tribe away from the US Calvary to save them from being forced onto a reservation. The road is winding with many switchbacks and steep grades. There are several scenic spots to pull off and view the scenery which I highly recommend. The road is under repair from rock slides but still passable. I thought the road was a loop but in actuality it’s a highway headed to Montana. We turned around at 38 miles and returned to Cody. Be aware vehicles longer than 40 feet are warned not to drive the highway. We passed 3 large RV’s headed up as we were going down. I’m not sure how they fared. There are no gas station for a long stretch so fill up before you go.

We were on our way to the Yellowstone NP and had chosen this path. The weather was very nice that day and that's why this byway was really worth it. An up and down with many very nice views. At the Sunlight bridge we walked over on foot to have a better view. There are information boards with explanations about this road and history.

This is a wonderful drive. Take highway 120, 16 miles north of Cody, Wy and turn onto hwy 296. You will drive across the Two Dot Ranch and follow 296 across Sunlight Creek Bridge. Turn right at the junction onto hwy 212 and continue onto the Beartooth Hwy. You will go over Beartooth pass, 10,947 feet. Continue and end the day in Red Lodge, Montana. Go on line and explore all the other drives and hikes you can take while visiting this area.

Some of the highway was very steep and a bit scary. Although I do plan to drive this road again. Scenery is beautiful.

So glad we listened to the locals we ran into in Cody. We entered the park thru the East entrance on 2 occassions and a local said you have to leave thru the NE entrance. The most spectacular vistas of our trip. We had the road virtually to ourselves, which was such a nice change from the south loop. You will NOT be disappointedby this drive.

We drove the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway from Cody to the Beartooth Highway on a Saturday morning. It was much more impactful having read the history before starting the trip. Once you leave Cody you leave civilization behind. The drive was beautiful and not difficult in a small car. Do stop at Dead Indian Pass. There is a large parking area on the left coming from Cody.

I'd had the Beartooth Hwy on my bucket list for a motorcycle ride for quite some time. When I mentioned that to some friends, they strongly suggested I take the Chief Joseph Hwy, too, if I was going to be that close and had the time. I was able to ride the Chief Joseph out of Cody one day and the Beartooth the next which provided for a good comparison. Frankly, both are breathtaking. Lots of curves. Stupendous vistas. However, I love forests and when you get near the top of the Beartooth, you're apparently above the treeline as it is mostly tundra. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed them both but the Chief Joseph was just more interesting to me.

We drove over the Beartooth Pass to join the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway to Cody. This day was forever memorable for scenic views, high elevation driving, grand vistas and a slow relaxing drive. Highly recommend routing your trip for an extra day to take in these highways. And yes, watch out for the free roaming cattle on the road.

We drove on the Beartooth Scenic Highway from Red Lodge and took the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway to get to Cody. It was a really good drive, with varied scenery and fantastic views.

It was extremely cloudy the day I went thru but from what I could see it is as fantastic a scenic drive as Beartooth, Pacific Coast Hwy or Going to the Sun road. Maybe check the weather better than I did before you go. But don't miss it!

If you are anywhere near here this is a must do. The views are spectacular and every turn is a postcard

If you've just done the Beartooth pass, don't miss this scenic highway. The views along this highway are beautiful and it is full of big (and baby) deer. If you look closely, their white tails will give them away. This is a beautiful drive at sunset as the sun's rays highlight the surrounding mountains. Relaxing!!!!

June 2010 my husband & I went across the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge to the west. We stayed at the K Bar Z guest ranch, right off the Chief Joseph, that is a lovely & quiet place to stay. I can only imagine what it was like when Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce traveled this way towards Canada. It is in a truly beautiful part of Wyoming and is not as congested as some of the more touristy places. Plus it gives you a chance to learn some history and see lots of wildlife. There are grizzly bears in this area.

There are other, quicker ways to get from Cody to Red Lodge but you would be crazy to skip this gorgeous scenic drive for the sake of a few extra hours. Yes it will take you longer, but you will be well rewarded with fabulous views.

We had been closely watching the road reports just before our trip from South Dakota to Yellowstone in May 2013, as there had been an announcement by the National Park that the Beartooth section wouldn't be cleared of snow until 2 weeks later than normal (to save money). Part of the Chief Joseph Highway crosses the state line, so we couldn't quite make out who was doing the clearing or not. Using the Montana Department of Transportation website http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/maps/ we could see that the road reports showed the road open and closed again due to new snowfalls. Another site to use is: http://beartoothhighway.com/beartooth-highway-news/. We didn't know until we got to Cody if the road was open or not, fortunately it was ok. So if you travel this road to get to the North East entrance to Yellowstone, in May/June check road conditions. We could have gone into the park from the Cody entrance but we were staying in Silvergate so really wanted to do this drive and I am so glad we got to. It really is scenic and the road goes through Shoshone National Park; just like Yellowstone Park, every turn in the road reveals another stunning view and to top it all, we drove above the snowline at one point and stopped to take pictures of the snow! Take the time to read the notice board about the Shoshone Native American's fight for freedom in this area, you will appreciate just what fortitude and determination they had to remain in their lands. A truly memorable road to travel along, do it!

OMG...did this in a 23ft RV on a beautiful late afternoon. Notmany people on the road so we could comfortably pull off and see some great vistas. Make sure you have good brakes for the downhills and no tranny problems.

We drove this highway between highway 212 and Dead Indian Pass overlook and then returned. The views and geology are incredible; on one side of the highway is granite carved by glaciers, and the other side has mountains created by volcanic action. Be sure to stop at the bridge that spans the gorge, the views are amazing.

spectacular views all along this highway. beartooth hwy was closed at the time but we decided to drive this route both ways. it was well worth it.

