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Yellowstone N.P.
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PARK FACILITIES
Canyon
Fishing Bridge
Grant
Madison
Mammoth
Norris
Old Faithful
Roosevelt
Tower
West Thumb
More Yellowstone N.P.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Inside the Park
Outside the Park
VISITOR INFORMATION
Related Web Sites
Visitor Centers
WILDLIFE
Bears
Bison
Coyote
Elk
Mountain Lion
Pronghorn Antelope
Wolves
Communities near Yellowstone NP
Belgrade, MT
Bozeman, MT
Gardiner, MT
Livingston, MT
Red Lodge,
MT
Virginia City, MT
West Yellowstone, MT
Wyoming Travel Regions
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Grand Teton N.P.
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Yellowstone N.P.
Yellowstone National Park
Madison Junction
Madison Junction, which is located south of Mammoth Hot Springs, is best known as the place where Yellowstone was born. Positioned at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers on the Madison Plateau, the small log cabin visitor center and museum are quaint reminders of Yellowstone's modest beginnings. The idea of a national park "for the People's benefit" was reportedly conceived around a campfire at this location during the Washburn, Doane and Langford exploration of the Yellowstone area in 1870. Congress endorsed the idea two years later.
View of Madison Valley where the Firehole and Gibbon rivers meet to form the
Madison River.
Natural wonders abound throughout this area. South of Madison Junction, at the end of Fire Hole Lake Drive, is Fountain Paint Pot, an amazing expanse of geysers, multi-colored mud pots and hot springs. Gibbon Falls, north of the visitor center and Firehole Cascades, south of the center offer expansive views of some of the park's famous waterfalls.
The Madison Junction information center, built in 1930, is a National Historic Landmark. Its wood and stone rustic architecture reflects the "parkitecture" concept that became a prototype in the early 1900s. The building houses a Yellowstone Association bookstore and several small historical exhibits.
The Information Center at Madison Junction is a National Historic
Landmark.
Swimming is available at Firehole Cascades.
Hiking trails of various difficulty wind throughout the Madison area.
Visitor Center facilities
Location: 14 miles east of town of West Yellowstone
Phone: (307) 344-2821
Seasonal hours: June-September, 9:00 - 5:00 daily
Accommodations available:
Campground adjacent to visitor center.
Motels and lodges located in West Yellowstone and at Mammoth Hot Springs (35 miles north) and Old Faithful (16 miles south).
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Compass
American Guides: Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, 1st Edition
by Brian Kevin. Fodor's Compass American Guides have a new design and
practical information you need to make the most of your visit to
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Easy-to-use practical
information you need to get around and experience the best of Yellowstone
and Grand Teton National Parks.
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The
Concise Visitor's Guide to Yellowstone by Matt Bolton. Sized perfectly
for backpacks this guide offers specifics on food, what to see, children's
activities, weather, wildlife, seasonal road closures, ranger programs,
visitor centers, what differentiates each section of the park and more.
Filled with information, phone numbers, web sites, and detailed maps this
is the tool to use when planning a trip to Yellowstone.
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Moon
Spotlight Yellowstone National Park by Don Pitcher. 80-page compact
guide covering must-see attractions and maps with sightseeing highlights.
This lightweight guide is packed with recommendations on sights,
entertainment, shopping, recreations, accommodations, food, and
transportation, as well as easy-to-read maps.
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National
Geographic Park Profiles: Yellowstone Country by Seymour L. Fishbein.
Yellowstone Country tours the stunning region that includes Yellowstone and
Grand Teton National Parks, a mosaic of national forests, wilderness areas,
wildlife refuges, countless waterfalls, hot springs and two-thirds of the
world's active geysers.
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Yellowstone
Treasures by Janet Chapple. Easy-to-understand scientific explanations
and diagrams complement detailed travel tips. This revised edition includes
270 pages of road logs and enhanced information for senior and disabled
visitors and tips for visiting the park with children. Fully revised
geological, historical, and practical information.
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