There’s a certain kind of Saturday that only Red Lodge can deliver.
It starts with a slow morning and a strong cup of coffee. Grab a latte and a fresh-baked pastry from a local favorite like Coffee Factory Roasters or Hidden Basin Coffee Post & Eatery, then take a stroll through downtown as the town begins to stir. Historic buildings, mountain views, and a welcome pace make Red Lodge feel like the kind of place where you’re meant to linger.
Wander into Montana Candy Emporium, where vintage candy bins, old-fashioned sodas, and hand-dipped chocolates spark wide-eyed wonder no matter your age. Just a few doors down, Beartooth Books is a must-stop for readers and wanderers alike—stocked with regional titles, trail guides, and just the right kind of cozy mountain-bookstore magic.
When you're stocked up on sweets and stories, it’s time to head upward. The Beartooth Highway winds you into the alpine, with glacier-scoured peaks and turquoise lakes coming into view around every bend. At Beartooth Basin Ski Area, you can ski well into summer—laying fresh turns under a big Montana sky while marmots look on from the rocks.
Later, swap your ski boots for hiking shoes and explore a Beartooth trailhead. Try the Lake Fork Trail, a serene out-and-back route that follows a rushing creek through a canyon of towering rock walls, or head to the Glacier Lake Trailhead, where a short but steep hike leads to an emerald alpine lake ringed with granite. Whether you’re looking for a quiet forested walk or a high-alpine vista, these trails offer a window into the wild heart of the Beartooths.
Back in town, the mood shifts from adventure to aperitif. Slide into one of Red Lodge’s charming wine bars, like Babcock & Miles or One-Legged Magpie, for a pre-dinner glass and some leisurely conversation. When hunger calls, you’ve got options: handmade pasta at Piccola Cucina at Ox Pasture, pub favorites and pints at Red Lodge Ales, or street tacos and cocktails at Bogart’s—just to name a few.
But don’t call it a night just yet.
Pitch your tent beneath the pines at Greenough Lake Campground, just outside of town. As the stars emerge over the Beartooths and the last embers of your campfire glow, you’ll feel that perfect kind of tired—the kind earned from a full day in the mountains.
This is what Saturdays in Red Lodge look like—and once you’ve had one, you’ll start planning the next before the weekend is over.
