Earthquake Lake

Earthquake Lake is just a few miles outside of Yellowstone National Park and is one of the most fascinating landforms in the region.  The lake, which did not exist prior to 1959, formed when a strong earthquake caused a hillside collapse that dammed the Madison River.  What remains today is a narrow lake in a steep valley with hundreds of drowned trees poking out of the water.

Earthquake Lake

Earthquake Lake parallels a segment of U.S. 287 just west of Hebgen Lake, about 30 minutes from West Yellowstone, MT.  The lake can be accessed from a primitive boat launch off of U.S. 287, about a half mile west of the Beaver Creek Campground.  The campground overlooks the lake, but there are no sites right at the water's edge.  The boat launch looks like it may have been the old highway that ran through the valley before the lake was formed.  This is probably the best place to put in because any roadside access further west would require scrambling down a steep embankment.

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]    

    Scenery: 5
    Shoreline Interest: 4
    Use: Low-moderate
    Fee: None for day use
    Access: Paved
    Full elev: 6395; natural;

    minimal variation
    Rec. info 
    Weather 








The drowned trees of Earthquake Lake are immediately visible upon launching from the put-in.  To the east (upvalley) is the quiet, scenic Madison River inlet.  To the west (downvalley) the banks are steeper and the enormous scar of the landslide is plainly visible on the opposite side of the lake.  There are tress in pretty much every area of the lake perimeter.  The 60 year-old tree skeletons can give an eerie vibe when paddling among them.  Even more haunting is the history of the lakebed as a once popular recreation area and the horrific loss of life that occurred when the adjacent mountainside crumbled away during the 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake.

Plenty of hazards lurk around in and around Earthquake Lake.  Obviously, the tree trunks form hundreds of obstacles that need to be skirted or avoided.  But unlike the shallow-water trees of Chatfield or Barr Lake--where the main obstacles are the trunks of trees--Earthquake Lake contains many large limbs and branches that are just above or just below the surface of the water.  Remnant branches may extend 10 or more feet out from the trunks of these once-mature trees.  Depending on waves and other variables, visibility in the water might not be good enough to see a shallow tree limb in your path.  The best advice we can offer is to go slowly when poking through the trees, and be extra cautious of wind or waves that might push you into obstacles.  

Another potential hazard exists on the west end of the Lake at the Madison River outlet.  Immediately upon exiting the lake, the Madison River tumbles over landslide material through a mile of raging rapids.  Depending on season and lake outflow, a current may develop in the vicinity of the outlet.  There are also multiple fallen, semi-submerged trees in this area, so it's best to enjoy from a distance.  

Wind and weather are omnipresent variables that are made a little trickier by Earthquake Lake's unique location.  The high surrounding mountains mean that weather approaching from the north or south is obscured from view.  Fortunately, the lake has a better window toward any storms building in the western skies.  

The wind can pick up suddenly here and can also reverse during the course of the day.  The lake has enough wind exposure distance to generate sizable waves in a moderate wind.  Check the hourly forecast to understand how the wind may change as the day progresses.  Also be aware that narrow valley's topography will tend to funnel and re-direct the overlying wind into an up-canyon or down-canyon direction.  Go early to find the calmest waters. 

Earthquake Lake is a fascinating and unique place that is worth the short detour from a trip through the Yellowstone area.  It sees surprisingly light visitation despite the fact that millions of visitors tour through this region every year.  If you go, be aware of the hazards, start early, wear a PFD, and have fun in this incredible place!