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Paradise Valley (Montana)
Encyclopedia
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.
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 Paradise Valley was the original entrance to Yellowstone. Today, the other entrances to the park are at West Yellowstone, MT from the west via U.S. Route 191
/U.S. Route 287
or US Highway 20, from the northeast at Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana
via U.S. Route 212
, from the east at Cody, WY via US Highway 14/U.S. Route 16
/US Highway 20, and from the south at Grand Teton National Park
and Jackson, WY via US Highway 89/U.S. Route 191
/U.S. Route 287
.
The Yellowstone River
flows through the valley and is noted for world-class fly fishing
in the river and nearby spring creek
s 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.
Emigrant Peak
is the largest peak near the valley, at 10,921 feet in elevation. It is located in the southern portion of the valley on the eastern side of the river within the Absaroka mountain range.
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long, in the western United States. Considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri, the river and its tributaries drain a wide area stretching from the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of the Yellowstone National...
in southwestern Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
just north of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
in Park County, Montana
Park County, Montana
Park Counties in Montana and Wyoming are among the very few pairs of counties in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines.-National protected areas:* Custer National Forest * Gallatin National Forest...
. The valley is flanked by the Absaroka Range
Absaroka Range
The Absaroka Range is a sub-range of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. The range stretches about 150 mi across the Montana-Wyoming border, forming the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park and the western side of the Bighorn Basin. The range borders the Beartooth Mountains...
on the east and the Gallatin Range
Gallatin Range
The Gallatin Range is located in the U.S. states of Montana and Wyoming and includes more than 10 mountains over . The highest peak in the range is Electric Peak at . The Gallatin Range was named after Albert Gallatin, the longest-serving US Secretary of the Treasury and one of the negotiators of...
on the west.
The Paradise Valley is separated from the Gallatin Valley and Bozeman, MT by the Bozeman Pass
Bozeman Pass
Bozeman Pass is a mountain pass situated approximately 13 miles east of the town of Bozeman, Montana and approximately 15 miles west of the town of Livingston, Montana, and between the Bridger and Gallatin mountain ranges....
. Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
passes through both communities. The valley lies predominantly along a north-south axis, and is anchored to the north by Livingston, Montana
Livingston, Montana
-Geography:Livingston is located at , at an altitude of 4.501 feet .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.38% is waters.-Climate:-Demographics:...
and to the south by Yankee Jim Canyon, approximately fifteen miles north of Gardiner, Montana
Gardiner, Montana
Gardiner is a census-designated place in Park County, Montana, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 851 at the 2000 census....
and the north entrance of Yellowstone Park. US Highway 89 passes through the valley and into Yellowstone National Park. The Paradise Valley was the original entrance to Yellowstone. Today, the other entrances to the park are at West Yellowstone, MT from the west via U.S. Route 191
U.S. Route 191
U.S. Route 191 is a spur of U.S. Route 91 that has two branches. The southern branch runs for 1,465 miles from Douglas, Arizona on the Mexican border to the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. The northern branch runs for 440 miles from the northern part of Yellowstone National Park to...
/U.S. Route 287
U.S. Route 287
U.S. Route 287 is a north–south United States highway. It is long. It serves as the major truck route between the Texas cities of Fort Worth and Amarillo...
or US Highway 20, from the northeast at Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana
Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana
Cooke City-Silver Gate is a census-designated place in Park County, Montana, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cooke City-Silver Gate is located at ....
via U.S. Route 212
U.S. Route 212
U.S. Route 212 is a spur of U.S. Route 12. Though it currently never intersects U.S. 12, it once had an eastern terminus at U.S. 12 in St. Paul, Minnesota. It runs for 949 miles from Minnesota Highway 62 at Edina, Minnesota to Yellowstone National Park.U.S. 212 passes through the states of...
, from the east at Cody, WY via US Highway 14/U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
/US Highway 20, and from the south at Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in northwestern Wyoming, U.S. The Park consists of approximately and includes the major peaks of the long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Only south of Yellowstone...
and Jackson, WY via US Highway 89/U.S. Route 191
U.S. Route 191
U.S. Route 191 is a spur of U.S. Route 91 that has two branches. The southern branch runs for 1,465 miles from Douglas, Arizona on the Mexican border to the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. The northern branch runs for 440 miles from the northern part of Yellowstone National Park to...
/U.S. Route 287
U.S. Route 287
U.S. Route 287 is a north–south United States highway. It is long. It serves as the major truck route between the Texas cities of Fort Worth and Amarillo...
.
The Yellowstone River
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long, in the western United States. Considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri, the river and its tributaries drain a wide area stretching from the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of the Yellowstone National...
flows through the valley and is noted for world-class fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
in the river and nearby spring creek
Spring creek
A spring creek is a type of free flowing river whose name derives from its origin: an underground spring or set of springs which produces sufficient water to consistently feed a unique river...
s such as DePuy Spring Creek
DePuy Spring Creek
DePuy Spring Creek is a three mile long trout fishery located between the Absaroka and Gallatin mountain ranges in Paradise Valley, south of Livingston, Montana. The creek is a small tributary of the Yellowstone River. This fishery supports a population of brown, cutthroat and rainbow trout....
. The valley hosts other natural wonders such as several natural hot springs, including Chico Hot Springs near Emigrant, Montana
Emigrant, Montana
Emigrant is an unincorporated community in Park County, Montana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the ZIP Code Tabulation Area for Emigrant had a population of 372...
, La Duke Hot Springs near Gardiner, and Hunter's Hot Springs near Livingston.
Emigrant Peak
Emigrant Peak
Emigrant Peak el. is a prominent mountain peak on the western edge of the Absaroka Range near Emigrant, Montana. The peak is flanked by Emigrant Gulch on the north and Sixmile Creek on the south with the Gallatin National Forest and lies just outside the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The peak is...
is the largest peak near the valley, at 10,921 feet in elevation. It is located in the southern portion of the valley on the eastern side of the river within the Absaroka mountain range.
Notable residents
- Peter FondaPeter FondaPeter Henry Fonda is an American actor. He is the son of Henry Fonda, brother of Jane Fonda, and father of Bridget and Justin Fonda...
, actor/director - Margot KidderMargot KidderMargaret Ruth "Margot" Kidder is a Canadian-born American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing Lois Lane in the four Superman movies opposite Christopher Reeve, a role that brought her to widespread recognition....
, actress - Church Universal and TriumphantChurch Universal and TriumphantChurch Universal and Triumphant is an international New Age religious organization founded in 1975 by Elizabeth Clare Prophet. It is an outgrowth of The Summit Lighthouse, founded in 1958 by Prophet's husband, Mark L. Prophet...
, religious organization - Christopher PaoliniChristopher PaoliniChristopher Paolini is an American author. He is best known as the author of the Inheritance Cycle, which consists of the books Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance...
, writer