Area Day Trip One Includes the Following:
Madison Earth Quake Area
Lewis & Clark Caverns
Missouri Head Waters
Madison Buffalo Jump
Area Day Trip One
Madison River Canyon Earthquake Area - The Night the Mountain Fell
87. At the next junction you will turn right again onto US 287. The driving adventure begins as you pass through the Madison River Canyon which, in 1959, was struck by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded on the North American continent. Measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, the earthquake caused an enormous landslide and sent 80 million tons of rock tumbling into the canyon, obstructing the flow of the Madison River. The water soon backed up behind the fallen rocks and formed Earthquake Lake. Today the Madison River Canyon Earthquake Area is of great scientific and general interest.
Stop at the Visitors Center to see a short movie and pick up one of the driving tour brochures. While there walk the trail to the Memorial Boulder and overlook. Then as you drive along the banks of the water, the effect of the changing earth can be seen all around. Be sure to stop at the pullouts and scenic overlooks, go to the Ghost Village and visit Refuge Point. Along the way watch for wild life such as Mountain Goats, Bald Eagles, Osprey, Pika, Moose, Black bear and then, of course, signs of the Earthquake.
For a longer day trip reverse your trip leaving West Yellowstone on Hwy 289/191 and turn left onto US 287 about 10 miles from West Yellowstone and then after the Visitor Center go to Big Springs, Mesa Falls and Cave Falls into Idaho or continue on to Ennis and Virginia & Nevada Cities.
Virginia and Nevada Cities
(You can also begin this trip by taking the Madison River Canyon Earthquake Tour)
Take a day trip to Virginia City, just 12 miles west of Ennis. Virginia City was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Virginia City once included more than a thousand buildings and vied with Helena to become the Capital of Montana. The area holds claim to the largest collection of Gold Rush era buildings in the West. Currently 50 standing structures date back to the height of the Gold Rush when nearly 20,000 hardy souls called it home. Pick up a walking tour brochure of the area in Virginia City.
At its peak, Nevada City boasted dozens of stores and cabins. In 1872, the town had a miner’s store, a brewery, a butcher, a blacksmith, a livery stable and a Masonic hall. But by 1876, boom turned to bust, and Nevada City became a Ghost Town and currently is the site of many of Montana’s relocated historic buildings. Among them from more recent times are the cabins used in the PBS Frontier House series. Make sure to bring lots of quarters to visit the Music Hall which features old time pipe organs, movie machines and great novelty inventions. During peak season, take a ride on the Alder Gulch Shortline Railroad that runs between Virginia City and Nevada City.
Lewis & Clark Caverns & Three Forks
On the way to Three Forks visit the Historic Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. Though Lewis & Clark never saw the caverns, they were discovered in 1892, and are Montana's first and best-known state park. The Caverns showcase one of the most highly decorated limestone caverns in the Northwest. Naturally air conditioned, these spectacular caves, lined with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helicitites, date back through time. See the geologic development, the history of early exploration and gain an insight into the delicate ecology of this world without light. Plan to spend a minimum of two hours to hike two miles on a guided tour through the caverns.
Visit the Missouri Headwaters State Park where Lewis and Clark had followed the Missouri River hoping to find a route to the Pacific Ocean. Obviously they discovered this wasn’t the case but it is an essential point in the geography of North America. Today you can walk in their footsteps and see the convergence of the Jefferson, Gallatin, and Madison Rivers. The area abounds with interpretive displays highlighting the Native American tribes that roamed the area.
Then on to Three Forks, and a stop to visit the Headwaters Heritage Museum down town Three Forks. You will want to include a visit to the Madison Buffalo Jump. The Buffalo Jump is located about 6 and one half miles south of the Interstate 90 at Logan, Montana. This is one of the most spectacular Buffalo Jumps or Pishkins to be found in the United States dating back 4,000 years or more to the time when the natives had neither horses nor weapons to get their food. Learn about the (ahwa waki) buffalo runner.
