Montana's Gateway: Epic Mountain Adventures Within 2 Hours of Billings

Let me be clear—in my decades of global mountain exploration, few driving experiences match the raw spectacle of the Beartooth Highway. This 68-mile stretch of US Route 212 northeast of Billings climbs to nearly 11,000 feet through switchbacks that would make Swiss engineers nod in appreciation.

Last summer, my colleague Dan and I left our Billings hotel at dawn, travel mugs filled with robust coffee. By 7:30 AM, we were already climbing through ecological zones as if traveling from Mexico to Canada in the span of an hour. The highway typically opens late May and closes in October, though I've learned through experience that June snowstorms are not uncommon.

At the Rock Creek Vista Point (elevation 9,190 feet), we stepped into air so crystalline it seemed to amplify colors. Below us, valleys carved by ancient glaciers stretched toward the horizon. This isn't casual sightseeing—it's a transcendent experience that recalibrates your understanding of scale in the natural world.

For those venturing beyond the pavement, the Beartooth's countless alpine lakes offer world-class trout fishing. My packable fishing rod has accompanied me to remote waters worldwide, but the golden trout I caught in a nameless Beartooth lake remains a highlight of my angling life.

If Billings is the gateway, then the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is the kingdom beyond. This 944,000-acre wilderness stretches west of the city like a fortress of granite and ice, containing Montana's highest peak (Granite Peak, 12,799 feet) and hundreds of alpine lakes.

After 15 years of exploring polar and alpine environments, I've developed a sixth sense for terrain that offers the optimal balance of challenge and reward. The Beaten Path trail exemplifies this perfectly—a 26-mile point-to-point route that traverses the heart of the wilderness. While ambitious as a multi-day backpacking adventure, day-hikers can sample its splendor by accessing trailheads near Red Lodge.

Last July, I tackled the East Rosebud to Cooke City route over four days. My satellite communicator proved invaluable when afternoon thunderstorms forced us to adjust our itinerary. The device's weather forecasting capability helped us time our alpine passes strategically—a critical safety consideration in mountain environments where conditions change with frightening speed.

What distinguishes this wilderness from others I've explored is its remarkable accessibility relative to its pristine condition. Within 90 minutes of leaving downtown Billings, you can be standing beside alpine lakes so clear you can count the pebbles 20 feet below the surface. The transition from civilization to wilderness happens with a rapidity I've experienced nowhere else in North America.

South of Billings lies a mountain range that offers a completely different experience from the glaciated behemoths to the west and north. The Pryor Mountains—sacred to the Crow Nation—rise from the plains in a geological testament to forces that shaped this continent millions of years before humans arrived.

What draws me repeatedly to the Pryors is their unique combination of accessibility and otherworldliness. In just under two hours from downtown Billings, you can be standing in landscapes that feel like Utah, Wyoming, and Montana fused into one surreal panorama.

During my last visit, I spent three days photographing the famous Pryor Mountain wild horses—descendants of Spanish colonial horses that have roamed free since the 1700s. My spotting scope allowed me to observe these magnificent animals from a respectful distance as they moved through their ancient territory.

The Pryor Mountains also conceal one of Montana's most remarkable geological features: ice caves that maintain freezing temperatures year-round, even when summer temperatures outside approach 100°F. Exploring these requires proper equipment and preferably local guidance, but the reward is an encounter with a microclimate that feels transplanted from the Arctic Circle.

For those seeking a cultural dimension to their mountain adventures, the Pryors offer rich opportunities to learn about Crow history and spirituality. The mountains contain numerous vision quest sites and other locations of profound significance to Indigenous peoples—approach these with appropriate respect and, ideally, in the company of authorized cultural guides.

If you've ever wondered what would happen if someone combined the Grand Canyon with a massive alpine lake, Bighorn Canyon is your answer. Located about 90 minutes southeast of Billings, this extraordinary landscape features thousand-foot limestone cliffs plunging into the emerald waters of Bighorn Lake.

As someone who's paddled remote waters from the Arctic to Patagonia, I can attest that Bighorn Canyon offers a world-class kayaking experience that remains bizarrely under-visited. Last September, my friend Mark and I spent three days exploring the canyon by water, camping on isolated beaches accessible only by boat.

Our dry bags proved essential as afternoon winds kicked up waves that would have soaked conventional backpacks. For photographers, the interplay of light on the canyon walls creates conditions that rival the more famous canyons of the Southwest.

Beyond water activities, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers hiking trails that range from casual walks to challenging scrambles. The Sykes Mountain Trail provides panoramic views that capture the transition zone between mountains and plains—a landscape that tells the geological story of Montana's formation.

What continues to astonish me about Bighorn Canyon is how few visitors it receives relative to its spectacular attributes. On a summer weekend when Yellowstone sees tens of thousands of visitors, you might encounter only a handful of other adventurers in this massive landscape. For those seeking solitude without sacrificing grandeur, this is your destination.

After two decades of expedition planning across six continents, I've developed a keen appreciation for strategic base camps. Billings excels in this category, offering amenities that both prepare you for mountain adventures and help you recover from them.

The city's emerging culinary scene provides fuel for alpine endeavors. Before heading to the Beartooths, I stock up on locally-made energy bars and trail snacks from Natural Grocers or Good Earth Market. Post-adventure, Montana's Trailhead Brewing District—walking distance from several downtown hotels—offers craft beer and farm-to-table dining that rivals much larger cities.

For gear emergencies or last-minute needs, The Base Camp and Scheels provide comprehensive outdoor equipment. When my trusty hiking boots finally surrendered after eight years of global adventures, I found an excellent replacement at The Base Camp, complete with knowledgeable fitting service rarely found in chain stores.

Logistically, Billings offers direct flights from major hubs including Denver, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, and Seattle—meaning you can be on an urban breakfast meeting on Friday and standing atop a 10,000-foot peak by Saturday afternoon. For road-trippers, the city sits at the intersection of Interstates 90 and 94, making it accessible from all directions.

Perhaps most importantly, Billings provides the infrastructure that makes ambitious mountain adventures sustainable. After four days in the backcountry, there's profound satisfaction in returning to a hot shower, comfortable bed, and restaurants where the staff can intelligently discuss both the local wine list and the conditions on nearby trails.