Park County, Montana’s estimated population is 16,438 with a growth rate of 1.94% in the past year according to the most recent United States census data. Park County, Montana is the 11th largest county in Montana. Park County has a total area of 2,813 square miles (1.8 million acres or 7,290 km2), of which 2,803 square miles (7,260 km2) is land and 10.4 square miles (27 km2) (0.4%) is water. The highest natural point in Montana, Granite Peak at 12,807 feet (3,904m), is
located in Park County.
Paradise Valley is a major river valley of the Yellowstone River in southwestern Montana just north of Yellowstone National Park in the southern portion of Park County, Montana. The valley is flanked by the Absaroka Range on the east and the Gallatin Range on the west. The Yellowstone River, one of Montana’s Blue Ribbon Trout Rivers, flows through Paradise 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. A small part of Yellowstone National Park is located in the extreme southern part of the county.
The northern end of Park County, Montana contains the Shields River Valley. The Shields River is a tributary of the Yellowstone River. It flows west, then south, between the Bridger Range to the west and the Crazy Mountains to the east, past Wilsall and Clyde Park. It joins the Yellowstone approximately 10 mi (16 km) northeast of Livingston, MT.
Park County has a substantial amount of public land. The majority is National Forest Service, but there are small portions of state land and BLM land. View our Park County Montana Public Land Map for more information.
