



Lake
Earthquake Lake
Overview
Service & Activities
Overview
Service & Activities
About
On August 17, 1959 an earthquake in the Madison Canyon River near West Yellowstone caused a massive landslide of about 80 million tons of rock. The debris blocked the flow of the Madison River creating Earthquake Lake. The earthquake resulted in 28 deaths, flooding, significant damage to buildings and highways throughout the area.
The lake measures five miles long, one-third of a mile wide, and 120 feet deep. Today, many fishermen enjoy fishing by boat or along the shores of the lake. The shoreline is accessible from Highway 287 and a boat ramp can also be found. Float tube fishing is not the best way to fish because of the many timbers below the surface of the water and occasional high winds. However, those timbers create ideal habitats for fish, making for some great dry fly fishing.
Near the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center is Memorial Boulder with a plaque of the names of the 28 people who died in the earthquake. The Visitor Center is open 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week from Memorial Day weekend through mid-September.
The Visitor Center phone number:
Summer - 406-682-7620
Winter - 406-823-6961
Contact
MAILING ADDRESS
PO Box 520
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
CONTACT
406-682-7620
Details
SPECIAL DIRECTIONS
Earhquake Lake is 24 miles from the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, along Highway 287 near Hebgen Lake in southwestern Montana, north of the Idaho border.
SERVICES
Boat Launch
ACTIVITIES
Boating
Canoeing
Cross-Country Skiing
Education
Exhibit
Fishing
Heritage
Hiking
History
Nature
Outdoor Activity
Photography
Skiing
Snowshoeing
Wildlife Viewing
Winter Sport
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