28 May Images of the West: The Center of My Heart’s Geography

Hairpin turns, pristine alpine lakes, abundant wildflowers, and endless views of the rugged Montana and Wyoming wilderness — these are some of the defining features of the Beartooth Highway, a 68-mile stretch of enchanted tarmac that transports travelers into another world. Jaw-dropping awe is all but guaranteed as new vistas unfold around every bend. Of all the great scenic drives I’ve been blessed to experience, the voyage over the Beartooth Highway stands out above the rest.

The hairpin turns along the Beartooth Highway close to the summit are infamous for a reason.

Unpredictable weather, such as this late-August snowstorm rolling in over the Twin Lakes near the Montana/Wyoming border, is common throughout the highway’s open season, typically from Memorial Day weekend to mid-October.

It’s hard to put into words the wonder inspired by the vast high-alpine expanse along the Beartooth Highway. One of the most powerful emotions we humans can experience, awe has this extraordinary, transformative capacity, making us feel connected to something larger than ourselves.

Buttercups blossoming in early July frame Mirror Lake and the highway’s namesake, the Bears Tooth, far in the background.

Island Lake in Wyoming boasts stunningly blue waters. This area is also home to a campground with 21 first-come, first-served campsites and opportunities for hiking, fishing, and abundant wildlife viewing.

Atop this roadway, you can’t help but feel as though you’re a part of it — a part of this wilderness. You might even realize, as I have, that you have achieved something rare: You may find yourself living at the center of your heart’s geography. I, for one, crave this feeling year-round and always look forward to Memorial Day weekend, when the highway typically opens for the season and I can once again visit my favorite place in the world.

Lake Creek runs parallel with the “plug” — the 9-mile section of the Beartooth Highway between Cooke City and the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway junction.

Looking northwest from Wyoming into Montana, a magnificent sunset illuminates the sky over Twin Lakes in early August.

Through these photos, I hope to evoke emotions and inspire the necessary action to help preserve this wild landscape so that we all might continue to enjoy the many benefits of the breathtaking Beartooth Highway for years to come.

Based in Billings, Montana, Alex West is a landscape photographer and filmmaker focused on the abundant natural beauty of south-central Montana. His printed work can be seen at art shows in Billings, Red Lodge, Big Timber, and Bozeman, as well as online; alexleewest.com.