Pilot & Index
This overlook along the Beartooth Highway sits at 6,937 feet, with the terrain dropping only 10 feet within 600 meters of the site. Four named peaks are visible: Jim Smith Peak to the south-southwest at 1.8 miles (10,227 ft), Rock Island Butte to the north-northeast at 3.3 miles (8,883 ft), and Pilot Peak and Index Peak both to the west-northwest, at 3.7 miles (11,481 ft) and 4.1 miles (11,194 ft) respectively. Cooke City lies 7.4 miles to the northwest, Red Lodge is 31.7 miles east-northeast, and Cody is 47.5 miles southeast. The access road to this overlook closes seasonally, open from April through November. Vista Point Observation Site precedes this stop, with Crazy Creek as the next lookout along the route. Day length varies substantially by season: near the June solstice, sunrise is at 5:33 and sunset at 21:10, while near the December solstice sunrise comes at 7:55 and sunset at 16:41.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain around this overlook, nearest first. No view direction is recorded, so every bearing is listed.
- Jim Smith Peak10,227 ftsouth-southwest · 1.8 mi
- Rock Island Butte8,883 ftnorth-northeast · 3.3 mi
- Pilot Peak11,481 ftwest-northwest · 3.7 mi
- Index Peak11,194 ftwest-northwest · 4.1 mi
Light
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:23 | 19:32 | 18:53 |
| June solstice | 05:33 | 21:10 | 20:25 |
| September equinox | 07:07 | 19:19 | 18:40 |
| December solstice | 07:55 | 16:41 | 15:52 |
Local time (America/Denver). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Cooke City7.4 mi northwest
- Red Lodge31.7 mi east-northeast
- Cody47.5 mi southeast
The approach closes seasonally. Source: OpenStreetMap (motor_vehicle:conditional=yes @ (Apr-Nov)). Check the road authority before travelling.
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How high is Pilot & Index?
Pilot & Index sits at about 6,937 feet (2,114 m).
What can you see from Pilot & Index?
From Pilot & Index: Jim Smith Peak (SSW, 1.8 mi); Rock Island Butte (NNE, 3.3 mi); Pilot Peak (WNW, 3.7 mi); Index Peak (WNW, 4.1 mi).
Is the road to Pilot & Index open year-round?
No. The approach to Pilot & Index closes seasonally. The source records: motor_vehicle:conditional=yes @ (Apr-Nov). Check the managing agency before setting out.
What is the nearest town to Pilot & Index?
Cooke City, 7.4 miles NW of Pilot & Index.
What is the next lookout after Pilot & Index?
Crazy Creek is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Pilot & Index.
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