Attractions and Places To See in Madison County - Top 13

The South Fork Spanish Creek Trail is a wilderness trail in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness between the towns of Bozeman and Big Sky. The basins in this wilderness area offer some of the best wildlife viewing experiences with the riparian environments welcoming fields of wildflowers, alpine lakes, and breeding grounds for moose and bears.

Amazing views from Virginia City's first cemetery. Located along Alder Gulch, Virginia City was part of the richest placer gold strike in the Rocky Mountains of the 18th and 19th century! During which it was designated as the new territorial capital of Montana.

Travel back in time in this open air museum with period accurate buildings, some completely original. There are also plaques on the buildings with historical information. Take a peek in the building’s windows for a look into life as it was in the late 1800s.

This is a spectacular area of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness in the Madison Range. There are several gorgeous mountain pools, perfect foreground to the impressive peaks that rise to the west, including Echo Peak, Dutchman Peak and Hilgard Peak. You can access the area by following the Sentinel Creek Trail from its trailhead on Beaver Creek Road.

Sentinel Creek is a gorgeous mountain stream that forms just below Expedition Pass in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness region of Montana's Madison Range. The Sentinel Creek Trail follows much of its course and begins at the trailhead on Beaver Creek Road. The mountain views towards the top of the trail towards the likes of Echo Peak and Dutchman Peak are spectacular,

The Falls Creek Trail takes you up from the popular Spanish Creek trails towards the lovely Jerome Rock Lakes. This hike up into the heart of the Spanish Peaks is glorious, full of wildlife and natural beauty. There are plenty of wild great camping spots to seek out here.

Beehive Basin Trail is one of the most popular hikes from Big Sky. The trail offers amazing views until the glacial cirque of Beehive Basin!

The Madison River is arguably one of the best trout fishing rivers in all of southwest Montana, if not the entire world! It’s certainly the most talked over, written up and frequented in the state of Montana – which is considered by some the capital of fly fishing. Anglers will find plenty of great access sites to wade or float along the Madison’s banks and reservoirs (including Hebgen Lake and Ennis Lake). Rainbows, browns, cutthroats, and more abound in this majestic fishing stream. The Madison begins its course almost twenty miles into Yellowstone National Park. Within the Park, fishing rules apply: no live bait and catch and release only. Once outside the Park the river meanders past working ranches, stately conifer forests and cottonwood lined banks, interrupted by riffles and quiet runs that contain large rainbow and trophy brown trout. Flowing alongside Yellowstone’s West entrance road, the river enters Hebgen Lake, created by Hebgen dam, until it reaches Quake Lake, a bit downstream from the dam. At this point the river is commonly called either the Upper Madison or the Lower Madison, although in fact, they are one and the same. Upper Madison – Quake Lake to Ennis Lake: Directly below Quake Lake the river roars into 5 long miles of Class V whitewater with steep gradients and large boulders along the way. As the rapids decline, the magic begins. For the next 53 miles, often referred to as the 50 Mile Riffle, the cold river runs north and the fish jump high. Annual runs of spawning trout make their way from Hebgen Lake, rainbows in the spring and browns in the fall. Known the world over for its “hard fighting” trout, it’s not unusual to pull a 25” brown from these upper waters. In deference to the purists and fly-fishing enthusiasts, it’s wading only from Quake Lake to Lyons Bridge. Boats may be used to access the river, but if you’re going to fish, your feet must be on the riverbed. Fortunately, the Hebgen Dam releases water throughout the year, leveling its flows and relieving it of spring runoff issues and summer shrinkage. Lower Madison – Ennis Lakes to Three Forks: A short section of the river between Ennis Dam and the power station maintains relatively low water levels and provides wonderful opportunities for wading. Past the power station the river regains its muscle and for 7 miles winds through Bear Trap Canyon. Hiking trails offer the only entry, great for those that like to walk and seek the solitude of a designated wilderness area. Floating is permitted but requires a lengthy shuttle and the ability to work through Class III-IV whitewater. Once out of the canyon the river flows in shallow riffles until it reaches Three Forks and joins the Missouri. From Warm Springs to Greycliff, the river is easily accessible for drifters and wading https://troutunderground.com/McAtee-Bridge-Fishing-Access-Site/