The Chief Joseph highway is SPECTACULAR with sweeping visitas that truly take your breath away. The climb up from Cody is beautiful as you leave town and make your way into the foothills and then the mountains. The rock formations along the way are unique, so don’t forget your binoculars. Take time to stop and walk over the bridge that passes over the Clark’s Fork Yellowstone river...it flows through a deep canyon that is solid rock...very cool. Also, pull out at Dead Indian Pass for a wonderful view of the surrounding mountain tops.

We came home to Colorado from Montana this way just to drive the Beartooth Highway to Chief Joseph - since it had been 13 years since the last time. It did not disappoint. This really is a beautiful drive - either way. Some of the oldest rocks in the world are up there. Take some time and hike around!

I would consider this drive a must. Wow, the scenery was fantastic. Stop at the big bridge and spend some time there. Everything is so grand and majestic, and the road is really nice. I would recommend the entire section from Cody to the Beartooth highway, you won't be disappointed if you like big open views!

Lots of grades to be sure but there were a lot of pull outs and it was a good road to drive. The history lesson along the way added to the day trip

I am late sending this review. We actually were there in 2015 but, if you are even close don't miss this adventure. Plan on spending some time at the overlooks. I did this trip with a Buddy on motorcycles in June and there was still snow around. Do a little history homework on Chief Joseph before you go and you will appreciate the trip even more.

On our annual cross country motorcycle ride. Today we hit the Chief Joseph Highway. The scenery never seemed to stop. The curves just kept coming. Why did I take so long to ride this route. Put it high on your bucket list for a ride or drive and bring you camera. We will be doing this one again. Travel safe...

We drove from Silvergate to Cody. Spectacular. Each moment was filled with awe-some views. Truly awe inspiring. Some of the driving was difficult and the top had snow in May. Lots of pullouts to take photographs. Worth a detour to experience this. I would put it in the top few drives in AmericaM

We drove Chief Joseph Highway from Cook City MT. to Cody WY. A very scenic and beautiful drive. A fun drive with very little traffic. We really liked the deep canyon at the Rest Stop. The Red Rock were stunning.

Blustery wind made the Nez Perce tribes journey more real. Gorgeous red rocks, "loose stock" cattle crossing the road, wonderful waterfalls. Worth the visit if you have the time.

We stayed in Cody while visiting Yellowstone and took this drive on the way to Yellowstone , WOW, the scenery is breathtaking. Ever changing landscape around every turn , just a wonderful experience. Plan on doing this drive!,,

This route is better than the more popular Beartooth Pass for motorcyclists who "ride" not just "cruise. The pavement is new, unlike the Beartooth, so you can attack the corners with confidence. Grit and potholes abound on the Beartooth. Saw the aftermath of a husband and wife after they misjudged a corner on their cruiser.

Amazing drive out of Cody WY. On the way to Beartooth Pass or Cooke city. Road is in great shape with beautiful views. Try going early morning, no traffic, sun on the mountains, Beautiful!

We drove the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway in early October and found it to be a fantastic and different way to get into Yellowstone National Park. The road was mostly dry on the beautiful fall day we were there, but the high pass was still covered with ice around noon. This was slippery and scary, but the ice only continued for a mile or so. However, I would expect that the entire road can be treacherous in the wrong weather. Make sure you check road conditions before attempting it.

This road's numerical designation is Wyoming 296. We drove from east to west, and the turnoff from Wyoming 120 is well marked, but be alert for it. It dead ends into the Beartooth Highway (US 212 on the west end and from here you can turn west into Yellowstone or east to go over the Beartooth Mountains.

The road is almost 100% scenic, with each turn opening up a new vista. There are plenty of turnouts for picture taking, so don't stop in the middle of the road as this can be dangerous. About half way there are public toilets available. However, there are no other services - including gasoline - between Cody and Cook City, Montana.

Overall a great drive. It is not as long nor as tiring as the Beartooth Highway, but in my opinion is every bit as scenic.

We just drove Chief Joseph Scenic Highway on May 16, 2018, from Cody to Yellowstone. Beautiful drive and not yet busy but be aware than one lane of the 2 lane road slid off the mountain face about 2/3 of the way to the Beartooth cutoff. Single lane only in a short section. Check WYDOT for updates.

We drove from the west side of Yellowstone to the east side of Yellowstone on June 26. The plan was to drive on the Beartooth Highway to at least Vista Point. Then turn around so we could catch this scenic highway on the way to Cody, WY. The Beartooth Highway was closed up until that morning, so we were lucky enough to be able to do both.

This is very different than Beartooth, but beautiful in it's own right. We are so glad that we drove this. I would for sure recommend this to anyone in the area. It was just breath taking. You will not regret it!

This scenic route starts north of Cody and climbs up to over 8000ft. The views from the top of Dead Indian Pass are stupendous. You can see the switchback road leading down into the Sunlight Basin and the bridge offers good photo opportunities of the river.

Notice boards explain how the scenic byway came to be named after a Nez Perce Chief.

Beautiful drive off of the Beartooth Highway. We saw a bear about 30 feet off the road in a field! Gorgeous views, chance viewing of wildlife and pleasant drive!

Beautiful ride with spectacular views. Quiet road made this a very nice ride after the business of the Beartooth Highway. The changing landscapes were fantastic! Well worth continuing south from Beartooth rather than entering the east side of Yellowstone Park. Would be an excellent afternoon ride in a car.

We have traveled the nation, Chief Joseph Scenic Highway is a favorite. The variety of views is phenomenal. I am an avid photographer and frame after frame was breathtakingly beautiful. We decided to drive the Highway from both directions. If we drove it a dozen times I am certain that we would see landscapes new and exciting on each trip.

Do yourself a favor, if you are on your way to Yellowstone, take this approach. But, consider the fact that the drive is a good, if not better than the destination!

The absolute blast! Dreamlike landscapes and well built roads. I was here in June 2024, driving the route alone and was therefore a bit anxious if and how the roads would be. The area is just incredibly beautiful. One phototope follows the next

If you haven’t been across this road, put it on your bucket list and make it happen. It was my third time on the Harley. The views are incredible and beautiful! Travel safe...

