Is THIS Really the Best Mountain Drive in America?? (SUV Camping/Vanlife Adventures) 

Thumbs up from everyone who thinks Tristan finds the best travel spots with historical facts plus loads of climbing & just interacting with nature in a good way. Also if you want him to climb Pilot Peak in the future. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙋🏼‍♀️

In my high school Montana history class, I learned that the Nez Peirce made it into the Bears Paw mountains north of Havre, where they rested and recuperated from their long flight and numerous battles. They thought they were in Canada, but unfortunately for them, they were a few miles from the border yet. This is where the US Army caught up with them, and after a last battle, they were captured. Chief Joseph made what was arguably his most famous quote then: "Where the sun stands now, I will fight no more".

Every time you post a new video, I say, "Tristen has outdone himself"! But this one is so amazing! Your skills with the drone, music, editting and of course the natural BEAUTY of our country, make this a true gem. Thank you! and bring a pocket full of peanuts in case of hungry little chipmunks.😍

I love the Chief Joseph scenic byway. I've driven it twice. I moved to Red Lodge in December 2022. I've also driven the Beartooth highway 5 times this year June, July, August, September, and October (0nly 20 miles to the Wyoming border). Both are absolutely beautiful ❤️. I loved seeing it as the seasons changed as it looks different each time I went, snow, fall leaves. When I went in August My son and Grandson was here visiting from Texas and I took them. First time I and them of course got to see 4 white mountain goats. They crossed right in front of my car on the drive. My grandson loved feeding the chipmunks wild raspberries as they were all over and coming right up to him like they were you😍. I feel lucky to live at the entrance of Beartooth and close to Chief Joseph. So much to see and truly amazing❤️

That is a beautiful area, thanks for showcasing. I think that it would be beneficial for those signs to point out that the Nez Perez were a formidable opponent to the Calvary due to their horses, the Appaloosa. They were expert breeders and had such an advantage that the Calvary targeted their herds to wipe them out. I learned English riding and jumping on an Appaloosa and they are impressive horses. This area plays a large part in their origination.

My brother was a ranger in sunlight basin years ago. We’ve spent so much time in that whole area. It is amazing! Coming from Cody, the main way to Cooke City and Beartooth Pass is over dead Indian pass. They are both beautiful, but Beartooth wins out in scenery in my own opinion. Great video!

Awesome area! The scenery is remarkable. I appreciate the history lessons, I like to learn the history behind the places I travel too. The campsite is a perfect location, beautiful , quiet, and the sound of the river is ideal to lull you to sleep. Thanks Tristan!

Another wonderful video Tristan! My wife and I drove the Chief Joseph Byway in mid September this year (2023) but from west to east in the late afternoon. It was a great drive and the bridge you stopped at was one of the highlights--great to see the drone footage as we had wondered what it looked like from above. This is a great drive. West of the bridge, it's a great drive down a glacier carved valley and much easier than driving the Bear Tooth Highway (we drove the Bear Tooth many years ago). As a friend said, the two highways aren't really comparable--they are too different--but both are very worth driving! Safe travels!

You are in my backyard. Such spectacular county, I could never choose which hwy is the best mountain drive. The entire area is breathtaking and rich in history. Thanks for an excellent video and commentary!

Which part was my favorite? . . . ALL OF IT. Thanks Tristen for sharing. Loved the side adventures. Amazing what we seem to pass as we travel!! Adding this to my list 🎉

Fantastic scenery and a beautiful journey! Thanks for taking us along and telling us of the history, too. I so enjoy your travels. 😊

One place I’ll bet you’d love to explore is the area around lava beds national park and medicine lake. I explored around there several years ago. I took highway 89 to Harris springs road that was eventually becomes medicine lake road. Most of it is paved but I got on one side road that I believe was tenant lava beds road that had mountains of gleaming obsidian like nothing else I’ve ever seen. Eventually the road got too bad for my Corolla so I had to turn back. Seems the road led to the monument but only other people I saw were two ppl on dirt bikes. And the actual monument main entrance is from highway 139 passing through the tule lake wildlife refuge. It was the site of the last Indian war that nearly bankrupted the US treasury because the tribes there hid and survived well in the lava tubes for over a year. It’s an incredible national monument with tons of history and wildlife and lakes. You are literally in the middle of nowhere. What a beautiful area you shared with us today. Thanks for posting. Loved that mountain peak shot with the waterfall in the foreground

