Red Lodge is a resort and ranching community with a colorful coal mining past that sits in the shadow of 28 different 12,000-foot peaks. This charming alpine town is nestled in the foothills of the magnificent Beartooth Mountains and is surrounded by Custer National Forest. The 69-mile Beartooth Scenic Drive has dramatic switchbacks overlooking snow-capped peaks, glaciers, alpine lakes and plateaus.
Area attractions include historic downtown Red Lodge, the Carbon County Museum, which invites all those who are interested in the spirit of Montana's pioneer heritage to view its exhibits; nearby Yellowstone National Park and Cooney State Park; and, of course, Red Lodge Mountain Ski Resort. At the Beartooth Nature Center, visitors can view and pet native wild and domestic animals who are housed at the center because they can’t be returned to the wild.
Population: 2,483 | Elevation: 5,568ft. | County: Carbon | www.redlodge.com