Beartooth Highway & Wildlife Safari — Private Yellowstone Tour

Experience one of the most spectacular scenic drives in America on this private Yellowstone National Park tour. The Beartooth Highway offers sweeping alpine vistas, dramatic mountain passes, and exceptional wildlife viewing — all from the comfort of a private guided tour departing from Big Sky.

Explore One of America’s Most Beautiful Highways

The Beartooth Highway has been called “the most beautiful drive in America,” and for good reason. This private tour takes you from Big Sky through West Yellowstone, into the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley, and up and over the 10,947-foot Beartooth Pass — a route filled with rugged peaks, alpine lakes, and unforgettable views.

Your guide handles the driving and timing while you enjoy the scenery, wildlife, and interpretive storytelling that brings this extraordinary landscape to life.

Tour Highlights

• Lamar Valley — “America’s Serengeti”
• Cooke City & Silver Gate
• Beartooth Highway & Beartooth Pass (10,947 ft)
• Vista Point Overlook
• Beartooth Falls
• Pilot & Index Peaks
• Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness views
• High alpine lakes above tree line

What Your Day Looks Like

Your private tour begins in Big Sky and travels through West Yellowstone before entering the Lamar Valley — one of the best wildlife habitats in North America. From there, the route continues through Cooke City and climbs toward the summit of Beartooth Pass, where panoramic views stretch across Montana and Wyoming.

The Beartooth Highway features dramatic switchbacks, alpine tundra, and numerous scenic pullouts. On the Montana side, the road drops nearly 4,500 feet into Rock Creek Canyon, where snow often clings to the cliffs year-round.

In May, June, and July, you may even see backcountry skiers navigating steep snowfields near the summit.

Wildlife You May See

Because this tour spans multiple elevations and ecosystems, wildlife sightings can be exceptional — especially from Memorial Day through early July.

• Bison
• Elk
• Pronghorn antelope
• Black bears & grizzly bears
• Wolves
• Coyotes
• Mule deer
• Bighorn sheep
• Mountain goats
• Moose

Wildlife is never guaranteed, but this route offers some of the best opportunities in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Geology & Interesting Facts

The Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness contains some of the largest remaining roadless areas in the Lower 48. Many of the alpine lakes along the highway sit above both the tree line and the tundra line, where vegetation becomes sparse due to elevation and climate.

Yellowstone National Park — established in 1872 as the world’s first national park — is home to one of the most diverse wildlife populations in North America. Free‑ranging herds of bison and elk roam the region, along with bears, wolves, mountain lions, and a wide variety of bird species including bald eagles and trumpeter swans.

Weather & Seasonal Notes

The Beartooth Highway is typically open from late May through early October, depending on snowpack. Weather can change rapidly at high elevations, and temporary closures are possible.

If the pass is closed, your guide may reroute the tour along the equally scenic Chief Joseph Highway or the East Entrance Road.

Who This Tour Is Perfect For

• Scenic‑drive enthusiasts
• Photographers
• Guests wanting a unique, less‑crowded Yellowstone experience
• Travelers who enjoy dramatic mountain landscapes
• Wildlife lovers

What’s Included

• Private, professional guide
• Comfortable, well‑equipped vehicle
• Door‑to‑door pickup in Big Sky
• Spotting scopes & binoculars
• Interpretive wildlife, geology & natural history insights

Rates & Group Size

See our 2026 Private Tour Rates for detailed pricing.

Some Interesting Facts:
Yellowstone National Park was established by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, and was the first national park in the world.  The vast mountainous forests and grasslands of Yellowstone Park are home to some of our nations most spectacular and diverse wildlife. Bear, Wolves, Elk, Moose, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Deer, Coyotes, Mountain Lions, and other animals have been documented in the park. Free-ranging herds of Bison and Elk also live in Yellowstone, fed by many of the unique species of plants that call the park home. Trumpeter Swans and Bald Eagles are also common sights in Yellowstone.