The scenery is utterly spectacular! The elevation goes up to about 8000 feet through magnificient canyon country with brilliant colors, reds, oranges, pinks, and scattered lavendars. We were up there as storm clouds were gathering and it made the trip almost magical. From the summit (Dead Indian Hill Summit), the views in all directions are absolutely dazzling

We did the Chief Joseph Highway whilst driving from Yellowstone to Cody. What an amazing drive it was, well worth the extra time it took by doing that route. There where many viewpoints to stop and take in the amazing views.

Wow, what a road! Slow down and enjoy the ride. Get on the scenic route north and west of Cody. Take long looks at the canvas the Creator painted for us to enjoy. You may see a bear or two, elk and deer. Then, take the Beartooth Mountain Scenic Byway.

We took this highway to go to the North East entrance of Yellowstone. Initially we wanted to take the Bear tooth highway but since we were not sure if it was easy accessible by RV (30ft RV) we choose to take the Chief Joseph highway. in one word: spectacular! To goes to well above 9000ft and the views, forests and scenery is beautiful. The high in its self wasn't very busy so you can just take your time and enjoy the ride. Just before Red Lodge it merges with the Bear Tooth highway.

From Cody, we ascended up the serpentine of the Chief Joseph HIghway. Scenic is hardly an adequate description of the awesome sights. If you are afraid of heights, get somebody else to drive. You can explain that you just want to see all the vistas, wild life, and natural beauty of the trek to the casinos in Cooke City, MT.

We were planning on driving through Yellowstone and staying in Cody, Wyoming and then going back through Yellowstone on our way home. Rather than drive the same road twice, we explored other options. I read reviews about the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and decided to try it, even though it was a lot of driving. We were not disappointed! In fact, it went by way too fast and I wished that we could have spent more time. I would definitely put in on your bucket list of things to see. The entire drive was beautiful!

Earlier in the day we did Beartooth Highway, which was a exhilarating and beautiful trip, though Chief Joseph Byway was way more of a gorgeous scenic ride. Though almost as high, it was a more comfortable drive, didn’t feel as life threatening. The road itself was smooth and wide. From wide open plains, high mountain lookouts, lush greenery, beautiful flowers and cattle roaming everywhere.

We decided to take the longer route from Cody into Yellowstone along the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway - some fabulous scenery including Clarks Fork Canyon, Sunlight Creek Bridge and Gorge. This route joins up with the Beartooth Highway, with some equally great scenery (although not the best bits apparently as they are further north in Montana from where the Chief Joseph road joins). Other interest point to note is that we joined the Beartooth Highway in Wyoming but crossed over the State line into Montana on the 45th Parallel before crossing back over into Wyoming.

There is a quicker route into Yellowstone from Cody but I wanted to go into Yellowstone at the Northeast entrance to go through the Lamar Valley as I was told this is the best place to see wildlife - glad we did as we saw 2 bears within half an hour of entering the park.

This may not be the fastest route into Yellowstone but the scenery is spectacular. There are stunning mountain views plus views into the gorges of the Clark'so Fork River.

Unique views, worthwhile drive if you have the time. This is not a fast drive due to nature of the terrain.

It was a great drive through the mountains of Wyoming. The views were amazing. I would recommend this drive if you are in the Cody area.

If you haven’t been across this road, put it on your bucket list and make it happen. It was my second time on the Harley. The views are incredible and beautiful! Travel safe...

Words can not really describe how much fun this drive is. The red rock cliffs are fascinating. The road has a lot of switch backs but it is in excellent condition and has ample width. A short drive to Cooke City is a great side trip for lunch

I love this drive going west to east and winding up in Cody. The vistas of mountain scapes is extremely beautiful and at the end is Cody, a great old town that is somewhat isolated in winter but a great place to visit year round.

This, Buffalo Bill Cody byway and the Beartooth are wonderful! They're all different and gorgeous. I liked them better than Yellowstone's scenery. I got lucky and saw wildlife, too.

Take your time and take your camera!

Don't miss this amazing scenic highway. Ample pullouts so you can take photos of the beautiful scenery. I loved the information posted to explain the flight of the Nez Perce Indians. We took this detour driving from Cody to Billings. The outstanding views are well worth the extra time for the drive.

Went via this route leaving Yellowstone Park. Easily one of the most scenic roadways I have ever traveled. Rugged mountains with fascinating geologic formations. Amazing switchbacks both up and down. Breathtaking view from the overlook at the summit. The highway is very well maintained by the Wyoming DOT. We'll be back for sure.

Winding down from Bear Tooth Pass, we turned onto Chief Joseph Highway. Even though the big views were waning, this was a very interesting road with a lot of history. The bridge is a must stop and ponder the Nez Peirce escaping through this mountainous area. We were again treated to the high elevations as we wound through the switchbacks on our way back to Cody. Bear Tooth and Chief Joseph combo are in the top ten best scenic drives in the country - maybe top five!

The Chief Joseph Scenic Highway is an Absolutely Gorgeous drive, and a Must-Do when you get the chance, you won't be sorry.

I visited this place on my trip to yellowstone & it ended up being one of my favorite drives and it isnt even in Yellowstone. It was much less crowded than yellowstone. We took the Beartooth in and turned onto the chief joseph. From there we went into Yellowstone & that drive in was WAY more beautiful than any spot in Yellowstone. Breathtaking panoramic views of mountain landscapes, rivers and more! A must see drive!!

We’ve lived and traveled extensively in the western US so to write that this is an amazing scenic drive says a lot. There is still over 4 ft snow drifts in some places, making hairpin turns blind (yes,they are still running the chairlift and people are snowmobiling and cross country skiing in many places). The lakes along the Top of the World are still iced over as well. The views at every turn are majestic and you cant help but say WOW.

