Canget - Red Lodge, Montana

RECREATION | DESTINATION RED LODGESIGHTSEEING Take a walking tour ofdowntown Red Lodge (see page 36 formore information). Or, hop in the carand take in the scenery. The BeartoothAll-American Road is a sure bet, orcheck out one of our other area tripsstarting on page 54.WILDLIFE WATCHING The BeartoothMountains are home to grizzly andblack bears, as well as elk, deer, moose,Bighorn Sheep, Rocky MountainGoats, mountain lions and bobcats.Remember to keep a respectful – andsafe – distance between you and ourwild neighbors.Try a visit to the Silver Run elkviewing area located on Ski Runroad just before the West Fork turnoff.The site includes interpretive plaquesand a handicap-accessible telescope forviewing the winter range of the SilverRun elk herd.HIKING Just south of town sits CusterNational Forest and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. More than 700miles of hiking trails provide accessto it, making this – the fifth largestwilderness area in the country. Comespringtime and snowmelt, the alpinemeadows blossom with wildflowersjust as high country trails open to foottraffic, offering hikers magnificentmountain scenery as well astrout-filled lakes, stunningwaterfalls and abundantwildlife.MOUNTAINEERING& bacKPACKING TheAbsaroka- BeartoothWilderness is home tohundreds of miles of trailsand a wide variety of terrainfor rock and ice climbing.It’s also where you’ll findMontana’s tallest peaks, includingGranite Peak, the state’s highest pointat 12,799 feet. Local guides can helpyou learn the fundamentals of alpinemountaineering and provide guidingservices to summits throughout theBeartooths.BIKING Red Lodge offers access todiverse cycling terrain for both fat andskinny tires. For a mellow mountainbike ride chock full of scenery (anda few good hills), follow the unpavedMeeteetse Trail just south of town.If you prefer the pavement, followHighway 212 south of town to the footof the Beartooth ScenicByway. We dare you to climbto the top!© Merv ColemanGOLFING Just west oftown, Red Lodge MountainResort’s 18-hole golf courseprovides 100-mile viewsand a challenging terraincrisscrossed with tree-linedstreams. Call 446-3344 formore information.HORSEBACK RIDINGIf you prefer to let someone elsedo the walking, try venturing intothe backcountry or the foothills onhorseback. Local guides and outfittersoffer a variety of trips, from hourlongtrail rides in the foothills of theBeartooths to week-long pack trips inthe spectacular Absaroka-BeartoothWilderness.22 FACEBOOK.COM/REDLODGE TWITTER.COM/REDLODGEMONTANA