17 THINGS TO DO IN RED LODGE, MONTANA
Red Lodge, Montana, the Basecamp to the Beartooths, is one of America's most scenic small towns. The small western town is situated against the magnificent Beartooth mountains with easy access to Yellowstone National Park, Custer Gallatin National Forest and empty wilderness areas. Packed with delicious restaurants, art galleries, boutiques and colorful watering holes, Red Lodge is a great week-long destination offering plenty to do in the immediate area. Check out our curated list of the best things to do while you're in town.
1. Rent a Slingshot for a drive over the Beartooth Highway
Beartooth Slingshots bills their rentals as The Thrill on the Pass! for a good reason. They certainly are a thrill! Grab a 2 seat, 3 wheeler Slingshot (no motorcycle license required) for 24 hours and head over the famous Beartooth Highway, located just outside of Red Lodge and wind your way over the switchbacks to Cooke City for lunch, then into Yellowstone Park to see the animals in your topless Slingshot. Better yet, grab one for 2 days and do a complete tour of the Park.
2. Ride a fat tire E-Bike
What better way to get around Red Lodge than on a new Fat Tire E-Bike? And when you're done touring the town, head in almost any direction to catch a trail and ride through the forest and hills surrounding the town. Beartooth E-Bikes has a fleet of new Aventon Aventure bikes available for 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours and multi-day. A fun adventure activity for any group!
3. Historic downtown shopping
Downtown Red Lodge offers something for everyone! Delightful, chic and traditional restaurants are found on every block of downtown. Summers are busy, so make sure you have reservations! Also to be discovered are wonderful art galleries, interesting boutiques and gift shops, bakeries, a specialty wine and cheese shop, and colorful watering holes where you can wet your whistle, listen to a live band and rub elbows with local cowboys.
4. Get wet with Adventure Whitewater
Adventure Whitewater, as featured on ESPN, is a rafting company specializing in personal trips, owned by Marek Rosin who has over 30 years of experience as a professional whitewater guide. Adventure Whitewater is qualified to provide you with the whitewater adventure that will be the highlight of your Montana vacation.
5. Yellowstone and Teton National Parks
Yellowstone Park is accessible from Red Lodge via the Beartooth Highway, or via Cody, Wyoming. The park sits on top of a dormant volcano and is home to more geysers and hot springs than any other place on earth. Wonders abound at this truly unique national park, from sites like the Yellowstone Grand Canyon to wildlife like America’s largest buffalo herd, grizzly bears, and wolves.
Just south of Yellowstone is Teton National Park, the "Alps" of the USA. Beautiful mountains and lakes await visitors to this incredible park.
6. UTV rental with Red Lodge Powersports
Red Lodge is surrounded by great forest roads and exploring them in a Can-Am 2 seat or 6 seat UTV is an awesome way to see the area. Rent one at Red Lodge Powersports and head up the Hell Roaring trail or go camping along Rock Creek, just 12 miles south of town. Or, grab a Honda Rukus scooter and buzz around town - no motorcycle license required!
7. Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary
The Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary is an educational adventure for the whole family where wild animal sightings are guaranteed! Watch the black bears splash in their pools and play chase, say hello to Speedy the American Bison, Bob the Bobcat, Thor the Lynx and watch dozens of amazing raptors bask in the sun! The gardens in the sanctuary are gorgeous and there are lovely areas for a picnic.
8. Red Lodge Mountain & Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area
With 1,635 acres, 2,400′ vertical drop and 70 runs, Red Lodge Mountain offers something for everyone. Open from Thanksgiving weekend till the 2nd week of April.
The Beartooth Basin Summer Ski area, located 30 miles south of Red Lodge on the Beartooth Hwy, is staffed with professional ski patrol and and lift attendants just as any other ski area, but with a summer like setting above 10,000 feet that can sometimes turn to winter at a moments notice.
9. Rent a motorcycle from Rocky Mountain Motos
Grab an Adventure motorcycle or Harley-Davidson street machine and head out exploring the endless gravel roads, country roads and switchbacks the Red Lodge area offers. Rocky Mountain Motos offers a fleet of 13 new machines equipped with everything you need for your adventure. Red Lodge is your home base for adventure in Yellowstone, Teton and Glacier National Parks.
10. Go on a hike
Red Lodge is surrounded by many excellent trail systems ranging from beginner to expert. Visit the Beartooth Recreational Trails System website for an area map and more information on each hiking trail.
11. Carbon County Museum
The Carbon County Historical Society and Museum highlights the historic Carbon County area including the Greenough and Linderman family (rodeo legends) collection, the Waples family historic gun and Indian artifact collections, interactive coal and hard rock mine exhibits and much more. The museum also houses the Carbon County archives and assists with genealogical and historic research.
12. Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot
The Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot Gallery provides a venue for nearly 200 artists who are members, to show and sell their work in group or solo shows and in the Depot sales galleries.
13. Horseback riding with Elk River Outfitters
Elk River Outfitters offers horseback rides in scenic Red Lodge, Montana just minutes from downtown. Their guided horseback rides start near Rock Creek and gradually rise to a vista where 7 mountain ranges can be seen. They offer a variety of rides from one hour, two hours, half day and full day. Shorter rides take place in the foothills and the longer rides are done in the mountains. Great for all ages of your family.
14. Tippet Rise Art Center
Tippet Rise Art Center is located in Fishtail, Montana, against the backdrop of the Beartooth Mountains. Set on a 10,260-acre working sheep and cattle ranch, Tippet Rise hosts classical chamber music and recitals and exhibits large-scale, outdoor sculptures. Bike, hike, or take a tour by carbon-neutral electric van.
15. Area lakes & river fishing
If you're hankering to cast a line, there aren't many better places than Red Lodge. Rock Creek meanders through town and is an excellent small river providing rainbow and brown trout. For a daytime family outing, try Wild Bill Lake, just a few miles west of town, or Greenough Lake, 12 miles south. Northwest of Red Lodge, you can find the famous Stillwater River. Also in the area are Cooney Lake, East Rosebud Lake, the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone and many more. Get your fishing license at the Red Lodge True Value hardware store and ask the locals there for some tips.
16. Pig races at the Bearcreek Saloon
The Bear Creek Saloon offers great food and drinks. The Pig Races are a miniature version of the Kentucky Derby, complete with race track, a bugle, and wild racing pigs competing for the winning ribbon. Order a juicy steak, a cold one and place your bet on your favorite pig. Great for the entire family!
17. Red Lodge Mountain Golf Course
With a mid-high slope of 126 spread across a generous 160 acres, Red Lodge Mountain Golf Course has enough challenging terrain to keep you on your toes. Add to that several lakes, lots of creek crossings, the occasional July snowstorm, and a neighborhood moose or deer wandering across your fairway, and a day out on the Red Lodge links never feels like the same old thing.
Red Lodge, Montana
Located outside the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park and just an hour south of Billings, an hour north of Cody, and 2 hours, 15 minutes from Bozeman.
