Kitchen Sink
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Welcome to Montana Eddy Hop
An informational site about Montana area rivers and whitewater recreational opportunities. Our blog space contains information about various area rivers and experiences we've had exploring Montana and surrounding area whitewater. The links to the left lead to blogs on some of our favorite area rivers and we'll be adding more throughout the seasons (click on the river names in green to access descriptions of the runs). We hope you'll explore our site and let us know what you think by leaving comments. If you don't find the river or creek you are looking for, keep scrolling down or check the blog archive below on the right hand side. Most of all, have fun out there and remember, safety first! For more detailed information about Montana area rivers, check out www.americanwhitewater.org, and consider joining this great organization dedicated to the protection of America's whitewater resources. The Montana Surf guidebook is another great resource for Montana area paddling as well.
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The Beartrap Canyon section of the Madison River is another great stretch within an hour of Bozeman. This is a classic Montana run that flows through a wilderness section with vehicle access at both the put-in and the takeout. There is spectacular scenery the whole way with abundant wildlife and some great whitewater.
Kayakers can take advantage of the upper run just below the dam to get in a technical, boulder-dodging warmup before the raft put-in at the powerhouse about 3/4 mile downriver. Double Drop, the most difficult rapid in the upper section, is probably worth taking a look at if you haven't run it before. The highlight of the run is Kitchen Sink, pictured above, about halfway into the stretch at the base of a huge ridge that comes down on the river left side. This is a stomping Class IV rapid that has a great scouting trail on river right. One of the great things about the Beartrap is that it runs all year and you can get a great day in when almost everything else around has long been dry. My favorite time to do the Beartrap is in the fall when the foliage begins to change color.
Beartrap logistics: Class IV (Kitchen Sink is V at high flows)
To get to the put in, take U.S. Highway 287 south towards Ennis until you see North Ennis Lake Road turn to the left (at the north end of Ennis Lake). Follow this road all the way around the north side of the lake and down the outlet channel to the dam. Put-in either at the base of the dam or down the road at the power house if your boat won't fit. The takeout is located on Montana Highway 84 just east of Norris (the first Madison River access point east of Norris). Don't forget to soak in Norris Hot Springs after your run, about three miles away!
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