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| U.S. Route 212 | |||||||||
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| Length: | 949 mi (1527 km) | ||||||||
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| Formed: | 1926 | ||||||||
| West end: | Yellowstone National Park | ||||||||
| East end: |   US 169 / TH 62 in Edina, MN |
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U.S. Route 212 is a spur of U.S. Route 12. Though it currently never intersects U.S. 12, it once had an eastern terminus at U.S. 12 in St. Paul, Minnesota. It runs for 949 miles (1,527 km) from Minnesota Highway 62 at Edina, Minnesota to Yellowstone National Park.
U.S. 212 passes through the states of Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. It goes through the cities of Watertown, South Dakota and Billings, Montana.
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Route description
Montana / Wyoming
The western terminus of Highway 212 is at the Montana/Wyoming state line within Yellowstone National Park. Within the park it is contiguous with Northeast Entrance Road, which has its western terminus on the Grand Loop within the Wyoming portion of the park. Highway 212 passes through Cooke City, Montana, then crosses the Wyoming state line and re-emerges into Montana approximately 38 miles (61 km) later. The section of Highway 212 between Cooke City, Montana and Red Lodge, Montana is known as the Beartooth Highway. Rising to an elevation of 10,974 feet (3,345 m) above sea level at Beartooth Pass, the highway traces the historical route of Civil War General Philip Sheridan over the Beartooth Mountains. In his book Dateline America published in 1979, the late CBS correspondent Charles Kuralt referred to the highway as "the most beautiful drive in America."[1]
Running northeast from the Beartooth Mountains, Highway 212 joins U.S. Route 310 before passing into the town of Laurel, Montana. Here Highways 212 joins Interstate 90 eastbound, while Highway 310 ends. Together, Highway 212 and I-90 run east to the city of Billings, Montana between mile markers 434 and 510, a distance of 76 miles (122 km).[2]
Within the Crow Indian Reservation, Highway 212 leaves I-90 and runs east and southeast through the high plains of Montana. It is the main east–west road through the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Southeast of Alzada, Montana, Highway 212 recrosses the Wyoming state line; after about 20.3 miles (32.7 km), Highway 212 enters South Dakota.[2][3] For the entire length of Highway 212 in Montana between I-90 and the Wyoming state line, it is also known as the Warrior Trail Highway.[4]
South Dakota
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This section requires expansion. |
Legally, the South Dakota section of U.S. 212 is defined at South Dakota Codified Laws § 31-4-206.[1]
Minnesota
The 160 miles (260 km) of Highway 212 in Minnesota are officially designated Minnesota Veterans Memorial Highway. Yellowstone Trail is the original name designation for this same stretch of U.S. 212 from the auto trail days. Yellowstone Trail was one of the first designated names written into law in the state, but not now marked anywhere along the Minnesota portion of U.S. 212.
Legally, the Minnesota section of U.S. 212 is defined as Routes 155, 12, 187, and 260 in Minnesota Statutes §§ 161.114(2) and 161.115(86), (118), and (191).[2][3]
Footnotes
- ^ Kulbacki, Michael, McCauley, Bert and Moler, Steve (July–August 2006). "An Orphaned Highway". Public Roads (Federal Highway Administration). http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/06jul/03.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- ^ a b Montana Department of Transportation. Official 2007–2008 Montana Travel Highway Map [map]. Retrieved on 2008-08-12.
- ^ Google Maps estimate.
- ^ "60-1-214. Warrior trail highway.". Montana Legislative Services. 2007. http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/60/1/60-1-214.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
| Browse numbered routes | ||||
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<  WYO 196 |
WY | US 216  > |
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<  MT 200S |
MT | MT 287  > |
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<  SD 204 |
SD | SD 214  > |
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<  TH 210 |
MN | TH 217  > |
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