4 WHEELING
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
In Montana, off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts have many opportunities to enjoy riding in selected areas adapted to the rider's skill level. To learn more about off-highway vehicle riding trails in a specific area, contact the local public land agency to obtain a map that shows legally designated routes. Visit the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website for more information.
Montana 4×4 Association
Visit the Montana 4×4 Association web site for more information.
RiderPlanet USA
RiderPlanet USA offers a complete list of the best and most popular dirt bike trails, ATV trails, scenic UTV and OHV routes and motocross tracks in the country. We are dedicated to helping you find great places to ride your ATV or dirt bike where people will welcome you and your vehicle. Visit the RiderPlanet USA website for more information on 4 wheeling in Montana.
Looking for a day (or two!) of exploring? Hop on US Highway 89, and get ready for a sensory adventure like no other.
Aptly named, Paradise Valley, just south of Livingston, Montana is one of our favorite places in the state, if not the country. Flanked by the Absaroka Mountain Range to the east and the Gallatin Range to the west, the grandeur is indisputable. The Yellowstone River, the longest undammed river in the United States, flows through the valley from its origin just up the road near Yellowstone National Park.
Much of the year, the tall mountains are snow-capped. During the spring, the rolling hills are a vibrant green, and in the fall, the cottonwood trees growing along the river turn brilliant shades of orange and yellow. In other words, the drive itself is worth your time.
The Yellowstone River is known for its exceptional fly fishing. If you're an experienced angler, there are plenty of access points for wade fishing. Whether you are a die-hard or are a newbie to the sport, hiring a guide to float the river is an unforgettable experience. Or, you can visit DePuy Spring Creek, a fee-based private ranch heralding some of the most pristine fishing waters in the country.
For a short but beautiful hike, try Pine Creek Falls, a 2.5 mile moderate out and back suitable for those who are just starting. Plan to take a lunch or a snack and relax at the falls. Rock climbers also love the area. There are diverse climbs at Allenspur with varying levels of difficulty, or for the truly hardcore, try the big, (and challenging,) granite free climbs on Mount Cowen.
You don't have to be adventurous to enjoy rafting! You can opt for a whitewater experience, or a scenic float from Flying Pig Adventures, Montana Whitewater Rafting, or Paradise Adventure Company. Not into the water? Horseback riding is also available!
There is nothing like a good soak in a natural hot spring. Paradise Valley is home to two lovely options; Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa, and Yellowstone Hot Springs. Chico Hot Springs is iconic in these parts. Great for date night, girls weekend, or a family excursion, they have three different dining options, a full-service bar featuring live music, an exquisite day spa, horseback riding, dog sledding, and an 18-hole disc golf course! Yellowstone Hot Springs is the newest addition to the valley, with 4,000 square feet of flow through mineral hot springs with towering mountain views on either side. Trust us; you don't get an experience like this just anywhere.
Any or all of these activities can cause you to work up an appetite, and to be sure, you won't go hungry. From the brunch at Pine Creek Lodge to the burgers at the Old Saloon to fine dining at Chico and Sage Lodge, you'll have a range of choices, and none of them disappoint. If you're just looking for a snack, check out the Emigrant General Store located at the corner of Hwy 89 and Murphy Lane.
That brings us to the music scene. Yes, we said "scene,"— you'll find live music every week between Pine Creek and Chico, and throughout the summer, Old Saloon and Music Ranch Montana join in! That's four music venues within a half-hour drive through the mountains of Montana…not too shabby.
Yellowstone National Park sits at the end of the road, the crown jewel of the valley. If Yellowstone is your goal, plan to enjoy the drive through Paradise Valley, but you'll want to allocate the day to the park. The road from Gardiner to Cooke City is the only road open year-round. You'll drive through the beautiful Lamar Valley where wildlife watching is fantastic. These open grassy fields are great for sighting bison, bear, elk, and if you're lucky, the elusive wolf. It's a long day, so plan to stop at Yellowstone Pizza Company in Gardiner, Montana, on your way home!
If you're traveling through Montana, you'll see a lot of interesting things. The state is full of unique roadside attractions that offer visitors a window into the past. There are also a lot of really cool barns all across Montana, and some of them have colorful quilts hanging on the front of them.
The quilts are known as "barn quilts", and there's actually a scenic barn quilt trail in Montana. So, what is the significance of barn quilts and what do they mean?
