South Fork Madison

4.6/5 (7 reviews)
The South Fork Madison Trail is one of the trails forming the 4,455 mile Great Western Trail. It also connects West Yellowstone, Montana, to Island Park, Idaho by way of Reas Pass. This beautiful trail follows along a section of historic Union Pacific Rail Line, which began bringing passengers by s... Read More
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Highlights of South Fork Madison

Camping Category Icon Camping
Forest Category Icon Forest
Iconic Category Icon Iconic
Scenic Category Icon Scenic
Highest Elevation
6963 ft
Shape of Trail
Straight Through
Typically Open
06/16 - 12/01
Best Direction
N/A
Official Trail Name
478
Nearest Town
West Yellowstone
Nearest Services
West Yellowstone
Management Agency
Custer Gallatin National Forest
District
Hebgen Lake Ranger District

Overview

The South Fork Madison Trail is one of the trails forming the 4,455 mile Great Western Trail. It also connects West Yellowstone, Montana, to Island Park, Idaho by way of Reas Pass. This beautiful trail follows along a section of historic Union Pacific Rail Line, which began bringing passengers by steam locomotive to West Yellowstone and Yellowstone National Park in 1906. The tracks and sleepers were removed in 1981, leaving only the elevated path above the South Fork Madison River and the cut alongside the mountainside. One can imagine a steam train chugging along through these canyons with anxious passengers watching the tall pines pass by while enjoying the beautiful views of the crystal clear water of the South Fork Madison River.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
19 Waypoints
59 Trail Photos
1 Trail Concerns
7 Community Reviews
1 Video
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