There are two approaches to Yellowstone National Park from the northeast. The blue ribbon route is the dramatic Beartooth Highway, which makes a precipitous climb through the valley of Rock Creek and snakes its way up and over the Absaroka Mountains via the Beartooth Pass. The lesser-traveled route follows the Chief Joseph Highway on a mellower course through Dead Indian Pass and more gentle valleys. This route is not devoid of its drama, however. One of the most spectacular moments comes when the road crosses Clark's Fork Canyon, a chasm of sheer granite. It is worth the stop. This is a photo of mine when I passed that way in the summer of 2008.
