Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley is the broad valley of the Yellowstone River between Livingston and Yankee Jim Canyon, about 15 miles north of Gardiner. US-89 runs its full length on the way to Yellowstone's North Entrance, about 55 miles from Livingston, with the Absaroka Range rising to the east and the Gallatin Range to the west. It is ranch country with mountains on both sides, and for most visitors it is the drive into Yellowstone. It is worth time of its own.

The valley was the route of the early Yellowstone expeditions and the only recognised route into the park when it was created in 1872. Gold drew prospectors to Emigrant Gulch in the early 1860s, and the short-lived camps left a few relics and ghost towns. In the 1880s the Northern Pacific built a branch line from Livingston up the valley toward the park; the track is gone, and US-89 now carries the traffic. Chico Hot Springs, near Emigrant, opened as a hotel in 1900 around springs that were used long before, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The landmark peak is Emigrant Peak, 10,926 feet, which stands above the town of Emigrant. Mount Cowen, at 11,212 feet, is the highest summit near the valley. On the east side, the quieter East River Road is an alternative to the highway for part of the valley and passes the turn to Pine Creek, where a trail of about a mile from the Forest Service campground leads to Pine Creek Falls. In winter the valley is range for elk herds, and mule deer are common all year.

The Yellowstone River is the main draw for anglers and floaters, with nearby spring creeks also famous for fly fishing. Fishing and boating rules follow Montana FWP regulations.

Practical tip: because the North Entrance at Gardiner is the only Yellowstone entrance open to cars all year, US-89 through the valley is kept open in winter. Drive it slowly, watch for wildlife on the road, especially at dusk, and use the pullouts in Yankee Jim Canyon rather than stopping on the shoulder.