South Fork Madison

The South Fork Madison Trail is part of the 4,455-mile Great Western Trail and connects West Yellowstone, Montana, to Island Park, Idaho, via Reas Pass. This beautiful trail is an easy drive, following a section of the 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. In the fall of 2023, the Yellowstone Shortline Trail, a non-motorized hiking and biking trail, was completed, closing the upper portion of the original route of the South Fork Madison Trail. Now, bicyclists silently zip by along the paved 9 miles of the old train bed from West Yellowstone to the Idaho border, paralleling this trail across the river.

As you travel, it's incredible to imagine a steam train chugging through these canyons, with passengers gazing at the tall pines and enjoying views of the crystal-clear waters of the South Fork Madison River. The steep canyons amplify the sounds of the river, and the occasional crunch of loose rocks beneath your tires echoes through the landscape, enhancing the sense of adventure.

Due to frequent bear activity, camping in the West Yellowstone area is mainly limited to designated dispersed sites. There are no designated sites directly along this trail. For those looking to camp near Yellowstone National Park, the Forest Service lists designated camping areas at this link.