Quake Lake
Quake Lake (officially Earthquake Lake) is a lake in the western United States, on the Madison River in southwestern Montana. This one stands 11 mi northwest of Hebgen Lake Estates. It dates back to 1959.
A lake, 11 mi northwest of Hebgen Lake Estates
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 4°, with about 177" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Hebgen Lake Estates is the nearest base
Hebgen Lake Estates is 11 miles southeast, with 5 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best month: Jul
July is the mild month, with a high of 78°. When to go ↓
Established in 1959
Quake Lake dates from 1959. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Picking a season
A visit to Quake Lake can follow the seasons below.
Quake Lake
Quake Lake (officially Earthquake Lake) is a lake in the western United States, on the Madison River in southwestern Montana. It was created after an earthquake struck on August 17, 1959, with 28 fatalities. Northwest of West Yellowstone, Quake Lake is six miles (10 km) in length with a maximum depth of 125 feet (38 m).
U.S. Route 287 follows the lake and offers glimpses of the effects of the earthquake and landslide, and a visitor center is just off the road. The lake is mostly within Gallatin National Forest.
- Type
- Lake
- Established
- 1959
- Elevation
- 6,391 ft
- Wikipedia readers
- 28K a year
Towns to stay in near Quake Lake
Places to stay start in West Yellowstone (57) and Island Park (31).
West Yellowstone
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
1,191 people · 25% vacation homes
19 mi southeast of Quake Lake
Compare 5 towns
| Town | From Quake Lake | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Yellowstone 25% vacation homes | 19 mi southeast | 30 min | 57 20 hotels · 14 motels · 6 inns & B&Bs · 10 lodges & cabins · 4 campgrounds · 3 RV parks | 1,191 | $504K | B |
| Island Park 81% vacation homes | 22 mi south | 35 min | 31 7 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 18 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds · 3 RV parks | 190 | $294K | — |
| Hebgen Lake Estates 36% vacation homes | 11 mi southeast | 15 min | 5 1 hotel · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 85 | $563K | — |
| Big Sky 59% vacation homes | 28 mi north | 40 min | 29 22 hotels · 7 lodges & cabins | 2,445 | $1,138K | — |
| Lakeview 35% vacation homes | 27 mi southwest | 40 min | 1 1 lodge or cabins | 32 | — | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
More to see nearby
All of these are within 66 miles.
Big draw47 mi National ParkYellowstone National Park4.8M visitors a year
Big draw46 mi MountainYellowstone volcano129 mi Ski areaBig Sky Resort455 runs · 4,346 ft vertical
66 mi DamTeton Dam
57 mi LakeYellowstone Lake
45 mi Canyon & gorgeGrand Canyon of the Yellowstone
45 mi WaterfallYellowstone Falls
36 mi LandmarkRoosevelt ArchPhoto credits
Yellowstone National Park: James St. John from Newark, Ohio, CC BY 2.0 · Yellowstone volcano: Ed Austin/Herb Jones, Public domain · Teton Dam: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Yellowstone Lake: NASA, Public domain · Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Yellowstone Falls: Unknown, Public domain · Roosevelt Arch: Yellowstone National Park, Public domain
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Quick answers on Quake Lake
What town is Quake Lake near?
Hebgen Lake Estates, MT, about 11 miles southeast.
When is the best time to visit Quake Lake?
July, with a high of 78°.
What is the closest airport to Quake Lake?
Yellowstone (WYS), about 18 miles away.
Where should I stay near Quake Lake?
West Yellowstone (19 mi, 57 places to stay), Island Park (22 mi, 31 places to stay) and Hebgen Lake Estates (11 mi, 5 places to stay).
Questions for Hebgen Lake Estates
Be the first to share a tip in Hebgen Lake Estates’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.