Hellsgate

I bet that title stopped you, didn't it? It is the name of the campground we found on the Canyon Ferry Lake.

It was a short drive from Livingston across a flat, grain covered valley surrounded by high mountains on all sides. It seemed that every acre was being irrigated but since we were following the Yellowstone River and then the Missouri River, there was plenty of water to cover this parched land. We crossed the headwaters of the Missouri River at Three Forks, MT. Three rivers come together here to form the Missouri -- Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers. Lewis and Clark discovered this area and named the three rivers after the men responsible for their expedition -- President Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State James Madison and Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.

Canyon Ferry Lake is a popular recreational area so there were lots of campgrounds, marinas, and fishing access areas along its shores. We chose the one closest to the road about 1/2 way up the lake called Hellsgate Campground. It was full until picnicking folks pulled out after we had passed by the first time so we swung around and grabbed it. This was at 3 pm so we had a pleasant afternoon and evening listening to jet skis and water skiers zoom by with their stereos blaring.

Happy July 4th everyone! Hope you remembered our brave men and women who are serving our country and keeping us safe. Even here it is too dry and hot so fireworks are banned making it a pretty quiet evening.