A word of caution: when signs say 40ft length is maximum, believe them. Please! We met 2 in the middle of hairpin turns. The drive is very scenic so drive it in the tow vehicle.

Wow! I can still see images of this magnificent drive in my mind's eye that will never be forgotten! Make sure you carve time out of your trip to drive the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. It took us over the spectacular 8,000 ft Dead Indian Pass and followed seven switchbacks down to the rim of the Clark's Valley Gorge. Around every curve was a postcard view of multi-colored rock formations, beautiful waterfalls, and wildlife grazing along the edge of the road. The Chief Joseph Scenic Highway dead ends into the Beartooth Scenic Highway so carve out a day (at least 6-8 hours including the many pullout stops along the way) of your trip to do both as they are very different from one another and both were the absolute highlight of our trip! There are no words adequate enough to describe the awe-inspiring beauty you will see! I will never forget this spectacular drive and will forever relive it in my minds eye!

This twisty,curvy road can be a little scary but it is well worth the drive. The scenery is absolutely breath taking. Lots of pull offs provided to stop and take pictures of this spectacular scenery. This is a must see and do activity during your stay in the area of Cody and Yellowstone.

We went up the Chief Joesph Scenic Highway from Cody to Cooke City September 27th, 2022. I had been told it was beautiful but had no idea that I would enjoy it so much. The views were spectacular with plenty of opportunities for photos. I wish I'd been able to do this as the sun was rising or setting but can't imagine it to be more beautiful than it was late morning. What did surprise me was the number of hairpin turns (switchbacks) and later meeting a herd of cattle coming up the road toward me complete with cowdog and 3 cowboys. You don't see that every day unless you live in Wyoming where the state is all open range. Great drive.

We took this drive from Red Lodge, Montana to Cooke City, when we learned that the Beartooth Hwy was closed, another traveler suggested we try the Chief Joseph Byway. We were so very grateful that we did.

We had taken the Beartooth Hyway during a previous trip, and it is beautiful. We appreciate trying new travel routes, and we were so happy that this other scenic drive was available.

It is a wonderful drive with spectacular scenery. In addition, it was a great opportunity to review the history of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce and their attempt to escape being forced on to a reservation. The story is heart-rendering.

We did a roundrip from Billings to Red Lodge along the Beartooth Pass, out to Cooke City and then back to Billings via the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. It was so beautiful with many places to stop and take pictures of the gorgeous scenery. There are no services along the way (maybe a bathroom at one of the stops) so bring your own food or eat in Cooke City if you choose to do a roundtrip.

After experiencing Beartooth Highway last year we knew we wanted to travel Chief Joseph this year especially after several local people recommended as being as stunning (or more) than Beartooth. Were reluctant to miss Beartooth so we first drove to that summit, turned around and came back to Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. It did not disappoint. Different from Beartooth but every bit as impressive, massive red rock formations, a beautiful gorge with an incredible bridge, mountain after mountain...Miles and miles of just spectacular scenery. Wyoming never fails to impress me. Already planning next year's trip which will include this drive again.

Drive cross country, this was one of my favorite things of the entire trip...absolutely stunning and breathtaking at every turn.

We took this way to Cooke City and was surprised to find it was more spectacular than the end of the Beartooth Hwy which is the last leg of the trip. Pictures were breathtaking along every curve; so glad we didn't have to worry about 'film'...LOL

The highway nearer to Yellowstone is not as curvy but still as scenic. The observation point at the bridge is worth walking to and checking out. Overlook of steep drop off is very scenic. This highway might not be suited for long vehicles. Not as busy as Beartooth Highway.

An awe-inspiring trip up and over some beautiful mountains! To think that Chief Joseph took his people through there is even more incredible.

One of the beautiful scenic highway , I've experienced. It was sunny day, with the warm temperature for comfortable ride if you want to stop by and enjoy the scenery.
I wish the road is longer and more to see. Just breath taking view!

We took Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge and Chief Joseph Highway
back to Yellowstone park. It took much longer time to enter the park
but it denefinitely worth it. It's so beautiful and peaceful. It was a
raining day but turning to snow when we kept climbing up. We were
so excited seeing snow. It was so beautiful and quiet. I won't forget
the unusual experience. One day was sunny and warm. The next day
was snowy and cold. It took us about 2hours to the park from
Red Lodge via Chief Joseph Highway. If you are not rush, take this
Highway and enjoyed the breathtaking beauty. We'll take this route
when we visit Yellowstone park again.

We took the Chief Joseph Hwy while traveling from Yellowstone NP to Badlands/Mt Rushmore.The Beartooth Hwy lead us onto this super scenic route.We enjoyed every bit of the varied topography,mesas canyons and gorges!

This is a very scenic drive. We drove from Cody on it to the Beartooth Highway, which is also breathtaking. We stopped along the way for photos and packed a lunch.

It makes for a long drive from Cody however. The Highway is about 30 miles out of town. The drive is slow and fun. Lots of places to pull over and soak up the scenery. If you have time to kill, I recommend you take this drive. It ends at the Beartooth Scenic Highway. Turn right and keep on going. All total, we did about 200 miles from Cody, Wyoming.

The scenery is spectacular on this scenic drive. I did not see any noteworthy wildlife in July, but the very quick rise in elevation exposes drivers to stunning landscapes.

We are so glad we took this highway up to Cooke City from Cody and then used the NE gate into Yellowstone, down to West Yellowstone. The views are unbelievable and we actually saw 'cowboys' on horses rounding up steers. The colors in the mountains were vivid red and we did have snow, end of August on the some of the peaks. By taking the Chief Joseph highway, we were able to view the Lamar Valley wildlife in the morning and we arrived in West Yellowstone about 5pm. When leaving Yellowstone three days later, we used the East gate back to Cody, and that is also a scenic drive. The scenery on these roads really made the trip special. And the roads are very well maintained.

