Trip report: Red Lodge, Montana
 

We just got home from spending a week in Red Lodge, Montana--what a fun place! I've been going to Red Lodge periodically all my life and now have my husband and kids hooked on this hidden (less so every day) treasure. Red Lodge is an easy hour's drive from Billings and is at the entrance of the Beartooth Pass. We stayed at my aunt's summer home there so can't report on hotels but noticed they all had the 'no vacancy' signs out Thurs.-Sun. We ate ate Red Lodge Pizza Company (yummy hand-tossed pizzas), Bridge Creek (upscale, great wine choices, outdoor seating makes for good people-watching), Arthur's Grill in the Pollard Hotel (ranks up there with Bridge Creek for upscale dining) and Bogart's (casual dining, fun atmosphere). Red Lodge Ale's is the locally brewed beer of choice. We also discovered Alaskan Amber beer (bottled in Alaska :-) but served on tap several places in town. Tried something new this trip and went to the pig races at the Bearcreek Saloon and Steak House in Bearcreek. Bearcreek is an old mining town 7 miles southeast of Red Lodge that's basically a speck in the road--except for the restaurant and pig races. You can place $2.00 bets on the pigs, with most of the money going for area scholarships--it was just a blast. Even the 14 year old in our family loved it. My husband and son fly-fished on the Stillwater one day so my daughter and I treated ourselves to an afternoon at The Body Lodge Day Spa. My massage with Delcy ranked right up there with the best (I confess to being a spa junkie). We took our bikes and biked all over town and down by the river, plus went hiking near the ski area one day. We love Red Lodge--the people are friendly beyond belief, the sky just seems bluer than anywhere else and the week just flew by with several things on our 'to do' list unchecked. Too much relaxing, I guess, which was the point of the whole vacation!

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Hi Tess, I was looking at Red Lodge as a possible 2 nite stop after Yellowstone/4 days and Grand Tetons /2 days. It sounds like a very unique town :-)! Good to have more info on it. Thanks, Judy

Tess,
We spent one night in Red Lodge in early July after we took the Beartooth Hwy out of Yellowstone. I agree, it is a great little town. I was surprised at the variety and quality of restaurants and some nifty little shops. Plus, a candy shop that is one of the best I've been to!! Our 14 yr. old son met a local brother and sister and took the horse drawn trolley through town with them.
Great to read your report and learn more about other activities in Red Lodge.

Jaye,
Our kids loved the candy store (okay, I confess, I did, too)! We took the trolley a couple of times during the week--I loved how the locals would wave at us like they hadn't already done it a million times before with all of the other tourists.

When you say you took Beartooth Hwy out of Yellowstone to Red Lodge, would that be on the way from Yellostone to Glacier. We are planning to do the Tetons first then Yellowstone and on to Glacier. Does Beartooth go noeth west to Glacier?

To heyjude,

The Beartooth Highway (Hwy 212) is located at the North East entrance of Yellowstone to Red Lodge, Montana. It's a little out of the way for going to Glacier BUT well worth the effort!

Utahtea

What route would you suggest to go to Glacier from Red Lodge? We will be flying home from Missoula and will have about 5-6 days at Glacier. (having already done Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. This is part 2 of our trip) This is really hard to plan because we don't want to miss anything. thanks We are hoping oit get up to Watertwon in Cananda. Hepl!!!

We may be spending a week or so in Red Lodge this summer. What's the temperature like in July? Does it get a bit crazy-busy due to Yellowstone traffic, or is it still quiet, lovely?

CN467--It will be warm to quite hot during the day in July, then cooling down to sweater weather at night.

It's usually very peaceful in Red Lodge--especially during the week--but check redlodge.com to see if your visit will overlap any festivals or 'special days' if you're looking for relative peace and quiet. The closer you get to August and the big Sturgis rally in the Black Hills, the more motorcyle traffic you'll see in Red Lodge. It's not the tough biker crowd but more of mom and pop bikers coming through town. We saw more bikers in 2003 than in 2002--think it was the timing of our trip.

My husband and I would LOVE to head back to Red Lodge again this summer but are bowing to pressure from the teens in our family for a "different kind of vacation" so we're off on a cruise in June. Hmmm, maybe just a short Red Lodge weekend in August would work though...I think the candy store and day spa are calling my name. Have a great trip--where are you staying?