Local residents don’t have to go far to find some of the nation’s best motorcycling.

Members of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) recently voted the Beartooth Highway as their favorite road in the U.S.

The highway, which climbs nearly 6,000 feet in running from Red Lodge to Cooke City, took the No. 1 spot among the top 15 motorcycling roads named in the AMA magazine’s April edition.

Riders writing to the magazine cited the route’s high-mountain beauty and curves as key assets.

“Awesome corners and low traffic, beautiful scenery and new pavement on a large portion of Beartooth Pass make this ride better than ever!” wrote rider Darell Riley.

In its write-up on the Beartooth Highway, the motorcyclists’ magazine expressed surprise that a better-known road didn’t take top honors, but tipped its hat to the readers who chose it.

“When it comes to the best places in the country to ride motorcycles, no group of riders is more knowledgeable than AMA members. No group puts in more miles, samples more asphalt or rides more road,” said Rob Dingman, the association’s president and CEO, in a news release.

Nominations for favorite roads were submitted through the association’s website, www.americanmotorcyclist.com. The Beartooth beat out nearly 100 other roadways in online voting to claim top honors.

Dingman said publicizing the favorite roads would lead association members to seek them out and, in turn, boost local tourism.

The magazine is only available to American Motorcyclist Association members and is not sold on newstands.