The Beaten Path

The Beaten Path begins at the East Rosebud Trailhead (~6,242') near Roscoe, Montana, and ends near Cooke City, Montana at the Russell Creek Trailhead (~8,100'). The route is described south — starting at East Rosebud and finishing near Cooke City, which is the more common direction and gains the most elevation. From East Rosebud Lake, follow the East Rosebud Trail south into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The trail immediately enters a dramatic canyon flanked by massive rock walls with snow-holding couloirs. The route climbs steadily southward, following the drainage through wildflower meadows and boulder fields, passing a series of alpine lakes including Elk Lake and Rainbow Lake in the first half of the route. At approximately 16 miles the trail crests onto the Beartooth Plateau, a broad high-elevation landscape of exposed rock and shallow gravelly lakes at 9,000–10,000'. The plateau section continues south with views of Granite Peak (Montana's highest) and the surrounding Beartooth summits before descending into the Cooke City drainage. The trail exits east of Cooke City on the Clark's Fork side. Car shuttle logistics require advance planning — the two trailheads are separated by hours of highway driving; the ideal setup is two groups hiking opposite directions and swapping vehicles.