Paint was very expensive in those days and painting a decorative yet distinctive quilt pattern on their barns was a wonderful way of allowing for decoration. It also became an excellent way for travelers to find particular families or cross roads, as towns people would just tell them which pattern to look for.
What Do Quilts on Barns in Montana Mean?
The history of barn quilts is quite interesting. Barn quilts were used during the Revolutionary War as a way to show that an area was safe and that supplies were available. Many barn quilts were used to represent agricultural families and farmland. Some barn quilts were inspired by a single block of a family quilt.
Where Can You See Barn Quilts in Montana?
You can see over 70 different barn quilts on the Meagher County Arts & Cultural Trail. Driving the trail takes less than two hours, but it's well worth it. The route was a project approved by the Meagher County Chamber of Commerce in 2017 and is a great way to see all the amazing communities in the county including Ringling, Martinsdale, White Sulphur Springs, and more.
Livingston, Montana, is a gem of a town and one of our favorite day trips! Originally home to various Native American tribes, including the Crow and Blackfeet, the city was founded in 1882 as a railroad town along the Northern Pacific Railroad and is considered the original gateway to Yellowstone National Park. The small town quickly became a transportation hub and soon became known for its ranching and mining industries. Today, Livingston is a vibrant center of art galleries, bookstores, boutique retailers, incredible food, and live music and theater.
Add in all the options for outdoor recreation, and you'll need more than a day to experience all this lovely little town has to offer.
Explore the Yellowstone River
The longest undammed river in the United States, the Yellowstone is a favorite among anglers, stand-up paddle boarders, and those who enjoy scenic floats. Several guides and outfitters are in the area, and if you've never floated the Yellowstone, we highly recommend hiring one. Not only is it safer, but it's also a pleasure to relax and know you are in good hands!
Shop Till You Drop
You'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality of retail stores in downtown Livingston. The Kitchen Shop on Main has top-notch brands and is full of everything you could imagine. In addition, there are four bookstores and a spectacular plant shop, and the clothing boutiques carry an eclectic mix of new, used, and vintage clothes.
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Indulge Your Cultural Side
Livingston always has something interesting going on, whether it's live theater, book readings, or community events. The Shane Lalani Center for the Arts has multiple community theater performances and, beginning in June, a six-week, free, family-friendly summer concert series. The Livingston Art Walks occur on the fourth Friday of each month, from June through September. Or stop into one of the town's three museums: Yellowstone Gateway Museum, The Livingston Depot Center, and Fly Fishers International Museum.
Dance the Night Away
Livingston and Paradise Valley have become stellar locations for live music. Pine Creek Lodge, Old Saloon, and Music Ranch Montana are all outdoor venues attracting big names to perform under the big sky. The Attic, Murray Bar, and other local taverns also host live music, and the Yellowstone Harvest Festival is a two-day country and bluegrass music event on the banks of the Yellowstone River.
Explore Yellowstone
Just an hour down the road and through the gorgeous Paradise Valley sits the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. This entrance is home to Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces, the Mammoth Hotel, and the Lamar Valley, which holds some of the best wildlife watching in the Park. The scenic drive through the valley is well worth even if you stay briefly.
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Soak in a Hot Springs
There are two hot springs in Paradise Valley, Chico Hot Springs and Yellowstone Hot Springs. Chico has a nice pool, a historic hotel and cabins, a day spa, and two excellent restaurants. Yellowstone Hot Springs has beautiful mountain views and RV camp spots, and new for the 2023 season cabin rentals!
Hiking and Biking
Livingston is surrounded by the Absaroka and Gallatin Mountain Ranges, which provide exceptional hiking and biking options. Pine Creek Falls is a popular hike, and if you continue to Pine Creek Lake, it's a grueling workout with spectacular views at the top. 406 E-Bike Rentals are a great way to cover much ground without much effort and can be used in town, on bike paths, or most mountain bike trails.
There is no shortage for outdoor adventures!
LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION
Caverns – Cardwell, MT – 75 miles
Pompeys Pillar – Lewis & Clark Landmark – Billings, MT – 140 miles
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center – Great Falls, MT – 200 miles
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS
AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Livingston Chamber of Commerce – visit the Chamber website to find out more information in the visitors guide on local art galleries, theaters, businesses, events, antiquing, tennis, golf, biking, skiing, and more.