As is so often true with Tristan's videos, my favorite part is the whole thing 😊 ! Awesome scenery and interesting historical facts . Thanks once again, Tristan

Thank you for taking us on these journeys. Great scenery! I just love the high desert and have spent years exploring the Oregon and Nevada desert. I'm also a rockhound, and have accumulated 2,700lbs of rock in our desert travels. So I'm always thinking you're in great areas for that. I missed not having the little clip of your location on the map in this one. I love that you put those in. Thanks again for sharing.

That Sunlight Basin is gorgeous! Having been on both the Beartooth & Chief Joseph roads, I like the Chief Joseph a bit better more because of less traffic, but they are both worth driving.

Beautiful, thank you. "I will fight no more forever"...Chief Joseph

We stayed in Cooke City, Montana this past June For a 9 day vacation! visiting Yellowstone and also taking the Chief Joseph highway down to Cody for the day! It's beautiful!

Drove Chief Joseph Highway in Sept -22 with wife and youngest daughter. We hade driven from the east coast, through the corn fields and across the great plains. We came from a fantastic lunch at Piccola Cucina in Red Lodge and drove CJH to get to Cody where we were staying before entering Yellowstone. Every view on BTH and CJH were fantastic. And knowing the history about the Nez Peirce tribe made it even more vivid and exciting. The nature in the US is absolutely breathtaking and thinking about how this continent was before the settlers, when only the indigenous people lived here, blows my mind. Greetings from Sweden!

The 80s music made me smile. So glad you mix it up with your soundtracks.

An area of which I am familiar. Spent many summer trips backpacking and fishing on the Beartooth Plateau. My best day ever hiking and fishing was up there at my “Last best place”. There are a number of books written about the Nez Perce Indian war and their flight across Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming that are very interesting and also sad.

Beautiful area! That waterfall would probably be amazing in the spring when more water is flowing. But still beautiful in the fall. Thanks for another wonderful video.

SUPER DRIVE, COMMENTS, AND PRODUCTION! THANKS.

In July, that waterfall will be 100-150 feet wide and just roaring! GREAT VIDEO! I drove the Chief Joseph Highway back in the early '70's when it was still gravel. That was an adventure pulling a fold down camper!

So, in that case I did one of the best route combinations last year and I didn't even know about it ;-) I came in from Red Lodge/Montana over the Beartooth highway, which is absolutely stunning. And then I had to turn onto Chief Joseph since the Lamar valley was closed due to the horrbile Yellowstone floodings. If I would have to choose one road it would be the Beartooth Highway. The views on top are just incredible. The extra height makes the difference to Chief Jospeh. Hope I can be back sometimes but it's a long way from Germany to this incredible landscapes. You people are soo blessed! Safe travels, Reiner

Best road I have ever ridden my bike on to this day. The speed and long sweeping curves, coupled with the incredible canyon scenery is awesome.

Some great aerial shots this time and also loving the point-of-view on-road footage which give you an excellent sense of driving there yourself :-)

Love the Beartooth Plateau. Went to camp Island Lake CG end of September and they closed early! Not too worry lots of dispersed camping across the highway and just a mile or two in. Spectacular and wild weather which comes thru quickly!

I for one, would love to see your adventure to "Pilot Peak" video. It's looks like it did a Mount St. Helens and just blew it's top off! Lol. I enjoy your videos and narration of said videos. Thanks for the productions Tristan.

It is a beautiful drive. We did that many years ago. We should drive it again.

My wife and I love your videos and we have watched sooooo many from Australia. It does surprise us how much you underestimate your SUV. Ours did soo much more than you do. Some better quality 4wd slightly larger tires makes such a difference! Keep up the great job! 😊

I’ve saved all your videos of all the best places I want to visit. I’m gonna need a bigger truck.😅Thank you

Love this video! I am a huge fan of your adventures as I also like the historical information you provide also. FYI...a great read Saga of Chief Joseph from Bison Books. Learned so much about the Nez Perce.

