Here Are 5 Reasons Madison County Is The Best In Montana

Every Montanan has their favorite part of the state, but I'd argue that Madison County is perhaps the best county in all of Montana. The biggest reason is the immense beauty and diverse landscape.

Fishing, hiking, climbing, boating, biking, skiing - Madison County has it all. The mountains are breathtaking and the waters offer some of the finest fishing in the country, not just Montana.

We'll keep this simple - a list of all the cool stuff you can explore in Madison County, Montana...not just the lovely town of Ennis. Locations, businesses, events, etc. Some of the best small towns in Montana are in Madison County.

Ennis Lake - At nearly 3,700 acres, Ennis Lake offers all the lake activities you'd expect with a boat ramp available at BLM site Kobayashi Beach.

Cliff and Wade Lakes - If you've seen them, you know. Not so hidden gems in southern Madison County. But if you avoid peak tourist season, you can enjoy these clear waters with very few people around.

Virginia City and Nevada City - "Virginia City and Nevada City lie along Alder Gulch about one mile apart, and is the site of the richest placer gold strike in the Rocky Mountains, with an estimated total value of 100 million dollars throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The area represents the true and original Old West." (virginiacitymt.com)

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Longbranch Saloon (Ennis) - A bar might be an odd choice for this type of list, but the history of Ennis is full of great stories, many of which include the town's oldest bar, the Longbranch Saloon. It's been open since 1931.

Alder to Sheridan to Twin Bridges to Silver Star - This stretch of Highway 287 is incredibly pretty. The mountains, the river, and the small towns make for a perfect Montana day trip. Twin Bridges itself, lies at the confluence of the Ruby, Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers.

According to PeakVisor.com, Madison County has 146 named mountains. Hilgard Peak is the highest in the Madison Range at 11,302 feet. The most 'prominent' mountain is Table Mountain. "Headwaters of Moose Creek, Fish Creek and Hell's Canyon Creek, all significant tributaries of the Jefferson River flow off the face of the mountain."