The Madison river is a headwater tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 183 miles (295 km) long, in Wyoming and Montana. Its confluence with the Jefferson and Gallatin rivers near Three Forks, Montana forms the Missouri River.

The Madison river, the central fork at Three Forks was named by Meriwether Lewis while he camped on the banks of the river during July 1805. The central fork of the three river was named for U.S. Secretary of State James Madison, who would succeed Thomas Jefferson as President in 1809. The Gallatin river was named for the standing U.S. Treasury Secretary, Albert Gallatin, who served in such capacity from 1801-1814. The western most fork was named for President Thomas Jefferson.

The Madison rises in Teton County in northwestern Wyoming at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon rivers, a location known as Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park. It flows west then north through the mountains of southwestern Montana to join the Jefferson and Gallatin rivers at Three Forks.

Missouri at Three Forks, Montana, 45.926679, -111.505068

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. 44.642222, -110.865556

183 miles

Wyoming: (Yellowstone NP) Gibbon River, Harlequin Creek,

Montana: (Hebgen Lake), Duck Creek, Grayling Creek, Red Canyon Creek, Kirkwood Creek, Cabin Creek, Beaver Creek, (Earthquake Lake), Rock Creek, (Madison Slide) Butte Creek, Papoose Creek, Squaw Creek, Moose Creek, Wolf Creek, Indian Creek, Bear Creek, O′Dell Creek, Jack Creek, (Ennis Lake), Spring Branch, South Meadow Creak, North Meadow Creek, (Ennis Lake outlet), Trail Creek, Barn Creek, Fall Creek, Bear Trap Creek, Cherry Creek, Elk Creek, Primary-Missouri River.

Wyoming: (Yellowstone NP) Firehole River

Montana: (Hebgen Lake) South Fork Madison River, Cherry Creek, Rumbaugh Creek, Watkins Creek, Moonlight Creek, Trapper Creek, (Earthquake Lake), (Madison Slide), West Fork Madison River, Standard Creek, Quaking Aspen Creek, Horse Creek, Wall Creek, English George Creek, Hyde Creek, Cherry creek, Wigwrm Creek, Blaine Spring Creek, Morgan Creek, Trail Creek, Eightmile Creek, Moore Creek, (Ennis Lake), Jourdain Creek, Saint Joe Creek, (Ennis Lake outlet), Hot Springs Creek, Cold Springs Creek, Jefferson River.

Awake, rise, dress in my fall blues and walk into the Inn to purchase some post cards and a cup of coffee. After I have the post cards, I walk towards the Bear Paw deli and find that the line is out the door and stretching across the lobby of Old Faithful Inn. I would guess that there are some fifty people waiting to buy their coffee. Methinks, I will go to the gas station and buy some coffee there.

Then, I drive north to Madison Junction, and all along, I see an unending flow of traffic into this nation park. I turn left at the junction and drive east towards West Yellowstone but stop at the Madison River crossing picnic area to set up my stove, boil water and make my breakfast. Shortly afterwards, I see an osprey land in atop a tree on the opposite side of the Madison river. I roll down the passenger window, point my camera and zoom to the furthest position and begin taking photos. I have to lean my arm on the passenger seat back to keep the camera from shaking and I take many photos, some of which I believe will be quite clear. Then, the bird dives toward the water but at the last moment, pulls up and flies to another tree down river.

Upon leaving Toston, Montana, I travel south only anther twenty miles and reach the end of the Missouri river at Three Forks, Montana, or as it is known, the source of the Missouri. However, at the small state park where Lewis and Clark camped during 1805, there are three other rivers that feed the Missouri river. These three rivers are the Madison, the Gallatin, and the Jefferson rivers.

When driving further south on US 287 along the Jefferson river, this highway leaves the Jefferson, crosses to Noris, Montana and then south to Ennis, Montana where I began following the Madison River, which course takes me off of the Lewis and Clark route and transferring me to the National Park route. Following the Madison River takes me through a portion of Madison Canyon where Earthquake lake and Hebgen Lake are located.