Yellowstone River States: A Comprehensive Guide

The Yellowstone River is the last major undammed river in the lower 48 states, flowing 671 miles from its source southeast of Yellowstone into the Missouri River. It is considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri. The river flows through Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota over a course of 692 miles. It rises on the slopes of Yount Peak in Wyoming's Absaroka Range and soon enters the southeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park. It then flows northward into Yellowstone Lake, and, after exiting the lake, plunges 422 feet in two spectacular waterfalls and enters the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The river then winds north and northwest before leaving the park at Gardiner, Montana. At Miner, it turns northeastward and then northward on its way to Livingston. There it bends eastward to near Billings, where it flows onto the high plains. It then bends more northeastward past Miles City and Glendive. Just northeast of Sidney, it crosses from Montana into North Dakota and, southwest of Williston, enters the Missouri River.

The Yellowstone River flows through Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota

The Yellowstone River is the last major undammed river in the lower 48 states, flowing 671 miles (or 692 miles according to some sources) from its source southeast of Yellowstone to its confluence with the Missouri River in North Dakota. It is considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri.

The Yellowstone River begins in the Absaroka Mountain Range in Wyoming, on the slopes of Yount Peak, and soon enters the southeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park. It then flows northward into Yellowstone Lake, and, after exiting the lake, plunges 422 feet in two spectacular waterfalls and enters the magnificent Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The river then winds north and northwest before leaving the park at Gardiner, Montana. At Miner, it turns northeastward and then northward on its way to Livingston. There it bends eastward to near Billings, where it flows onto the high plains.

The Yellowstone River continues north and east through the state of Montana, passing through the sublime Paradise Valley, which offers more than 100 miles of Montana's most popular floating and fishing. The river is considered a blue-ribbon trout stream and is known worldwide for its abundance of big trout. It then joins the Missouri River near the eastern boundary line of the state.

Just northeast of Sidney, the Yellowstone River crosses from Montana into North Dakota and, southwest of Williston, enters the Missouri River. The Yellowstone is approximately 692 miles (1,114 km) long and drains an area of about 70,000 square miles (181,300 square km). It is a popular destination for fly fishing and offers fishermen and river runners some of the best water Montana has to offer.

It is the last major undammed river in the lower 48 states

The Yellowstone River is the last major undammed river in the lower 48 states. It is also the longest undammed river in the continental United States, flowing for 671 to 692 miles. The river rises on the slopes of Yount Peak in Wyoming's Absaroka Range and soon enters the southeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park. It then flows northward into Yellowstone Lake, and, after exiting the north end of the lake, plunges 422 feet in two spectacular waterfalls and enters the magnificent Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

The Yellowstone River is considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri River, which it meets in North Dakota. The river's mainstem is more than 700 miles long, and its watershed spans 34,167 square miles. The area contains many lakes, including Yellowstone Lake, and five major reservoirs: Bull Lake, Boysen, Buffalo Bill, Big Horn, Tongue River, and Lake De Smet.

The Yellowstone River had long been an important transportation route for Native Americans and early settlers. Since the 1860s, it has provided vital irrigation to the region. The river is also a popular destination for fly fishing and other recreational activities such as rafting and wildlife watching.

The river winds its way through Paradise Valley in Livingston, Montana, before making its journey to the Missouri River. North of Yellowstone Park, the river passes through sublime landscapes, offering more than 100 miles of floating and fishing opportunities. The Blue Ribbon trout fishery gradually transitions to cool water habitat along the Great Plains near Billings, where endangered pallid sturgeon and prehistoric-looking paddlefish join the system.

The Yellowstone River is truly a natural wonder and an important lifeline for the region it traverses. Its free-flowing waters are a testament to successful conservation efforts and a source of enjoyment for many.

