Paradise Valley (Montana)

Paradise Valley is a major river valley of the Yellowstone River in southwestern Montana just north of Yellowstone National Park in Park County, Montana. The valley is flanked by the Absaroka Range on the east and the Gallatin Range on the west. Thomas Wolfe described the expansive valley as "nude spaciousness" when he drove through on a western trip.[1]

Paradise Valley and Absaroka Range

The Paradise Valley is separated from the Gallatin Valley and Bozeman, MT, by the Bozeman Pass. Interstate 90 passes through both communities. The valley lies predominantly along a north–south axis, and is anchored to the north by Livingston, Montana and to the south by Yankee Jim Canyon, approximately fifteen miles north of Gardiner, Montana and the north entrance of Yellowstone Park. US Highway 89 passes through the valley and into Yellowstone National Park. The valley was the original entrance to Yellowstone, although the park now holds two more entrances in Montana and Wyoming each.

The Yellowstone River flows through the valley and is noted for world-class fly fishing in the river and nearby spring creeks such as DePuy Spring Creek. The valley hosts other natural wonders such as several natural hot springs, including Chico Hot Springs near Emigrant, Montana, La Duke Hot Springs near Gardiner, and Hunter's Hot Springs near Livingston.

Mount Cowen is the largest peak near the valley, at 11,212 feet (3,417 m) in elevation. It is located in the southern portion of the valley on the eastern side of the river within the Absaroka mountain range.