What Part of Montana Resembles Tolkien’s Middle Earth the Most?

Spring is finally here, and Montana is getting green. With nature waking up from its winter nap, the scenery just keeps getting more and more beautiful. It is safe to say that Montana is springtime is almost like something out of a movie. We are well aware that Montana is quite possibly the most beautiful state in America, if not one of the most beautiful parts of the world. But, each part of the Treasure State holds its own kind of beauty. Sometimes we take for granted how beautiful it is right here at home in the heart of the Five Valleys.

If you take a short drive north of Missoula, you will find yourself in an area that resembles something straight out of the "Lord of the Rings" franchise. No, I am not talking about a land ruled by trolls, goblins, or orcs. I talking about one of the most picturesque parts of Big Sky Country. Now, even though the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" movies were filmed in New Zealand, people say that The Yaak Valley looks strikingly similar to "Middle Earth."

According to Only in Your State.com:

If you’ve ever been to the Yaak Valley in the northwest corner of Montana, you’ve seen with your own eyes how otherworldly it is. In fact, if you go deep enough into the Treasure State’s only rain forest, you’ll realize just how much it resembles Middle Earth from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Granted you may mistake a couple of residents of the Yaak as Gandolf or even Gollum. It is safe to say that that region of the state is the closest we will ever get to "Middle Earth."