Madison River
Leaving Yellowstone westward, the Madison fills Hebgen Lake and landslide-formed Quake Lake, then runs north through a broad valley past Ennis and Ennis Lake to the Missouri headwaters at Three Forks.
Course of the river, simplified. Map data from Natural Earth (public domain).
Weather at the Madison River (National Weather Service) ↗
River facts
| Length | About 183 miles |
|---|---|
| Source | Firehole-Gibbon confluence at Madison Junction, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming |
| Mouth | Joins Jefferson and Gallatin at Three Forks to form the Missouri |
| State | Montana |
Hebgen Dam and Madison Dam form Hebgen Lake and Ennis Lake.
Boat ramps, launches and bait shops
Detailed ramp, bait shop and lock-and-dam listings for the Madison River are coming soon. Until then, these searches open Google Maps along the river:
Fishing regulations
Check the state agency for river-specific rules, seasons and limits before you fish:
- Montana: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks ↗
Lakes on or near the Madison River
Lakes in our guide on or near this river:
Facts from Madison River (Wikipedia) ↗