The Yellowstone is considered a principal tributary of the upper Missouri

The Yellowstone River is considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri. It flows through Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota over a course of 692 miles (1,114 km), cutting a diagonal northeast channel across Montana for nearly 700 miles to its confluence with the Missouri River in North Dakota. The Yellowstone River is the last major undammed river in the lower 48 states, flowing 671 miles (1,080 km) from its source southeast of Yellowstone into the Missouri River and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Yellowstone River rises on the slopes of Yount Peak in Wyoming's Absaroka Range and soon enters the southeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park. It then flows northward into Yellowstone Lake, and, after exiting the lake, plunges 422 feet (129 meters) in two spectacular waterfalls and enters the magnificent Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The river then winds north and northwest before leaving the park at Gardiner, Montana. At Miner, it turns northeastward and then northward on its way to Livingston. There, it bends eastward to near Billings, where it flows onto the high plains and bends more northeastward past Miles City and Glendive.

The Yellowstone River is a vital source of water for agriculture and recreation in the region. It offers fishermen and river runners some of the best water in Montana. The river's clear, cool, swift, and challenging waters are known worldwide for their abundance of big trout. As it flows through Montana, the big river goes through many changes, from steep-walled canyons where boulders churn its green waters to the eastern part of the state, where the river broadens to take a lazy path through fertile farm country.

The Yellowstone River is also an important ecological corridor, providing habitat for a diverse range of wildlife species, including bald eagles, elk, whitetail deer, black and grizzly bears, and native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Recreational activities such as fishing, hunting, rafting, wildlife watching, and even agate-hunting are incredibly popular along the Yellowstone and are a vital part of the local economy.

The Yellowstone River is a significant tributary of the Missouri River, and its confluence with the Missouri has shaped the geography and ecology of the region. The Missouri River eventually joins the Mississippi River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Mexico.

The Yellowstone River is approximately 692 miles long

The Yellowstone River then winds north and northwest before leaving the park at Gardiner, Montana. At Miner, it turns northeastward and then northward on its way to Livingston. There it bends eastward to near Billings, where it flows onto the high plains. It bends more northeastward past Miles City and Glendive. Just northeast of Sidney, it crosses from Montana into North Dakota and, southwest of Williston, enters the Missouri River.

The Yellowstone River is considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri. Its prestige is punctuated by picturesque waypoints including aptly named Inspiration Point overlooking the thunderous Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone, plummeting 109 feet and 308 feet, respectively, into the near-mythical Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Black Canyon of the Yellowstone beyond.

North of Yellowstone Park, the river passes through the sublime Paradise Valley, which offers more than 100 miles of Montana's most popular floating and fishing as it flows casually between the Gallatin and northern Absaroka mountains. The Blue Ribbon trout fishery gradually transitions to cool water habitat along the Great Plains near Billings, where endangered Pallid sturgeon and similarly prehistoric-looking paddlefish join the system.

The Yellowstone River is known for its scenic beauty. It is officially classed as a blue-ribbon stream in Montana from the park to the confluence with the Boulder River east of Livingston and from the mouth of Rosebud Creek near Rosebud, Montana, to the North Dakota border. The lack of dams along the river provides for excellent trout habitat from high inside Yellowstone Park, downstream through Gardiner, the Paradise Valley, Livingston, and to Big Timber, a stretch of nearly 200 miles.

The Yellowstone River is known for its scenic beauty

Within Yellowstone National Park, the river is punctuated by picturesque waypoints such as Inspiration Point, which offers a view of the thunderous Upper and Lower Falls. The river then winds its way north and northwest, passing through the sublime Paradise Valley in Montana, known for its popular fishing and floating activities. The river emerges from the mountains near Livingston, where it turns eastward, flowing across the northern Great Plains.

The Yellowstone River is also known for its diverse wildlife, including bald eagles, elk, deer, bears, and native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Recreational activities such as fishing, hunting, rafting, and wildlife watching are incredibly popular along the river and contribute significantly to the local economy.

The river holds historical significance as well. It was first explored by people of European descent in 1806 during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The region around the river was also the site of conflict between Native American peoples and the US government in the 1860s and 1870s. The Yellowstone River had long been an important transportation route for Native Americans and later became a gateway for European-American settlers, who depended on it for transportation.

The river's pristine beauty and ecological importance have faced threats over the years, including proposals for dam construction and oil pipeline ruptures. Conservation efforts, such as the defeat of a massive dam proposal in the 1970s, have been vital to preserving the river's natural state and the diverse habitats it supports.

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