We dry camped in the 20 spot campground in this park which is about 1.5 miles long at the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers which all merge to form the headwaters of the 2300 mile Missouri River. Lewis and Clark explored and named these rivers in 1805. To explore like Lewis and Clark with the goal of paddling and swimming in all 4 rivers, we put the kyack in by the road on the upper left corner of this photo. We floated for 2 lovely hours beginning in the Madison River. As we came to the Jefferson we paddled up it a litle ways and got out to swim and explore. Saw tracks along river bank for deer, moose, a possible bear, gulls and I found a large piece of an antique green blown glass lamp shade. We could hear the Gallatin River coming into the Madison well before we could
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| Approaching the Gallatin and Missouri Rivers |
see it which was unnerving as we were determined to paddle it and swim. Coming around the bend it hit us broadside and we had to paddle like hell to maneuver up river. Once we made it to the bank, we walked upriver a bit and floated down one at a time so the other could grab on if we tried to shoot past and end up in the Missouri River for a 2 1/2 month float to the Gulf of Mexico. Adventure is worth it when only a little damage to the body or boat results! The Missouri begins where the Gallitan comes in so we got our 4th river paddle and swim as we disenbarked. Amazing to think L&C paddled and/or walked their boats against these currents for hundreds of miles!
Sacajawea was captured here as a child and eventually returned as a member of the L&C Corps of Discovery. Another member of this expedition, John Colter, later made several trips to this area in search of furs and is where he began his famous run from the Blackfeet Indians. (Google it, an incredible story of survival). Pioneers slowly settled the surrounding area and transformed it into profitable grazing and farming land.
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| Aiken Hotel, Old Town 1869 |
Trappers came shortely after L&C , and miners for the gold and silver discovered, then settlers/farmers began Gallatin City which was one of the earliers settlements in Montana. In In 1880, hoping the railroad was going through this area, entrepeneurs Asher Paul and brother-in-law Michael Hanley purchased 160-acres from Mr. Shedd and changed the name to “Bridgeville” because of couple dozen bridges Shedd built across the rivers, now the present-day “Old Town”. Unfortunately the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks were installed a mile south of Bridgeville. Paul and Hanley dabbled in mining with "The Silver Mine". Paul and Hanley sold their lands in Bridgeville in 1882 to a group of Englishmen, John Charter and Co., who settled the area and platted town, officially calling it Three Forks. Other reports say that Paul and Hanley platted the town and called it Three Forks. The cool little Three Forks Heritage Museum has some information about this Michael Hanley who we need to research to see if he is a relative. These Hanley's were from Limerick, Ireland. Many Hanley's were buried here in the 1800's. A short walk from the campground are remains of "Old Town" including the Aiken Hotel. Walking through the tall grass kicked up hundreds of grasshoppers with every step.
This beautiful sunset from the campground doesn't show the hint and smell of smoke from all the wildfires burning north and west of here. The weather this summer has tempereature and rain records all over the world. In this area it is DRY DRY DRY although the temperature while were here was comfortable.
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| Smokey Campsite Sunset |
