[WATCH] This is What Flooding Did to Montana’s Beartooth Highway
The Beartooth Highway is known as the most scenic route into Yellowstone National Park.
Recent historic flooding in Yellowstone National Park and surrounding communities will have a lasting impact on residents and visitors alike. Many communities that surround YNP are scrambling to rebuild.
All five entrances to YNP are currently closed, but park officials are working to reopen the west, south, and east entrances to as early as next week. However, access will be limited and the National Park Service does not yet have an estimate on when Yellowstone will fully reopen.
If you've made plans to drive the Beartooth Highway this summer, the Montana Department of Transportation issued an update on the status of the highway on Friday. The good news is that the water around Red Lodge and the Beartooth Highway has receded, and crews are continuing to evaluate the damage. The Beartooth Highway on the Montana side has no damage and will only require cleanup prior to reopening.
Six locations beginning at milepost 56.4 on US 212 south of Red Lodge have been identified and repairs will begin early next week. MDT hopes to have repairs completed and the roadway opened as quickly as possible.
The highway is currently been closed from milepost 56.4 to the lower gate located at milepost 61.3 leading up from Red Lodge. MDT crews will be working over the weekend to prepare for repairs next week.
The Beartooth Highway will remain closed while repair work is being done. Keep an eye on the MDT 511 map/app for updated closure information.
Here is drone footage of damage along the Beartooth Highway.