Last Day at Baker's Hole, Again

Monday September 7, 2015 (Labor Day)   Day 41     Baker’s Hole Campground    4^th day

Record cold night for the trip. 27^o was the night time low.  Went out for breakfast at the Outpost in West Yellowstone.  It was quilt shop day for Marsha because she got shut out yesterday.  I got to go play at Bud Lillie’s to buy a new wading staff that I lost yesterday on the Madison when I caught that big fish that I didn’t catch.  It had a lanyard attaching it to my wading belt, but in the excitement of me dragging it through the water, it must of gotten loose and drifted down the river.  Wading staffs are over $100.

I fished the Madison River where it passes by the campground.  This time of year, large brown trout head up the river from Hebgen Lake to spawn.  It is the beginning of the spawning run.  I fished steamers which imitate small bait fish.  Large trout eat insects but they also eat other fish, too.  Streamers are very effective on large fish.  I had three hits and a short hookup, but landed none.  It’s exciting, but frustrating.  The potential for a large fish is very good. 

Here's some pictures of the Madison River section that passes by the campground.  Upstream from the campground boundary the river is actually in Yellowstone National Park and a park fishing license is required to fish it there.

 

Marsha sat out with Judy and Dennis, our full-timing neighbors in the site across from us.  They have been to Alaska with their trailer several times and was giving Marsha some tips. 

Made some burgers on the grill and promised Marsha I would take her adventuring.  We like to visit local national forest campgrounds for future reference and take rides down back roads.  So we did. 

Not far from here is a sign for Rainbow Point National Forest Campground.  Hebgen Lake is a huge reservoir.  At the east end is two long arms.  The point between them is Rainbow Point and the campground is at the end of it.  This lake is shaped like Lake Charlevoix in MI, but is larger and is surrounded by mountains.  The campground is located several miles from the highway on the end of the point in a lodgepole pine forest.  Surprising, there are no lake views from the campground.  We prefer Baker’s Hole as our base in this area.

We then took US-287 towards Ennis which is my way to my fishing spot on the Madison River.  Along the way I have always seen signs for Cliff and Wade Lakes National Recreation Area, 7 miles.  It’s the same unpaved county road that leads to $3.00 Bridge Access. 

$3.00 Bridge on the way to Cliff and Wade Lakes.

 





The scenery while driving through the private range land on the way to the two lakes.

 

Cliff and Wade Lakes are near each other and are very beautiful.  They are natural lakes, not impounded rivers, as is typical in the west.  Wade Lake had a campground on a knoll above the lake.  There were quite a few people there.  Cliff Lake had two campgrounds.  Hilltop and Cliff Point. 

The Hilltop Campground was up the side of a mountain with switchbacks to get to it.  It was absolutely beautiful.  One of the prettiest I’ve ever seen.  The shocker was, no one was there, although the post stickers indicated recent occupants.  There is no host camper at the campground.  It is also very bear looking.  We would like to stay there, but not the only ones in such a remote place. 

Wade Lake looking south.

Wade Lake looking north.

Cliff Lake.

Cliff Lake.

 

The Cliff Point campground was right on the Cliff Lake.  The sites were small and there was a sign stating that trailers over 16 feet not recommended.  We saw one of the world’s prettiest campsite there where our trailer would fit, but there is a steep, curved incline to get down into the campground.  I wouldn’t worry about getting down there, but I wonder about trying to haul the Oliver back out again. 

Any way, we’re just researching for the future.

There is another campground that we’ve looked at in the past that is also in the same general area called Cabin Creek campground.  It is way up a mountain and has three loops.  There are some excellent views here.  Some of the sites aren’t very nice, but there are some great ones.  It is also close to my fishing spot on the Madison River.  It is also very bear looking.

When we got back from adventuring, we went into West Yellowstone to the Wild West Saloon & Pizzaria.  What a great place.  It is our K-Bar for West Yellowstone.  We sat in the saloon because there was no waiting.  Like the K-Bar there were locals and tourists.  The pizza was as good as the K-Bar and the service was excellent.  They had a large selection of local Montana beers.  We had a great time there. 

Here's the sign on the men's rest room.

Here's the sign on the lady's rest room.
 

Best pizza in West Yellowstone.

Tomorrow we go to Madison Campground in the park.  So we put things away for our departure tomorrow morning.  We only had about 18 miles to go so we didn’t have to leave at 07:11 like we always do when we hit the road.