Cooke City Highway in Montana

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
baltrusch
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:58 am
First Name: Kurt
Last Name: Baltrusch
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 speedster, 1918 Touring, 1922 Sedan
Location: Great Falls, MT

Cooke City Highway in Montana

Post by baltrusch » Sun Feb 10, 2019 10:00 am

The Cooke City Highway (Highway 212)provides a great Model T route from Billings to Yellowstone and you can proceed to Yellowstone or turn off of that and go toward Cody, WY on the Sunlight Basin Road (Highway 296). The Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody is a great stop. Both roads are very scenic but you can encounter rain and snow anytime of the year.
Attached is a photo of my old speedster at a turnoff along the way. It is great (almost mandatory) to have auxiliary transmissions and brakes for these roads.

There are also primitive roads throughout the Cooke City area if you are so inclined. These roads have been improved but can be rocky and slow, but provide additional beautiful scenery. There is outback camping throughout the areas but bears are a concern. I am sure that the tour organzers or us other locals can provide additional information.
Attachments
BeartoothSpeedster.JPG


Don D
Posts: 284
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:36 pm
First Name: Don
Last Name: Demio
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1919 T
Location: Tennessee
MTFCA Number: 27167
MTFCI Number: 20405

Re: Cooke City Highway in Montana

Post by Don D » Sun Feb 10, 2019 10:10 am

Kurt,

Thanks for the information. I and others are attempting to formulate plans to determine if a trip to Yellowstone after the Billings Tour will work for each of us.

Have a great day,
Dom

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Cooke City Highway in Montana

Post by Steve Jelf » Sun Feb 10, 2019 10:53 am

The Buffalo Bill Museum is a national treasure. It's a must for anybody who appreciates our history. With art by Bierstadt, Moran, Russell, Remington, and Jackson, and wonderful artifacts and displays, it's easy to spend hours there. A highlight for me was reading Russell's letters with illustrations in the margins. Great fun.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring


Scott_Conger
Posts: 6428
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
First Name: Scott
Last Name: Conger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13, '15, '19, '23
Location: Clark, WY
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: Cooke City Highway in Montana

Post by Scott_Conger » Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:36 am

Actually, this section of Route 212 is called the Beartooth Highway, for the mountain range that it traverses. It takes you to Cooke City, MT and then West to Yellowstone or east on the Chief Joseph By-Way down to Cody. Just east of Cook City is Clark's Fork Canyon, where the Beartooth range changes to the Absoroka range (Remember 'Longmire' on TV?) We're just north of the Chief Joseph/120 intersection by 15 miles (BTW, in Wyoming distance that's real close :D ). The admonition to have auxilliary transmission and brakes CANNOT BE OVERSTATEED.

The Beartooth Highway can be searched on the internet and you will see it is amoung the top 2-3 scenic roads in America. While the pictures are spectacular, they don't do justice to the real thing. Just be sure you're ready for it.
Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Cooke City Highway in Montana

Post by Steve Jelf » Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:05 pm

When traveling in the West at high elevations, even in the middle of summer, bring your coat. My Beartooth drive was in light rain that changed to snow. That was in early August. Cold weather isn't guaranteed, but it can happen.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

User avatar

Rich Eagle
Posts: 6791
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Cooke City Highway in Montana

Post by Rich Eagle » Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:03 pm

I'm sure Beartooth pass is wonderful in any car but in an open Model T it is breathtaking. These old photos don't do it justice. It was July or August. As mentioned, take a coat. We had light snow going down the other side. Cody is also a total delight. We treated tourers there summer before last from two dozen states. It was very much enjoyed.
Thanks for mentioning it.
Rich
Beartooth1.jpg
Beartooth2.jpg
When did I do that?

User avatar

kelly mt
Posts: 249
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:55 pm
First Name: Pat
Last Name: Kelly
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 23 Speedster, 25 TT, 26 Roadster, 27 Tudor
Location: Noxon MT

Re: Cooke City Highway in Montana

Post by kelly mt » Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:30 pm

Yes, bring your coat, scarf and gloves. That is one of the best roads I've driven in a T. Fantastic!
Attachments
IMG_6972.JPG


Joss
Posts: 44
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:46 am
First Name: Joss
Last Name: Sanderson
Location: Tucson AZ

Re: Cooke City Highway in Montana

Post by Joss » Sun Feb 10, 2019 6:57 pm

An absolutely wonderful drive. Do the Chief Joseph loop to Cody and be sure to visit the pig races outside Red Lodge. If your group is scheduling a tour let the North American Touring Ts know. Am sure a couple of us would love to join you.

User avatar

kelly mt
Posts: 249
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:55 pm
First Name: Pat
Last Name: Kelly
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 23 Speedster, 25 TT, 26 Roadster, 27 Tudor
Location: Noxon MT

Re: Cooke City Highway in Montana

Post by kelly mt » Sun Feb 10, 2019 8:26 pm

Joss. The Billings club is having a tour this July 16-20. They are including the Bear Tooth Hwy. Add is in the Sept./Oct Vintage Ford page 12.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic