Centennial Valley Day Drive

The Centennial Valley Day Drive is about 85 miles from the West Yellowstone entrance to Monida, Montana. It's either a kickoff or exclamation mark for your Yellowstone National Park visit.

The trip is stunning and unique! You'll ascend into aspen forest and to the Red Rock Pass before exiting in wide-open space. The majority of the drive takes place on an open, flat plain with an endless horizon between five mountain ranges.

The scenery consists of lakes, marshes, sagebrush, and the Red Rocks River. You'll be encircled by the Centennial Mountain range to the south and the rugged Snowcrest, Blacktail, and Gravelly Mountain ranges to the north during the drive.

Some of the highlights of this trip include the Red Rock Pass, Henry Lake, the Fountain of Missouri, the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, and Elk Lake.

There is little human activity on the majority of the drive. A few cattle ranches and the town of Lakeview are the most you'll encounter. There are over 240 bird species that frequent the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, making it an ideal destination for birding and wildlife viewing. Henry Lake is a perfect stop if you are interested in fishing for its trophy trout.

If you want to extend your adventure over a couple of days, there are camping options along the way. There are primitive spots around Henry Lake and Lower Red Rock Lake Campground with porta-potties, fire rings, potable water, and picnic tables.