Chief Joseph starts right off of US-212 right after Beartooth Highway. The Tooth gets all the recognition, but I really love CJ. It's worth a trip just up to Dead Indian Summit even if you are headed to Cooke City and Yellowstone. I usually stay in Red Lodge (at the Pollard) for a few days and do day trips to Cody, and Yellowstone.

This scenic drive is one of the most beautiful experiences you will ever encounter. Be sure to bring a camera, and plan on spending several hours enjoying the views mother nature has provided.

A very scenic highway. We rode over the Chief Joseph Highway on our return trip from Yellowstone Park. The ride up to Dead Indian Pass was very twisty with numerous switch-backs. A road worth taking.

Having done the full Beartooth highway (you have to go from Cooke City to Red Lodge or vice versa to get the full experience) in the past as well as the Going to the Sun road a few times (two of our very favorite roads in the west) we expected the Chief Joseph to be pleasant. WOW....were we wrong!

In its own way this scenic bypass is every bit as lovely and at times awe inspiring as the other two!

Highly, HIGHLY recommend it. Definitely do the other two as well, but don't miss this lesser known road!!

We were camping in Cody and decided to get on the internet and find out what was in the area. We saw Chief Joseph Scenic Hwy listed and decided to go for a ride. We love mountains and waterfalls so when we came across both we were delighted. We were able to stop and take in a waterfall which was a good stretching point. This highway is long but worth every mile.

At the last minute we decided to drive this highway. We had just finished the Beartooth Highway drive (awesome as well) when we came to the fork in the road. Right was Highway 212 to the north entrance of Yellowstone (our original route). Left was this road that led to Cody. My husband and I enjoyed the Beartooth drive so much that we wanted more, so we took it. And it was I dare say more scenic that Beartooth. And we had the road to ourselves. Such sweeping scenery its hard to describe. It didn't take us too long and led right to Cody. We had dinner in Cody and then made that beautiful drive into Yellowstone NE entrance. Such a spectacular day it took us awhile to let it all sink in. We had traveled from Red Lodge, through the Beartooth, and then this highway all in one day and it was hands down the best day of our trip.

Beautiful scenic highway,connects Bear Tooth Pass and Cody,not many animals,but great rock formations,easy access from the NE entrance of Yellowstone

After driving Beartooth Pass Highway, we traveled Chief Joseph Scenic Highway to Cody. We enjoyed a day of spectacular views on both highways. Chief Joseph (aka Crandall Road) does not have the elevation gain of Beartooth Pass, but the vistas are just as amazing. We stopped at the viewpoints, lingering to drink in the lovely day and the beauty before us. We did not spend as much time on Chief Joseph Hwy (fewer stopping points, and the day was moving on), but we enjoyed it greatly. I would recommend the drive on both Beartooth and Chief Joseph to anyone leaving or traveling to Yellowstone. Add a day to your trip just to enjoy the fabulous scenery on these two highways.

We had planned to take the Beartooth highway, but our lodging the night before did not have working hot water, so we decided to skip the Beartooth highway and get to our next hotel as soon as possible for a hot shower. This meant taking the Chief Joseph HIghway. I am sure it is not as amazing as the Beartooth highway, but we did enjoy the scenery and even pulled off a couple of times to enjoy the view. I did not feel unsafe on this road. There was not a lot of traffic. Be sure to fill up with gas before leaving, I didn't see much in the way of services between Silver Gate and Cody.

Awe-inspiring views at every turn! Overlooks, hairpin turns, beautiful waterfalls, and wildlife.......stop at every opportunity and admire the beauty!

We drove from Red Lodge to Cody, along the Beartooth Highway and then taking the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. Superb day with amazing views along the route.

Really recommend taking this route and taking your time - the vistas keep changing and each is spectacular.

This was a favorite on our 3500 mile trip. There was not much traffic on the road. We enjoyed the views, hairpin curves, and steep inclines. Just beautiful!!!

While in the are why not be over stimulated by driving this scenic highway. Not recommended if the roads are ice or snow covered.

While visiting Yellowstone and Cody we went to the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway near Cody. This is a beautiful drive! Red hills and mountains with green pastures here and there. It was elk hunting season and we were able to see hunters on horseback riding across open fields. Also true open range with cows crossing the road. There are several places you can stop for photos or signs with history of the area. We stopped at a little store at Top of the World that was very interesting. Expect diverse weather. We ran into sun and warmth to rain, sleet and snow! Stopping at a rest stop it was sunny going into the building and snowing when I came out! Be prepared for some curves and narrow roads but well worth the way to the top. At the top it was cool and required a jacket. Landscape there was no trees, tan hills and snow. It was beautiful! It had rained and as the sun came out on part of the mountains there was dark blue skies in another area. I was lucky enough to get a great shot of a rainbow over the landscape. Take a camera!! This byway goes by a view of beartooth also. Note that the byway closes early in the season due to weather. Best time before closing is Oct. as we went in taht month but approval of this review was just short of a few days of Oct 2011 so posted as Nov 2011. I wrote in late.

Absolutely beautiful scenery at every turn. Love the points of interest to look out. Has to be seen to truely appreciated.

What a find Chief Joseph scenic hwy, is a stunning drive took us an extra hour to get to Cody as we were stopping so many times to view and picture the amazing scenes

Great drive, highly worth your time if you are in the Yellowstone/Cody, WY area. We opted to spend a day driving out of the N.W. Yellowstone entrance to Red Lodge, MT via the Beartooth Hwy and back through Cody, WY via the Chief Joseph Scenic Hwy. The two have very different but highly scenic views and overlooks. Plan on a full day if you attempt to drive both.

This is a magnificent drive with vistas, cows, canyons, deer, jagged peaks, and wide valleys. Fans of geology will love the layers of geologic history visible throughout the drive. We drove in the fall and benefited from snow on the mountains and golden quaking aspen. The history of the area enhances the experience.

