Hebgen Lake is a wonderful stop for those of us who are looking for interesting Places to Play in Nature. Hebgen Lake is located in the Gallatin National Forest. There is so much history just eight miles from West Yellowstone, Montana which is a great home base for all things Yellowstone or Yellowstone related!
On August 17, 1959 an amazing geologic event occurred. Just before midnight, an earthquake measuring somewhere between7.3 and 7.5 on the Richter Scale caused an 80-million-ton rockslide that left 28 people dead and 11 million dollars in damage!
Just 8 miles west of West Yellowstone is Hebgen Lake. The huge slide dammed the Madison River and created Quake Lake. The movement of the Earth’s crust was so intense it actually dropped nineteen feet! It tilted the lake up by NINETEEN FEET! Truly amazing!! So, the cabins at the North Shore were nearly underwater while the South Shore was pushed up by nineteen feet! A large swath of Highway 287 fell into the lake.
Because of this new dam on Hebgen Lake the Earthquake created the original dam, which was built in 1917 on Hebgen Lake was in peril. It began to crack and erode. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created a spillway to help save the original dam. Once that was done and the dam was repaired and what was left was a new lake which was one hundred ninety feet deep and six miles long.
As I said before twenty-eight people lost their lives that night. It is quite eerie to drive that stretch of road and see the ghost village where so many died that night. Refuge Point is the high point where many sought refuge from the rising water overlooking what is now called Ghost Village. There are hundreds of trees still in the water lending to the eerie feeling of the space.
Today there is an amazing visitor center across the road from the slide area. There are sitting areas, places for the kids to see just what the canyon looks like and they can walk right into it on the porch. This is a really beautiful spot for a picnic on the over-look or on the porch. Inside the Vista Room they have a movie called “A Force of Nature” that is shown on a screen overlooking the area of the slide. The movie teaches about geologic activity and events. It is well done and very informative.
There is a memorial boulder in remembrance of those who died that night up on a hill, overlooking the slide site. It has a fabulous highly accessible trail to the memorial boulder and the slightly higher overlook area. From the overlook area it feels as if you can see forever! And – of course, there are those that have to go a bit farther! You know the ones: idiots who must climb that boulder to prove they can do it! A guy and his girlfriend scaled that rock like it was a pebble on the ground. Truly mountain goats!
After we left, we went to a fabulous lunch spot at Cabin Lodge. Cabin Lodge is tucked in the woods beside a river. It is part campground, part fly fishing store and a fabulous 60’s diner all rolled into one. They have pancakes that are bigger than your plate! Be sure to only order a short stack! They also have the biggest cinnamon rolls I have ever seen! Me? I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and took in the extraordinary beauty of the site.
I would highly recommend this trip for you and your family, you and a friend, or a bunch of friends that might want to stay in a cabin, eat some great food and relax by a river. It only took half a day driving from West Yellowstone, Montana. The sights were amazing, and I learned so many new things about the geology of the area which made it the perfect daytrip before entering Yellowstone National Park the next day. Please contact me with any questions about this trip! I would be happy to give you any information I have. As always…………. There are many Places to Play in Nature!
-Debbie
This post makes me want to go visit! We have been to Yellowstone and much of Montana, but somehow missed Quake Lake!
I’ve been to Yellowstone four times and still have not made it to this place. It’s been on my list for a while, but I just can’t seem to make it there. Next time! On my list!