5 Things to do When You Visit Paradise Valley This Fall

The secret about fall in Paradise Valley and Yellowstone National Park is already out, but even so, you're going to find fewer people and those crisp fall days that so many of us crave. Here's the Backroad Cabin's favorites:

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1. Take a Scenic Drive

Paradise Valley is framed by the Absaroka and Gallatin ranges, and every curve in the road is a vista worthy of a postcard. Snow often dusts the upper elevations, and the cottonwoods along the Yellowstone River always seem to be on their own schedule, turning golden hues anytime from September through late October. We're fans of getting off highway 89 for the best views. A few stunning drives:

East River Road: follows the eastern side of the river. Paved, curvy road. Makes for an easy detour on your way to or from Livingston. (Bonus: Chico Hot Springs is just off this road.)

Mill Creek Road: this road turns from pavement to dirt, narrowing and winding up the Mill Creek drainage onto U.S. Forest Service land for quite a ways. Makes a good adventure drive. Trailheads along the way. (There is some private property along this, so pay attention to signage.) If you venture out for a hike, bring bear spray.

Trail Creek Road: A "short cut" between Emigrant and Bozeman, this is a stunner of road that is shorter in miles (but not time wise). Expect a lot of washboards and pot holes. The views here (especially going from the Bozeman side into Paradise Valley) are cinematic and worth every bump.

2. Soak in a Hot Spring

Cool days call for warm water. Chico Hot Springs is just 20 minutes away for a quick soak. Follow it up with a burger at their saloon, or make reservations at the Chico Dining Room for a more formal affair in a classic, old-fashioned dining room.

Thirty minutes towards Gardiner, you'll find Yellowstone Hot Springs for river views and a quieter vibe, with views along the Yellowstone River. Nothing beats stepping out into crisp mountain air after a long soak.

3. Hike Among the Fall Colors

Our guide book is full of trail descriptions and directions. A few of our favorites include:

Short & easy: Pine Creek Falls

Casual longer walk: The OTO

Drive & hike: Head up Mill Creek Road (above) and hike into Passage Falls

No drive: A walk to the end of the road at the cabin is 6 miles roundtrip and has stunning view and very few cars the whole way. Several aspen groves along the way.

4. Explore Yellowstone Without the Crowds

Fall is Yellowstone’s wind-down season. Wildlife is active, elk are bugling, and you can wander boardwalks at geysers without summer’s bustle. The North Entrance is just 45 minutes away from the cabin. Early morning or evening drives are often the best. Take time to pull over and listen for elk.

Note that most of the interior roads in the park close for the winter on October 31. However, the Gardiner entrance remains open, with a road that runs to Mammoth and through the Lamar Valley all winter long, giving you access to great wildlife viewing, and, once the snow flies, access to some wonderful skiing.

5. Saddle Up or Cast a Line

A decade ago, I spent five days on a horse in Yellowstone National Park in mid September, and it was life changing. Local outfitters offer fall horseback rides into the mountains and sometimes into the park—an unforgettable way to see the changing leaves and see the landscape from a different perspective. Or, if fly fishing is your thing, the Yellowstone River and local spring creeks are world-class in the fall. We have a ton of local guides who can put you on a drift boat and make a day of it.

Rockin HK Outfitters - 1 hour rides at Chico Hot Springs, plus longer day trips into the Park.

Anglers West - Fly Fishing outfitter right in Emigrant. They also have a retail shop if you need to pick up any supplies or clothing.

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