US highway endpoint at Yellowstone's northeast entrance
That lasted about 20 years, until the route of US 12 was changed to run west from Forsyth (as it does today). In 1959, US 312 was commissioned to serve US 12's former corridor from Forsyth to Silver Gate. Here is a map illustrating that, as well as that agenda item from the minutes of AASHO's 1959 meeting:
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Then, just two years later, the route of US 212 was changed: it was truncated at Broadus MT, and instead of heading north from there to Miles City, it went west via its current path. So the route from Billings to Silver Gate became a part of the extended US 212, and the west end of US 312 was cut back to Billings. Here is that item from the 1961 application to AASHO:
Over the years that point has marked the east end of US 12, US 212, and US 312. Here is the first eastbound US 212 sign:
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That was actually within the Park boundary, which is strange, since officially there are no US routes within the Park. The first "conventional" trailblazer is about 16 miles east of there:
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US 212 through this part of the country is a spectacular drive. Part of its route is shown on this postcard:
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That is looking northeast down the Rock Creek Valley towards Red Lodge. Westbound 212 comes up the valley at left and negotiates four hairpins before ascending the flanks of the Beartooth Mountains at right. After crossing those, the road descends into the valley of Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River, and then crosses the Absaroka Range via Colter Pass before dropping down again into Yellowstone Park itself. The segment between there and Beartooth Pass is closed during the snowy months.
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Research and/or photo credits: Chris Elbert; Dale Sanderson; Jim Teresco
Page originally created 2003;
last updated Jan. 30, 2021.
last updated Jan. 30, 2021.