Madison River - Beartrap Canyon - Madison Dam to Route 84

Montana-US  

Description

Bear trap is a beautiful wilderness canyon with lots of a scenic miles and a few rapids. Most put in for the mostly dewatered double drop rapid. After a 1/4 mile water enters the river from a power station on river right and things get a little more padded. There are some II's, one with a nasty seive on river left. Whitehorse is the first named rapid and is the longest and most sustained of the rapids. Two holes wait at the top. The scouting trail is on the left but most will opt to read and run. When cliffs meet river level on the left scout/portage Kitchen sink on the right. Kitchen sink is a IV at typical flows and V at high flows (3000ish +). Finally green wave ends the major rapids with sneak down the right or a massive pourover boof off the green wave. Watch out for snakes. The bird watching in this canyon can be pretty good. Bald and Golden Eagles, osprey, mallards, wood ducks, pelicans etc.

Statistics

Class III to IV
Current Flow 1230.0 CFS
07-26-2024 16:45


View River Forecast

Recommended Flow Minimum: 1200.0
Average: 2400.0
Maximum: 3000.0
Typical Season Begins: March
Ends: December
Recommended Use Kayaking: Yes
Rafting: Yes
Canoeing: No
SUP: No
Packrafting: No
Fishing: Yes
Primary Gauge Madison River bl Ennis Lake nr McAllister MT
Length 8.5 Mile(s)
Gradient 28.0 FPM