RESORT & DAY SPA
Chico Hot Springs – Pray, MT – 7 miles
- Day Spa & Resort
- Swimming
- Horseback Riding
- Scenic River Floats
- Fine Dining
Sage Lodge – Pray, MT – 6 miles
- Day Spa & Resort
- Fly Fishing
- Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding
- Scenic River Floats
- Llama Treks
GOLF
Livingston Golf Club
Overland Golf Course – Big Timber, MT
MUSEUMS
Visit the museum website for hours, directions, tickets, upcoming events, etc.
Livingston Depot Museum – Livingston, MT – 18 miles
Fly Fishing Museum – Livingston, MT 18 miles
Yellowstone Gateway Museum – Livingston, MT – 18 miles
Museum of the Rockies – Bozeman, MT – 45 miles
American Computer & Robotics Museum – Bozeman, MT – 45 miles
Charles M. Bair Family Museum – Martinsdale, MT – 102 miles
Buffalo Bill Center of the West – Cody, WY – 175 miles
C.M. Russell Museum – Great Falls, MT – 200 miles
MUSIC
Music Ranch Montana
We are blessed with an unsurpassed natural setting for this place of Music, here in Paradise Valley Montana, on the route to the main gate into Yellowstone National Park. It is our hope that many, many people of all ages, from here in North America and throughout the world will enjoy Music Ranch Montana, either as novice entertainers, acclaimed professionals or as happy listeners. We hope that you keep in touch and come by for a visit. There are a great many people involved in this dream and we all look forward to serving you. Visit the Music Ranch Montana for more information and upcoming events!
Old Saloon
Visit the Old Saloon website for more information
Pine Creek Lodge
Visit the Pine Creek Lodge website for more information
Saloon At Chico Hot Springs
Live Music Fridays & Saturdays – Visit the Saloon At Chico website for more information and upcoming events.
Red Ants Pants Music Festival
Annual Music Festival in White Sulpher Springs, Montana – Visit the Red Ants Pants Music Festival for more information!
NATIONAL & STATE PARKS
Yellowstone National Park – Montana & Wyoming – 35 miles
Grand Teton National Park – Wyoming – 282 miles
Glacier National Park – Montana – 375 miles
Natural Bridge State Park – Big Timber, MT – 80 miles
Little Bighorn Battlefield – Crow Agency, MT – 190 miles
Pictograph Cave State Park – Billings, MT – 142 miles
RODEOS
PBR Rodeo
Visit the LIVINGSTON CLASSIC PBR TOURING PRO DIVISION website for more information and ticket sales.
Livingston Roundup Rodeo
The Livingston Roundup Rodeo has a long and colorful history of its own, dating back to the "Roaring 20s," when the event began. Visit the Livingston Roundup Rodeo website for more information and ticket sales.
SCENIC DRIVES
Headwaters of the Missouri River – Three Forks, MT – 60 miles
Beartooth Scenic Highway – Montana – 70 miles
Historic Virginia City – Virginia City, MT – 75 miles
Going to the Sun Road – Glacier National Park – 375 miles
SCENIC MOTORCYCLE RIDES
Pam and Chan ride the Beartooth Highway
As riders ourselves we hope that you'll unload your trailers, toy haulers, or bumper lifts and explore the GREAT motorcycle roads that surround us. Dual sport riders can head up Mill Creek or up into the Tom Miner Basin and find everything from mellow gravel two track to Forest Service cuts that will take you to the back of beyond. Road riders can head off in any direction for the kind of riding that fills the pages of magazines and stays with you forever, or at least until you ride it again.
Here are a few of our favorites.
Beartooth Highway
If you follow the driving/riding directions for the Beartooth Highway you have another world-class option. Fourteen miles outside of Cooke City is a well marked RIGHT hand turn that will connect you to the Chief Joseph Highway.) If it's a BIG day of riding you're after, the Beartooth is waiting. From our RV Park enter Yellowstone through the North Gate and in Mammoth turn left and ride the amazing Lamar Valley, exiting the park through the Northeast Gate and into Cooke City.
It's a good idea to fill the tank here, you'll have better things to pay attention to coming up.
The Beartooth Highway makes everybody's short list of spectacular roads…anywhere. Before long the switchbacks will have you riding above the treeline, and you'll summit the road at 10,970 ft!Then it's countless switchbacks down to the valley and a great ride into Red Lodge for a well-deserved break. Highway 78 will take you through great rolling countryside on your way to Roscoe, and in Absarokee you'll follow the Stillwater river into Columbus. Here you can jump onto I-90 and head back to Livingston.
