You Haven't Lived Until You've Experienced This One Incredible Lake In Montana
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Jessica Wick
Author
There are certain spots in our beautiful state that every Montanan simply must experience: Glacier National Park and Yellowstone make the list, and so does the amazing Flathead Lake. But we’d like to draw your attention to a little lake in Southwest Montana that plays a big role in our state history: Earthquake Lake, or “Quake Lake.”
If you haven’t yet been to Quake Lake, allow us to persuade you to pay it a visit.
This beautiful lake does have a rather sad beginning. On the night of August 17, 1959, a sudden earthquake at 11:37 PM sent a landslide over the Madison Canyon, an area west of Yellowstone National Park. Several nearby campgrounds were occupied by campers and tourists when the quake struck, and unfortunately 28 of them died.
The earthquake measured 7.3 on the Richter scale, making it Montana’s largest recorded quake since 1869. The landslide caused by the quake blocked the flow of water through the Madison River. The blockage caused the water to rise and form Earthquake Lake.
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Of course, there was fear that the pressure caused by the rising water would cause a flood. The Army Corps of Engineers cut a deep channel into the slide, causing water to flow through it. They constructed another channel about a month later, and Quake Lake was an official lake.
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A trip to Quake Lake will teach you about one of the most impressive geographic phenomenons in the country. And even though it had somewhat tragic beginnings, the lake itself is absolutely beautiful.
Quake Lake measures six miles long and about a third of a mile wide. It’s about 180 feet deep in its deepest parts. It’s a wonderful place to go fly fishing, especially in late spring, late summer and early fall. You can also go kayaking, boating or camping―several campgrounds are located on its shores. It’s scenic setting is perfect for pitching a tent and relaxing for a couple of days.
To learn more about the seismic activity of the area, stop by the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center, which was completed in 1967 and is currently operated by the National Forest Service.
Quake Lake is a beautiful part of Southwest Montana. But if you can’t make it there this summer, visiting one of these lakes would also be wonderful.
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