Riding starts in town (right from your motel) and goes up to 10,000 feet with plenty of hillclimbing at all elevations. All those steep mountains and plentiful snow result in some serious avalanche danger. Be prepared and always inquire locally about conditions before you leave town.
As we already mentioned, Cooke City is not an easy place to get to. The town is at the dead end (at least during the winter) of Highway 212. From where the plowing stops, it's a groomed trail up to the Top of the World. You can continue on to Red Lodge (on the other side of 10,947-foot Beartooth Pass), but it's a ride highly recommended for experienced riders only. This portion of the trail is actually in Wyoming but is equally as breathtaking as anything north of Cooke City.
Full services are available in town.