These 300 miles makes for a long day, we suggest you start early.Weather is VERY changeable on this ride, please check the current conditions and forecast on the Beartooth Highway website
Chief Joseph Highway
If you follow the driving/riding directions for the Beartooth Highway you have another world-class option. Fourteen miles outside of Cooke City is a well marked RIGHT hand turn that will connect you to the Chief Joseph Highway. Detailed information
The Bridger Range Scenic Drive
The thirty-one mile long Bridger Range Scenic Drive is a paved route that runs between Wilsall and Bozeman, Montana. The scenic drive follows Montana Highway 86 (also called Bridger Canyon Road), for its entire distance. Highlights of the trip include the scenic Bridger Range, along with excellent views of the Crazy Mountains. Visit the BigSkyFishing.com website for more information
The Boulder River Backcountry Drive
The Boulder River Backcountry Drive is a forty-seven mile drive that leads into the heart of the Absaroka Mountains south of Big Timber, Montana. The route closely follows the Boulder River, which provides excellent fishing and, in its upper reaches, superb access. The first twenty or so miles of the drive follow a paved road, before turning to a gravel surface for the remainder of the route. The drive, which is a one-way trip, dead-ends at a popular trail head that lies at the edge of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area. Highlights of the drive include Natural Falls Bridge State Monument, the Boulder River, beautiful agricultural fields south of Big Timber and superb views of the Absaroka Mountains and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area. Visit the BigSkyFishing.com website for more information.
Paradise Valley Dual-Sport Rides
If you turn off on just about any gravel road around here you can bet on 3 things;
the road will get steeper….
the road will get narrower…
the elevation AND the view will take your breath away…
For trails and info contact:
OHV Program Manager
Montana State Parks
PO Box 20071
1420 East Sixth Ave
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-7642
Yellowstone Ranger District
5242 Highway 89 South
Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-1892
Gardiner Ranger District
PO Box 5, Hwy 89 South
Gardiner, MT 59030
(406) 848-7375
WILDLIFE WATCHING
There is a vast variety of wildlife in Paradise Valley and Yellowstone National Park.
WINDSURFING
Dailey Lake
Windsurf on Dailey Lake, 30 miles south of Livingston, with Emigrant Peak hovering at 11,000 feet above. Daily Lake has the most consistent winds in Montana and is a safe lake with a gravel launch site and no obstacles. In addition to windsurfing, the lake provides great fishing for trout and walleye. For equipment or directions and trails contact Timber Trails on Park St. 406-222-9550.
WORLD CLASS FISHING
From its origins in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming to its confluence with the Missouri in western North Dakota, the Yellowstone is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states. The upper reaches of the Yellowstone receives universal praise as one of the finest trout streams in the world. Ranches, pasture lands and homes old & new line the banks of the river here in Paradise Valley, and it's this limited access that gives the river its reputation as a waterway better floated than waded. Our river access here at Yellowstone's Edge has solved that problem for you!
All 3000 ft of river access in this photo is available to our guests.
All 3000 ft of river access in this photo is available to our guests here at Yellowstone's Edge. And at the southern end (bottom of picture) another 3000 feet of access is available right from our park. Every river seems to have its "blue ribbon" section of prime fishing water, and on the 'stone' it's considered to be the "bird float", between the access points of Grey Owl and Mallards Rest. Our RV park is completely within this section with 3000 feet of riverbank within our RV park, connecting at the south end to an additional 3000+ feet of state Fish & Game lands which our guests are free to enjoy.
You can walk from your RV and enjoy over a mile of wading on this world-class fishery. Our access ranges from gradual, shallow rocky areas suitable for youngsters and timid waders, to the boulders, riffles and holes favored by trophy trout.A trout crazy town like Livingston is full of well-stocked fly shops, staffed by experts that can tell you where, when, and what you need to target that fish of a lifetime. And if you need a change of pace we can point you towards Mill Creek or Big Creek, two wonderful tributaries that hold native cutthroat and some VERY sizable Rainbows!And if the LONG 4 mile drive to the Angler's West Fly Shop in Emigrant has you worn out just remember it's right next door to a wonderful cafe', and 50 yards from a delightful bakery!
We look forward to hosting you here at Yellowstone's Edge and helping to get your fishing pointed in the right direction. We have a campfire outside the office every evening at 7:00 PM. It's a great place to hear fishing stories and to share your own…NO EYEWITNESSES….A fishing license is required.