Should This Beautiful Montana Highway Be Open Year-Round?

Certain places in Montana are only accessible during the summer months, and many Montana residents prefer the keep things the way they are. However, there's a debate on whether or not to plow a section of a popular highway in Montana to increase access for visitors.

Should The Beartooth Highway Be Plowed During the Winter?

The Beartooth Highway between Cooke City and Red Lodge is one of the most awe-inspiring scenic drives in the state. During the winter, Cooke City becomes isolated and is known as a "dead town." The road from the north entrance on YNP in Gardiner to Cooke City remains open during the winter so that local residents and snowmobile enthusiasts can get to the small town.

In a recent survey of 294 people, 44% of residents in Cooke City and Silver Gate would support plowing during the winter, only if alternatives for snowmobilers were found. However, most people who took the survey said they don't want to see Highway 212 plowed and want Cooke City to remain a "dead town."

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The area around Cooke City is one of the most popular destinations for snowmobilers in America, and businesses in the small town rely on visitation to survive. Many fear that plowing Highway 212 would decrease visitation and could be devastating to small business owners in Cooke City.

As of this writing, there are no plans to plow Highway 212 east of Cooke City during the winter, but it sounds like it could happen unless we speak up and do our part to stop it. What do you think? Should Highway 212 be plowed during the winter? Please send us a message on our radio station app, and let us know how you feel about it.