Beartooth Highway, MT · WY
A short lake loop with two accessible fishing docks.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Beartooth Highway Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Beartooth Highway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Beartooth Highway audio tourMore stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Wild Bill Lake Trail #62 is a 0.4-mile loop around a small mountain lake, with two fishing docks along the shore. It is an easy leg stretch near Red Lodge or a relaxed stop if you are fishing; allow about 20 to 30 minutes for the lap and a look around.
A wide, hard-surface path covers about half the loop. The full circuit is not described as continuously barrier-free, so check before setting out if you need a smooth paved route. The lake and its two accessible fishing decks are the main reasons to walk the whole circuit.
Wild Bill Lake is stocked with rainbow trout several times a year. The day-use area has four first-come picnic sites, accessible tables and toilets, with no fee. Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed or otherwise physically restrained in the developed area. West Fork Road closes each year from Dec 2 to Apr 14, cutting off car access; the site is maintained from Memorial Day to early September, with reduced service in the shoulder season.
Wildlife
42 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
22 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
49 sightingsBisonMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
122 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
260 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
16 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Beartooth Highway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingBasin Lakes Trail8 mi · 5 hr · 1.1 mi awayTwo lakes and a waterfall reward a steady forest climb.
ModerateSilver Run Trail #102 (Full Loop)5 mi · 2.3 hr · 1.4 mi awayA five-mile multiuse loop beside West Fork Rock Creek.
ChallengingIngles Creek Trail #352.5 mi · 2 hr · 2.1 mi awayA steep 2.5-mile descent links two Silver Run trail branches.
ModerateNichols Creek Trail4.3 mi · 3.3 hr · 2.7 mi awayA meadow approach turns into a long climb through pines.
ModeratePalisades Trail #1097 mi · 4 hr · 3 mi awayA 7-mile out-and-back with a Fox Road turnaround
ChallengingMount Maurice Trail14 mi · 8.5 hr · 4.5 mi awayThe climb keeps going beyond Line Creek Plateau.
ChallengingBear Track Trail12.5 mi · 10 hr · 4.7 mi awayA hard 12.5-mile climb across Silver Run Plateau into wilderness.
ChallengingSilver Run Plateau Trail via Timberline11.8 mi · 8 hr · 4.8 mi awayAn 11.8-mile climb from Timberline Trailhead to alpine tundra.
Campground · 4.9 mi awaySheridan CampgroundNine creekside sites make a quiet base for fishing and hiking.
Sight · 5.1 mi awayBeartooth Highway Welcome SignA quick welcome photo before the high-country drive.
Campground · 5.2 mi awayRattin CampgroundSeven wooded, creekside sites make a practical overnight near Red Lodge.
Visitor center · 6.5 mi awayRed Lodge Visitors CenterA practical first stop for maps, Yellowstone info, and road updates.
Campground · 6.8 mi awayParkside CampgroundCreekside camping near the foot of the Beartooth switchbacks.
Campground · 7 mi awayLimber Pine CampgroundA quiet creekside base below the Beartooth switchbacks.
Campground · 7.2 mi awayGreenough Lake CampgroundCreekside camping, with Greenough Lake a short walk away.
Sight · 7.5 mi awayCalamity FallsA 1.3-mile trail walk reaches falls tucked into a rocky gorge.Parkwolf’s Beartooth Highway ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
