Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/1347595
D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 1 16 Coming back to Ennis, the highway picks up the MADISON RIVER (6) for most of the way to West Yellowstone. Of the many "blue ribbon" trout streams for which Mon- tana is known, none is more legendary than the Madison River. It rises within Yellowstone National Park and flows north to meet the Gallatin and Jefferson near the town of Three Forks to form the Missouri. It is a beautiful river and from Ennis, the highway follows it for about half its length. Coming into Ennis, the visitor is greeted with the following sign: "Welcome to Ennis Pop. 840 people (and) 11,000,000 trout" and that says it all. Ennis is basically a synonym for "fishing." Here, you can find many outfitters for a day's fly fishing on the river, or go alone from one of the many fishing access points found along Highway 287. Let the sound of the water sooth your inner soul! Rounding the southern end of Madison Range, 287 comes to EARTHQUAKE LAKE (7). Near midnight on August 17, 1959, an earthquake triggered a massive landslide here. The slide moved at 100 mph and in less than one minute, over 80 million tons of rock crashed into the narrow canyon, blocking the Madison River and forming Earthquake Lake. At the time it was one of the most powerful earthquakes to occur in the lower 48 states. Twenty-eight people, camped at the camp- ground below, lost their lives in the event. The quake also produced profound changes in nearby Yellowstone National Park. The Visitor's Center above the road provides a wealth of information on the quake, as well as a great viewing area of this unique, out- standing scenic and geological area. An- other half hour more brings you into West Yellowstone and the western entrance into Yellowstone National Park. Whether you have done this trip from East Glacier to West Yellowstone or the other way around, I hope this little tour leaves you with a fuller impression of what Montana really is. Of course, there are plenty of other great locations to visit outside of this rather narrow corridor, but that will have to be for your next visit! 6 7 MADISON RIVER EARTHQUAKE LAKE ENNIS IS BASICALLY A SYNONYM FOR "FISHING." HERE, YOU CAN LET THE SOUND OF THE WATER SOOTH YOUR INNER SOUL!