Basics
- River:
- Madison River
- Class:
- Class III - IV
- River Length
- 8.5 miles
- Time:
- 1 day
- Season:
- May to September
Description
Flowing from the heart of Yellowstone National Park, the beautiful Madison River winds lazily across the Madison Valley before dropping into the depths of Beartrap Canyon. Beartrap Canyon, flanked at times by walls over 2000 feet high, features the most technical whitewater commercially run in the Bozeman area. The Beartrap Canyon stretch of the Madison is packed with intermediate and advanced level rapids, the largest named the Kitchen Sink since it has just about everything in it but.
Beatrap Canyon of the Madison offers visitors a true wilderness experience, flowing through the Beatrap Canyon Wilderness Area. Six thousand acres of land surrounding Beartrap Canyon are protected within this area, with no roads or development. The wilderness element combined with the technical nature of the whitewater in the canyon create an exciting and high energy day trip for hearty whitewater enthusiasts.
In addition to its whitewater prowess, the length of the Madison River is renowned for its blue-ribbon trout fishery. Wildlife sightings along the Madison are common, with deer, bear, elk, bighorn sheep and antelope easily seen on banks lined with open pine forest and sagebrush. Fed by the Madison Dam, the Madison’s boatable season is longer than most in the area, allowing for trips from mid spring through late fall, and commercial full day trips offered daily at the height of the season.
