Carbon County, Montana

Carbon County

Carbon County, Montana, established on March 4, 1895, from parts of Park and Yellowstone counties, spans approximately 2,062 square miles, with 2,049 square miles of land and 13 square miles of water. The county derives its name from the rich coal deposits found in the area.

The county boasts over sixty federally designated historic sites, including Petroglyph Canyon, one of Montana’s most significant rock art locations. In 1915, Elk Basin became home to the state’s first commercial oil well. Granite Peak, Montana’s highest mountain, is located within the Beartooth Mountain range in Carbon County.

The Beartooth Highway, celebrated as one of the nation’s most spectacular alpine routes, connects Red Lodge to Cooke City. To the east, the Pryor Mountains, known for their wild mustangs, accompany the Big Horn River. The Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River flows through Bridger, carving a path from the Beartooth Mountains to the Absaroka Range, offering recreational opportunities and breathtaking views.

Red Lodge Mountain

Towns in Carbon County:

  • Bearcreek

  • Belfry

  • Boyd

  • Bridger

  • Edgar

  • Fromberg

  • Joliet

  • Red Lodge (county seat)

  • Roberts

  • Roscoe

  • Silesia

Red Lodge Mountain 2
Red Lodge, the county seat, is a historic mountain town nestled against the Beartooth Mountains, serving as a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Known for its extraordinary beauty and western hospitality, Red Lodge offers a unique blend of outdoor recreation and community spirit. It’s conveniently located approximately 60 miles from Billings, Montana; Cody, Wyoming; and Yellowstone National Park.

Tourism plays a significant role in Red Lodge’s economy, with visitors accessing Yellowstone via the Beartooth Pass in the summer and enjoying skiing at Red Lodge Mountain in the winter. The town also hosts events like skijoring, Christmas parades with horse-drawn wagons, rodeos, hiking, fishing, white-water rafting, and bike tours over the Beartooth Pass, embodying the vibrant lifestyle of south-central Montana.

For more information about Carbon County, visit the official county website.

Visit Welcome to Carbon County Montana | Where the West Lives On

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