Paved now. Forty years ago it was the road through Sunlight Basin. Dirt, but eery bit as beautiful and even less traffic. Linda Grey, an equally beautiful young lady, rode through there with me on the way to Cody one August evening in '84. Of such things are built a good life.

Tristen your videos are excellent with great views and storytelling. You are my favorite videographer. Someday maybe we’ll bump into each other on the road. Always best wishes.

I just want to say that I absolutely love you filming your drives now. Much of the time I have watched has been on RU-vid TV (while lounging in bed) and I do not comment on videos thru that service. However I am so glad I caught this video on my computer so I could give you a big shout on the drives !!! I am loving them.

oh my goodness , what a trip !! loved it !!!!!!!!

drove it in June. absolutely gorgeous!

I have been fallowing your channel for many years. And you have improved the quality of your video so much! Thank you so much!

Great all the way around from beautiful to history info, thanks Tristan your the best❤

wow, beautiful scenery everywhere you look .

I had a bit of elevation sickness on some travels lately- but I sure love the Mountain Views. Congrats on so many viewers now, Tristan ! I’ve been a long time subscriber- I can’t do a monthly but an occasional $tip$ . For your trips ?

I’ve been there a couple of times I agree that it is some of the most beautiful country around

I helped build several stretches of this route in the early to mid 90's including the stunning overlook on the pass. This road does not get closed for the winter but gets snowed in on occasion.

My favorite HWY is HWY 12/13 Lewis and Clark scenic byway. Idaho into Montana.

I drove my tiny camper over Chief Joseph in a snowstorm a few weeks back. Good times😅 But yes, such a gorgeous view and some nice camping areas nearby.

What a wonderful trip you took us on! Thank you so much! I can’t wait for your hike up that mountain! The views were so beautiful and I really appreciated the road conditions.

I did the drive out of Cody up to Dead Indian Pass. I camped up near where the communication equipment was that you hiked to. I then drove over to the Bear Tooth Hwy. and thought it was one of the most scenic drives I had ever been on. I did the drive in late spring, and the area was really beautiful. One thing I remember is going down from Dead Indian Pass along the switchbacks. There were signs advising people to be aware of helicopters in the area, bringing bears into the area from Yellowstone. I was going to go for a hike in the area but lost my appetite for it at that point. 😊

Of course, I enjoyed the video! I really love the mountain views via your camera and drone!! We tried to do the Bear Tooth Hwy several years back around Sept. 25, but it was already closed. We have to return and do it and also include the Chief Joseph Bi-Way! Thanks for sharing these great areas of the USA!!! ❤❤

Wow! Pilot Peak looks a lot like The Matterhorn. Amazing scenery! Thanks for taking us along.

In my experience, both byways are equally spectacular. And, as they meet, and neither is too long, both can be appreciated in a single day. I've done both twice, but in an Audi and a Porsche, so there was no Sunlight Basin for me. So, spend the night in Cody at the Irma Hotel, and start the next morning up the Chief Joseph. At the junction, drive up the Beartooth, and back, if Yellowstone is on your itinerary. Thanks for the history.

When I drove Beartooth Highway most of it was socked in with fog, so no scenic views. Just a slow anxiety-filled drive until I came down the switchbacks on the eastern end. I definitely need to go back. Thanks for reminding me.

My vote is for the Bear Tooth Pass. In fact , I consider it #1 prettiest in the lower 48. I may be jaded as the first time I drove it was 7-6-76. Beautiful sunny day. Everything was snow covered with little ponds/lakes forming in the snow covered hills. Snow still several feet thick on the shoulder of the road with people skiing in one spot. Also like the other drive but it was like yours, later in the season when I’ve been there and while very pretty could not compare with the wonderland back in 1976 that was the Bear Tooth that day. Keep up the good work.

