Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness (Montana) Backpacking - Beaten Path - July 2026

#AbsarokaBeartoothWilderness #BeartoothWilderness #beartoothhighway Visit my website at davidgraymedia.com @mountainwanderer joined us for this hike. Check out his YouTube channel and the video he did of our hike - it's outstanding. The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and Beartooth Highway are quickly becoming a go-to destination for us. We 'discovered' the area after our 2024 Yellowstone hike, did a shortened Beaten Path hike in 2025, and made a return trip for a do-over full Beaten Path hike in 2026. Unfortunately, due to an untimely, and unusual, late-season snow storm which dumped up to two feet of snow at higher altitudes on the Beaten Path trail (and shut down the Beartooth Highway) we once again had to alter our plans and do an improvised, shortened hike in 2026. The thought crossed our minds that we've become Beaten Path 'Section Hikers'! Maybe we'll finish our last 'section' in 2027. Our original plan was to retrace our steps from 2025, starting at the Clarks Fork Trailhead, and hike the entire 26-mile Beaten Path Trail finishing at the East Rosebud Trailhead. Unfortunately, the four days of nonstop heavy rain that preceded our arrival had all been snow at the higher elevations along the hike. A stop at the Sylvan Peak Mountain Shoppe outfitter in Red Lodge confirmed our worst fears. The Beartooth Plateau at the summit of the hike was under multiple feet of snow, Fossil Lake was iced over with deep snow, and the stream crossings were treacherous to deadly. We're 'adventurous'... but not THAT adventurous! Fortunately, the kind folks at the outfitter helped us put together an alternate plan that ended up working out perfectly. We switched our starting point to the East Rosebud Trailhead and decided upon an out-and-back hike up to Rainbow Lake which was just below the altitude where the snow began. We camped at Elk Lake and Rainbow Lake, and even spent a 'zero' day at Rainbow Lake which allowed us to relax, enjoy our camp, and explore the area around the lake. The weather ended up being perfect for our entire hike (aside from the typical monsoon-season afternoon thunderstorm each day), the scenery was spectacular, and our hiking crew was the best you could wish for. For those who have watched my other videos this one is done in the same style - an hour in length, intended to bring the audience along for the 'ride', and with a still picture slide show with music at the end. If you just have a few minutes skip to the end and enjoy the pictures.