South Fork Madison Preserve
The Preserve
Located about five miles west of West Yellowstone, the South Fork Madison Preserve is an important wetland habitat which supports outstanding populations of fish, waterfowl and fur bearers. An essential part of a complex ecosystem, the South Fork area acts as “buffer land” for the western border of Yellowstone National Park and for the many wildlife species that seasonally depend on areas outside park borders. Dense willow stands provide food and shelter for moose which gather in the area each winter to weather the deep snows; in recent winters, bison have left Yellowstone Park to forage in the preserve meadows. Grizzly bears frequent the upper South Fork watershed and are occasionally sighted on preserve land.
While the clear waters of the South Fork support resident populations of brown trout and whitefish, the stream also serves as critical spawning ground for Hebgen Lake’s trophy browns and rainbows. In addition, the South Fork has been designated a potential reintroduction site for the riverine arctic grayling, a fish once common throughout the upper Missouri River system, but now limited to precarious populations in the Big Hole and Madison Rivers.
Wildlife
Wild residents of the 121-acre preserve include fox, moose, osprey, bald eagles, marsh hawk and sandhill cranes. River otters and beaver frequent the shorelines, and the upland lodgepole pine forest provides exceptional views of the South Fork and surrounding mountain ranges.
Visiting South Fork Madison
Directions: To reach the lower watershed, take U.S. Highway 20 approximately five miles west of the town of West Yellowstone and turn north (right) onto the Madison Arm Loop Road.
To reach the upper watershed, enter the South Fork Road in the vicinity of Black Sand Springs --about two miles west of West Yellowstone. This road follows the South Fork for about seven miles, but may be gated seasonally or permanently as part of Forest Service management of the watershed. Check with the Forest Service at the Hebgen Lake Ranger District Office in West Yellowstone for other access routes into the upper watershed.