You’re right, it’s tough to say which is more beautiful. Loved this video, all of it. Thanks for educating us on some of the history.

Great tips! Your info makes route planning so much easier. October in that area of Wyoming is perfection - but anywhere in Wyoming, and any month, presents strong competition!

Where you go is better than national parks no crowds.just you and big sky mountains.

Great video, beautiful scenery and cinematography! I appreciate you including the painful history of the indigenous people of the area at the hands of the White settlers. This is a lesson we must all understand and remember.

Luckily for me, I live in West Yellowstone. I like to drive over to Cody through Yellowstone and drive the Chief Joseph Scenic Hwy and Bear Tooth Hwy a couple times every summer!!!

I’ve driven the Chief Joseph Hwy several times over the years and I have always found it to be beautiful.

As always, great video...the music was on point!

Thanks for a GREAT video! Both are fantastic I love backroading too! I've been on both. LOVE ❤ this area. My husband lived in Wyoming for years. He loves showing me his old stomping grounds. I'll have to get some old photos out.

Beautifully country. Pilot peak was climbed in 1932 by Robert McKenzie and Hollis Mess .5.6 losse crumbly rock. I want to see you film the acent.

Glad you got to visit Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. The views are spectacular! I’m lucky enough from where I live, this is a day ride for me. To do both the Beartooth and Chief Joseph is a unbelievable day ride loop. Next time you’re at the “bridge,” walk across the road, the view is even more spectacular! Cheers!👍🏻

I've been riding or driving that road since I was 14. I'd take the C.J. Highway over the Beartooth 95 times out of 100. Sunlight basin is one of my top 5 areas in the western U.S. Biggest bull elk anywhere. Beartooth pass is dramatic,,but I prefer my roads to NOTslide down the mtn while I'm on them. I do like the Hellroaring plateau road. It's a dirt ,,or more accurately a cobbly rocky path that goes west up the hill behind the campground at the base of Beartooth highway on the Mt. Side. You could make it in the Landcruiser as long as you go very slow. I do it in my tahoe. It goes up about 7 miles to the Beartooth wilderness

Nice video. Beartooth Pass: 10,947ft at 109.47122 west do a google search on 109.47 degrees. Chief Joseph and his clan were only part of the Nez Perce tribe. They were on the reservation in northeast Oregon until General Howard and the U.S government illegally took their land. After the defeat of Custer in 1876 General Howard decided to drive the Joseph clan out of Oregon to the remaining reservation in Idaho where they were not welcome. What happened next is called the Nez Perce war. Hardly a war but extremely tragic.

Fabulous! I’ve driven both roads you talk about & I’m with you. You have to drive both to see each one’s beauty. Thanks for sharing. It brought back many fond memories for me.

Great to wake up to a new video from SUV RVing! I'm sitting here in our little cabin in the Yukon and already planning my SUV car camping trips for the spring! I love the winter here, ( just been outside listening to the wolves howl across the lake) but it seems I've been bit by the travel bug. lol! You inspire me!

I did both Chief Joseph and Beartooth highways on the same day this past summer. I’d say they both are equally gorgeous!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you for taking us on the road less traveled.

I love the Chief Joseph route, and cheered when you announced the location of today's adventure!

Epic camp spot! I also could sit there for a week

Majestic!😊👍👍👍👍👍

Fantastic. Thank you!!

Amazingly beautiful video. Thanks for all your hard work, especially with your camera shots and your drone. A perfect ending at that boondocking spot. Be Safe.

" Going to the sun" road in Glacier National Park is the most spectacular road in the world.

We love this area and have camped in several of the campgrounds in the area. It is spectacular!

I drive the beartooth this summer when going to Yellowstone and it’s really amazing awesome fabulous beautiful drive. Thanks Tristan to share this amazing place you visit…

Beautiful country! Especially the dirt road you took to your campsite starting around <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1305">21:45</a>

0 drove this highway several times before it was paved and have been on it several times since. Hunted in sunlight basin, awesome area and road. Thanks for sharing.

Best way to see Beartooth and Chief Joesph hwy is on motorcycles. Also another great road is the St Joesph byway in Idaho.

