Trip Planner
Red Lodge is the kind of place that wears its history on its sleeve — and its ski pants. Once a coal mining town, today it’s a vibrant mountain community sitting in the shadows of 28 different 12,000-foot peaks. The famous Beartooth Highway (open seasonally) begins in Red Lodge, offering a winding, high-altitude route to Yellowstone National Park. With glacier-carved switchbacks, alpine plateaus and big-sky views around every bend, this stretch of road is often called one of the most beautiful in the country.
Downtown, you’ll find historic hotels, bars, shops, standout culinary establishments foodies flock to, and restaurants full of western character. Just outside of town, a local brewery adds to the mix. When the snow flies, Red Lodge Mountain comes alive. Pro tip: Take the Willow Creek chairlift to the Midway Chalet for a hot lunch and views of five mountain ranges. After your turns, turn in at the Pollard Hotel, Red Lodge’s first brick building, which opened in 1893 and still holds its historic allure.
There’s another layer to Red Lodge, too — the paranormal kind. The town has earned a reputation as one of Montana’s most haunted places. Many say the activity centers around the Pollard Hotel, where, in 1897, guests reportedly watched the Sundance Kid rob the bank across the street.
This is a town that knows how to celebrate — from art walks to songwriting festivals to the unique appeal of summer skiing on Beartooth Pass. Art in the Beartooths, a long-standing community tradition, brings together artists and art lovers every summer.
After a day in the mountains, head to Red Lodge Ales Brewing Company for a Beartooth Pale Ale and hearty fare. With views of the peaks you just played in, the post-adventure pint hits differently.
On summer Saturdays (July–September), start at Lions Park for the Red Lodge Farmers Market. Follow it with a visit to the Carbon County Museum to trace the region’s story—from coal and rail to ranching and rodeo. Cap the day with a film at the historic Roman Theater, showing movies since 1917.
Red Lodge knows how to throw a party. Every July, the Home of Champions Rodeo packs the grandstands with roping and riding — a tradition since the 1890s. June brings the Montana Renaissance Festival, with jousting, crafts and costumed revelry, while the Red Lodge Music Festival fills the town with melody. Summer also marks the Beartooth Rally, Montana’s largest motorcycle rally, and the quirky Monster Dog Pull, where pups pull kegs in sleds to the delight of spectators. When the snow flies, crowds gather for Red Lodge’s Nationals Finals Skijoring Races—horse-and-rider teams towing skiers through gates and over jumps in a high-energy winter spectacle. Rounding out the year are the Beartooth Run, the festive Red Lodge Christmas Stroll, and a steady lineup of concerts, art walks and community events that keep the calendar full.
