Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness

For hikers and fishermen, there's the Bear Trap Canyon National Recreation Trail that winds along the lower reaches of Bear Trap Canyon beside the river for about 9 miles. The trailhead is at the north end of the canyon, where there is also a parking area and toilet. To get there, go to the Red Mountain Campground on Montana SR 84 and turn south, follow the Bear Trap Road upstream to the trailhead.

Rafters and floaters will start just downstream of the powerhouse below Madison Dam. To get there, go to McAllister on US Highway 287 and turn east on the Ennis Lake Road, follow that to the Wilderness Boat Launch. There is a boat launch, picnic area, parking area, toilet and interpretive site there. There is a developed take-out area at Warm Springs on Montana SR 84, about 20 miles northeast of Ennis.

Registration is requested at the boat launch site and trailhead but permits are not required for non-commercial recreational use of the area. Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness is open year-round, but if you're intent on running the river you might want to check river levels and water temperature first. Data is available here, and look for the "Madison River below Ennis Lake" data.