I've driven this highway a few times and it is a favorite !! I enjoy it more than the Beartooth. And the trip up the Sunlight Road is just as awesome. Thanks for this episode and video.

Glad you found your favorite road trip. There are likely about as many favorite road trips as there are people hunting for them. Mine as to have trees, rivers and lakes, but that is not likely a favorite for you and others. For me, roads and hikes in and arround Hells Canyon Idaho and Oregon side are all favorites. And any in and around the Wallowa mountains and Eagle Cap are fantastic. Yep, I have lots of #1 favorites and recommed others to have multiple favorites. Why not? Life is short so do your best to enjoy them all.

Thank you for sharing your journey 🙏🕊🌏🤟

Aw, the chipmunks were cute! That was a nice waterfall. Thanks for sharing, Tristan. 🙂

Been there, done that and REALLY enjoyed seing it again through your video. Thanks from an old man who may not get to revisit this area.

I continue to watch every one of your videos what a great story teller yes I watch when I can but the way you describe everything provide such great imagery when falling asleep

Love the drone shot of crazy creek falls with pilot peak in the distance! 👏

It was good to see this video! We took it coming out of Yellowstone this summer but it was at night and was dark. I was driving while everyone else was sleeping and had a feeling I was driving through a spectacular area. I was hoping to come back and see what I missed. Now I need to come back for sure.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1300">21:40</a> Epic!

Beautiful area. That camp spot is amazing. Thanks for sharing with us.

Great views and as always another great video.

Love love love! Amazing views! Thank you again, Tristan, for your fascinating video.

I enjoyed your trip from my couch, and added that area to my bucket list. Your drone shots are epic. Thank you again.

Thanks again for the beautiful scenery and always love learning history! I would love to see you climb that mountain and the view from the top.

Yep! The best way to do that drive is straight out of Cody to the Chief Joseph and then connect with the Beartooth and follow it to Red Lodge. It's even better on a motorcycle!!! I didn't even ride motorcycles the first time I did the Beartooth, but always knew I'd own one and do it at some point. Happy to say I have, and will most certainly do it again, because the Beartooth really is one of the best drives in all of North America. One thing I'm super jealous of you on this trip is that it really seemed like you had the whole place practically to yourself. Can't say I've ever experienced that. Yeah, it's a bummer the Beartooth is closed for the season, but being able to experience the Chief Joseph with minimal traffic is really quite special. Glad you finally made the journey there!

Drove this in September ‘23. It was gorgeous!

Wow! You have convinced me to include this drive on my bucket list. Thank you again for taking us along.

Super great video! Just the type of scenery I love to see and travel through. In August, 2015 I drove the Beartooth Highway with my truck camper from Red Lodge to Cooke City. Had nice blue skies, contrary to your visit. I looked at a map to see where the Chief Joseph Byway intersected the Beartooth. Turns out I boondocked one night near Lily Lake, which is about a mile or so NE of the intersection of the Byway and the Beartooth. Hard to beat the camping spot you had right by the river! :) Keep up the great videos!

Thanks for sharing, epic views, best like the vistas from the tops, and drone videos...

We went over Dead Indian Summitt and Beartooth Pass in September, camping in the campground at the end of the road in Sunlight Basin. The fall colors were incompatible! Keep on Brother. 🙂😉 😛

always enjoy your video's along with drone footage of western mountains I my never see without you. In Cincinnati only exploring the eastern mountains of Appalachia which are dense with trees and black bears I've enjoyed them. I love the falls in Appalachia which I've been too probably 5. I really recommend Niagara in the North East on your bucket list You know when your at a great mountain stream or falls when you cant hear the people around you. But the western mountains you have shown us are so diverse in plants and nature and much larger and higher in elevation. My one bucket list is to hug a giant Redwood. I have loved trees since I was a young boy climbing them, building camps in them, putting swings on them. To me they are a staple of nature. I have a 60 foot Oak my same age as I at 64 which has acorns around 50, but it keeps me healthy raking leaves and cuts down on energy cost because of shade in the summer. Thanks again for the video