We drove on this twice during trip evening was good to see few herds of Elks and some local animals on road, Lol! But morning we got to see the beauty of the valley with few chipmunks. Was worth it but drive it bit too long if your destination Yellowstone matters to you a lot.

The Chief Joseph Highway ties into the much more famous Beartooth All-American Road, yet is far less traveled. DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF MISSING IT! The Chief Joseph is a far different experience from the Beartooth. Joe has more up-and-down and more spectacular gorges and jagged mountain peaks than the Beartooth, which has much more arctic plateau driving at 10,000 feet altitude and above. There's only one way to get the total experience that's largely not experienced by travelers: Starting from Cody WY or Cooke City MT or Red Lodge MT, make a "loop" consisting of the Chief Joseph, the Beartooth, and highways 120 (WY) and 72 (MT). You'll never regret or forget it.

We were disappointed because the Bear Tooth Highway had been just closed due to snow. This was an alternate route. What a great alternate! Lovely from start to finish, with the highlight being the Sunshine Creek Bridge. 400 feet above the most beautiful rocked canyon. Just incredible scenery!

This drive matches every drive I have ever taken. It is awesome. The switchbacks, one right after the other give you goosebumps. Then you get to the scenic vista at the top and it will floor you. Then you read the history of the area and how The Indians were chased through this area and you have new respect for them and how they made it through. But make sure your camera has fresh batteries as you will want to take a lot of pictures. Beware the friendly chipmunks at Dead Indian Pass. This was a road I almost didn't take but so glad we did.

If you are driving from Cody to Billings or in reverse then this highway links you to the Beartooth Highway which is a great drive with beautiful scenery. However, the Chief Joseph Highway has some stunning scenery and isn't a route to be skipped if you can help it.

Just returned from 3 weeks in Cody WY. While in Cody I made several day trips into Yellowstone National Park. While the North Fork highway linking Cody with the East entrance to Yellowstone is a beautiful drive, I found the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway to be even more so. You access the road just 13 miles N of Cody on HWY 120. The road winds through the mountains connecting with the Beartooth highway which then connects Red Lodge to the NE and Cook City MT to the W. Continuing on the Beartooth HWY to the west will bring you to the NE entrance to Yellowstone. An excellent way to access Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs.

Very Scenic drive! Not sure I would recommend it for people pulling a camper though as it is very steep in spots with sharp hairpin turns.

We took the Chief Joseph Highway back to Red Lodge after driving the nail biting Bear Tooth Highway to Cook City. The Chief Joseph Highway is a beautiful more relaxed valley drive through Wyoming back to Montana with wide vistas and colourful views in the fall. Don't miss this beautiful drive!

This scenic drive should not be missed!!! It is a destination. We were in Cody and took this road one afternoon. Seems like around every turn we said "oh my gosh, isn't that pretty". The elevation climbs to over 8500 ft! Just go!!

This scenic highway is a must see, don't miss the opportunity. Great views, beautiful flora and fauna. Lot's of turnouts for photos and interpretive signs along the entire route.

It might add a little time to your trip. . . but the views are totally worth it! Traffic was light on the day we headed out as well. Few people on the roads allowed us to take our time and stop to get a few pictures along the way. I typically do not like heights or driving on steep mountain roads but handled this route just fine. Many pullouts/overlooks are present to safely pull off the road and take in the scenery.
Restrooms were also conveniently available. Silver Gate and Cooke City give you a chance to fill up on gas/get supplies before you head into the park. We were the only ones at the Yellowstone NE Entrance gate when we pulled up -- and this route takes you right into Lamar Valley with great wildlife viewing opportunities.

I drove the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway in Wyoming. It is really high in altitude, so that you can
see many of the snow-covered mountain ranges in the surrounding area. It is absolutely
breath-taking. The overlook pull-out area at the top is a must to stop and take in the view.
I was using it as a connector route between Cody, WY and Red Lodge, MT. At the end of
this road, you can either go on to Cooke City and Yellowstone National Park or turn right
and do the Beartooth Highway which goes to Red Lodge and Billings, MT. Well worth it.

We had done the Beartooth Pass scenic road on a prior Yellowstone trip based on recommendations from friends at home. We went on the Chief Joseph scenic highway based on the recommendations of LOCALS. They are right. WOW. Drive this yourself, my words do not do it justice. We went thru a little after sunrise, I would suggest that again.

Very pretty. Take your camera and stop at all of the turnouts to enjoy the view. Not scary like some of mountain highways. Just pretty.

Read about the highway's history and be sure and stop at the historical information area at the top. Beautiful drive--not quite Beartooth Hwy but very beautiful in it's own right.

Planned this ride for two years and was not disappointed. Best part was sitting in Rapid City b.s. ing about great rides around Sturgis (Spearfish,iron Mountain,Needles) and the waitress interrupts our group saying Chief Joseph is absolutely the best. And I know unlike the others its on my list of where I'm going.
I love Sedona but this road IS BIGGER. absolute BIG SKY. Stop at the scenic overlook half way thru for one of the most breathtaking views of America

Loved this scenic drive! We chose this route because I wasn't sure that I wanted to travel on the Beartooth Highway to enter Yellowstone National Park. It was a beautiful drive! If you read the reviews of Beartooth and it makes you a little nervous, this is the way to go.

Absolutely gorgeous drive!! With the fall colors it was breathtaking. We stopped a lot along the way just to take pictures and marvel at the beauty. The road was very well maintained as well. I would suggest that if you are anywhere near this, you should take a drive over it. We left Billings at 10 am and drove to Red lodge where we had lunch. Then we went up over Beartooth pass which is even more beautiful. We went as far as Cooke City and turned around and took Chief Joseph highway to Cody Wyoming where we drove to the dam and then back into Cody where we enjoyed a prime rib buffet. It was lovely btw. We drove home and we're back in Billings by 9 pm. I was a great day and I would recommend it to anyone

If you are anywhere in the area it is a wonderful, scenic drive in the Yellowstone area. Close to Cody. If you like you can continue into the park.

