Winter in Paradise

Jan 19, 2017

Winter on the Yellowstone River, Point of Rocks fishing access site

Yellowstone River, Point of Rocks

In January, 2017, I experienced Paradise Valley, outside of Livingston, Montana, in the dead of Winter. Like many, I wondered what the Yellowstone River would look like amidst a frozen landscape.

Southwest Montana had just experienced several weeks of bitter cold and large amounts of snow. A second straight day of sunny weather, however, meant that more than likely the roads and highways would be plowed and relatively safe to travel on.

Not surprising, the gateway into Paradise Valley from Livingston, Montana was extremely windy. Once I got close to DePuy Spring Creek, the winds died down, however. I even saw a fly fisherman on this stretch of water…a brave sole, indeed.

Winter on the Yellowstone River near DePuy Spring Creek

Yellowstone River near DePuy Spring Creek

The Mallards Rest fishing access site was my next stop. This is a great stop to take in views of the surrounding Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains and, of course, the Yellowstone River. This section of the Yellowstone River, however, had a substantial sheet of ice on its top.

I should not have been surprised that the Yellowstone was frozen over in this section because it is quite possibly the laziest section of the river in Paradise Valley.

Winter on the Yellowstone River at the Mallards Rest fishing access site

Yellowstone River, Mallards Rest fishing access site

Further down the road, near Emigrant, Montana, the river water was a little more visible…but, not much.

Winter on the Yellowstone River, Emigrant, Montana

Yellowstone River, Emigrant, Montana

Continuing on to the Point of Rocks fishing access site, I was even amazed to see the Yellowstone River turned into a virtual moonscape by virtue of some pretty fierce, cold winds coming down through Yankee Jim Canyon.

Winter on the Yellowstone River, Point of Rocks