I have family in the area (near Cody, WY) and so they took us on a drive along the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and the Beartooth Highway. It is amazing, and worth setting aside several hours for as there are many places worth visiting, both for the views and learning a little more about the history of what has happened in this area - this is where Chief Joseph led his Nez Pierce tribe in an attempt to escape into Canada.

The highway provides amazing views of the Absaroka Mountains, Beartooth Mountains and the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone river and also the Shoshone National Forest. It is only 46 miles but since there are many curves and turns, you need to take it slow (plus, you'll want to enjoy the view!)

Stops of interest include Dead Indian Pass and the Sunset Creek Bridge over Sunset Creek (which empties into the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone). This is an amazing bridge over a large gorge - the highest in Wyoming!

It also leads right into the Beartooth Highway (which swings back to Red Lodge, MT, and from there we headed back to Cody), so combined with that is a really great scenic drive. Or, you can take it to the Cooke City entrance to Yellowstone.

This route into Yellowstone was recommended to us by someone we met along the way. They said that the views would be great. My husband said, "Why not." I looked at the map (online, even though I'm great at the archaic art of paper map-reading) and juggled the route through Yellowstone, given that we were staying in the park.

The highway started with a hill and the entire route was hilly and twisty-turny, something I'm not great with. In fact, i got banished to the back seat for part of it. It was cloudy and overcast during the drive, but we still stopped at many places along the way to get out and take in the views and read the historical markers.The Nez Perce persevered on a rough and perilous journey. Very scenic and definitely the road less traveled.

The biggest bonus of taking this highway was using the northeast entrance of Yellowstone at Cooke City. It is a small entrance, and there were only two cars ahead of us waiting to enter. It also takes you right into the Lamar Valley. Most of the traffic in the valley is coming the other way, so it's a little easier to get through that section and not be trapped behind all of the looky-loos. When we left the park a couple of days later at the west entrance, cars and buses were backed up for a long, long way in about five lanes. It would take them over an hour to enter. It took us about three minutes. That's my best tip for Yellowstone during the busy summer tourist season.

This is a great route between Cody and West Yellowstone. Although usually mentioned in the same breath as the Beartooth Highway, if you can do only one I'd recommend this route over any other one into Yellowstone.

Chief Joseph Scenic Highway connects Bear Tooth Pass with Cody. as the name suggests it is very scenic. It is a great road for motorcyclists, in some aspects even better than the Bear Tooth Pass as it allows higher speeds.

I can't wait to come back here on my motorcycle!

This was a serendipitous find. On a whim, we decided to go from Cody, WY to the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The route took us down this road and we were stunned at the views.

Lots of twists and turns. Lots of incredible views of vast valleys and mountains.

What a jewel of a drive.

There are 5 ways to enter Yellowstone National Park, and far and away the most scenic is the northeastern approach on US 212 via Cooke City. This approach will also allow you to visit the one area of the park that sees relatively little visitor traffic, namely the corridor between Cooke City and Mammoth Springs. Whether you depart from Red Lodge and transit the Beartooth Pass, or come over the 46 mile Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296), which begins a little north of Cody, you are guaranteed spectacular scenery, although you will have to remain alert while driving because encounters with wild life on and adjacent to both roads are commonplace. Bison, wild horses, bighorn sheep, elk, white tail deer, and open range cattle may literally be waiting for you around the next curve, so take it slow and enjoy the drive. It puts Yellowstone to shame.

The serpentine drive from Cody to Beartooth highway offers numerous photo opportunities and stops with historical information. It's hard to imagine this the escape route of Chief Joseph and his Nez Perce following. While numerous curves and elevation shifts, the road is wide and easy to maneuver. The red buttes on the eastern slope, the Clark's Fork river canyon on the western slope and an endless vista of mountain peaks, mesas, green valleys and creeks makes this a must drive!

My son and I had some extra time and decided to drive Beartooth Highway. We stopped for lunch in Red Lodge and came back over the Chief Joseph Highway. Not quite as stunning as Beartooth, but still worth the trip. Do watch for cows on this road though. There was road construction and cows were eating the new grass at the side of the road and some were on the road. Nice scenery.

Stayed at Red Lodge expecting to take the Beartooth Highway, only to wake up and find the Beartooth closed that morning. Front Desk at our hotel suggested Chief Joseph.........So glad they did!

Huge mountainous vistas, rolling landscapes, rocky crags, high peaks, low valleys, rivers and an amazing view of the 'Beartooth'. Utterly recommend this route as a stunning and varied scenic treat.

Not just an alternative to the Beartooth, it stands in it's own right as a must see/do Scenic Highway.

This highway is truly amazing from start to finish. The scenery you pass through is incredible and you run out of words to describe it. It is mainly mountainous with loads of wildlife to spot as well. We were lucky enough to see a golden eagle fly right over our car!

Wonderful route to take on motorcycle! We saw some wonderful sites and some wildlife! This route also connects to the Bear Tooth Highway and it is also worth the trip to drive it!

We took the Scenic Hwy from Cody up to Montana where I had to pick up the “Gaper Guide” (check it out of you haven’t it awesome!)
Chief Joseph Highway was very nice with beautiful views along the drive. A great look out point that seems to go on forever and many other pull offs along the way.

Chief Joseph is an awesome motorbiking road. The long sweepers and awesome scenery. breathtaking. We went the last week of May first week of June 2016.

I've been on enough of the West's great scenic drives that I'm not so easy to impress, but this one dropped my jaw hard! The topography here is nothing like i,I, seen before, especially descending the NW side. Mountains, ridges, valleys, all stunning and rather otherworldly, almost unreal like a fanciful painted background for a sci fi movie set on another planet.

Absolutely stunning ride and even more beautiful from the seat of my Harley. Spectacular landscapes that provided natures eye candy around every turn. I recommend going early in the morning or late in the afternoon so the sun does not wash out the beautiful colors provided by mother nature.

Took this route from Cody Wyoming to the north eastern entrance to the Yellowstone national park. It turned out to be a memorable stunning drive! There was beautiful scenery and mountains around every twisting turn.Blown away by the magnificent beauty of this area. The road is a gem!

So, I flew into Billings, expecting to take the Beartooth bypass all the way to Yellowstone. Got all the way up the mountain only to find that the road had been closed due to snowfall. Disappointed, I was forced to go all the way back to Red Lodge and take Hwy 308 East to Hwy 72/120 and then all the way down to Hwy 296/Chief Joseph Hwy. Hwy 72/120 was pretty awesome with great mountain range views and a lot of scenic flatland; but when I got to the Chief Joseph Hwy, I drove most of the trip with my jaw open in awe of the beautiful topography and scenery. On this road, you will find rivers, lakes, mountains, plateaus, greenery, and open range/loose stock on your way to Yellowstone. I will say this, this drive from Red Lodge to Yellowstone via the means I just communicated is not for the feint of heart. It is a long drive, but doesn't seem long enough when you are willing to enjoy all it has to offer. I actually want to pull off some of the campsites and camp there on my next trip to Yellowstone. Great drive!!!

Loved this ride. We went by motorcycle. Can't wait to do it again.

A store clerk in Cody asked us what we had planned for our next day and suggested that he change our plans! He gave us directions to drive to the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and on to the Beartooth Pass. We are so glad that we ran into him! The drive was beautiful! It took several hours and some hairpin turns but it was worth every minute! If you go, be sure to climb the tower on the Beartooth Pass. We had lunch in Red Lodge, MT and returned to Cody from there.

Great highway. At first I was apprehensive when a woman at the gas station said she has panic attacks thinking about this ride. Not as bad as many mountain roads, and the scenery is worth it.!

What an spectacular and beautiful drive even with the skies overcast. The clouds hanging low over the mountains was awesome. We saw about 5 mule deer, stopped off at the highest bridge in Wyoming and then headed onto Cooke City, MT.

Aside from the historical significance of this route, the scenery is spectacular, but that is only the beginning of the story. We drove up Chief Joseph Highway and then continued across the Beartooth Highway before returning to Cody. Neither words nor pictures can describe the phenomenal geology of this are. I only have two pieces of advice to offer. First, just do it. Second, do not haul a trailer with you. Leave it in Cody and pick it up later in the day. This is a highway for the ages, not for the trailer.

This is rated as one of the top motorcycle routes in the US. It rises to around 11,000 feet, so clearly is not open all year. Do your research.

We decided to drive into Yellowstone via the Beartooth Hwy and then return via Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. What a great choice! Cooke City was our base of operations into Yellowstone, and we stopped at Red Lodge for provisions before starting our journey. Beartooth and Chief Joseph highways are very different adventures and both should be experienced. There are more hikes and long range vistas on Beartooth, but more mesas and canyons on Chief Joseph. Lovely drives so glad that we have them in our memories.

We are from Colorado and used to beautiful mountain scenery, but this drive was unbelievably beautiful. Miles of rolling green hills with mountains and rock formations, the views simply took my breath away.

The Chief Joseph highway in Wyoming is in one of the top motorcycle touring roads in the country. And a big plus is that it connects with the Bear Tooth Highway which was rated the number one scenic road in American Motorcycle magazine. In addition to absolutely knock out scenery, the road is smooth and full of big sweeper curves that make it such a great cycle road. (would be nice in a sports car too) If you take this road out of Cody Wyoming on 120, it meets up with 296 which is the Chief Joseph highway. It will finally meet up with Us 212, where you can go right and go over Bear Tooth Pass to Red Lodge MT (highly recommended) or go left to Cooke City and North Yellowstone soon after. This trip in combination with visits to Cody and Yellowstone park is a trip that is hard to beat for western scenery and attractions.

The Wyoming Highway 296 aka The Chief Joseph Scenic Highway is a truly spectacular road. The Highway travels north from Wyoming to Cody, Shushone Forest to Beartooth covering some of the most beautiful and stunning landscapes along its way. The road is named after Chief Joseph, leader of the native American tribe Nez Perce in the mid to late 1800's. One of the highlights of the journey is the crossing of the Sunlight Bridge over Sunlight Creek.

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, aka highway 296, was worth the small diversion heading north to Glacier NP. Along the byway there are turnouts with gorgeous views. We didn't spend much time at any of the turnouts; we didn't plan to do any hikes. You will notice that this is open range country. We didn't see much wildlife.

If you are Feeling adventurous while in Yellowstone, make a loop out of Lamar Valley to chief Joseph highway with dead Indian pass to Cody to the east gate and to Fishing bridge! It'll fill your day especially if you Detour to Beartooth Pass! You will be rewarded by fantastic vistas, A panoply of geologic layers, and out-of-the-way less well-known attractions which should feed your appetite for diversity. This is spectacular landscape! I can't wait to go back.

I planned our Yellowstone trip around entering the park via the Beartooth out of Red Lodge. We were able to leave a day early so spent a night in Cody and took the Chief Joseph up to the Beartooth and Red Lodge. I loved this road! IMHO more beautiful than the Beartooth because less Alpine. Snow melt was happening, the rivers and waterfalls were wild, wildflowers were blooming and it was very green. My favorite. Period.

We enjoyed our drive on a very cold, snowy, sleety day. Just took it slow and easy - we greatly appreciated the beauty of the day even through the clouds. The highest point was around 8000 feet. Would love to drive this again on a sunny day! We began in Cody and completed in Cooke City - as the Beartooth was closed. Our round trip was approximately 160 miles.

If you are looking for adventure and a beautiful scenic drive, you can't beat this. Now, do it on a Harley Davidson and WOW. While you are at it.. Take in the Bear Tooth Hiway as well.