Earthquake Lake Loop

Wednesday we followed Michael's recommendation for a scenic driving loop.

About an hour to drive past Henry's Lake, Earthquake Lake, West Yellowstone and back to Island Park -- if you don't stop. But "Earthquake Lake?" 

Such great names and area descriptions, we stopped a lot.

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As we came through a mountain pass, we saw a sign that read, "Geologic Site."

Hm. Ok.

We curved down the road and saw a lake with hundreds of skeletal trees in the water.

And then a road sign that read, "Earthquake Lake, Night of Terror and Loss Site."

What?

You would have pulled over too.

We pulled into the parking lot and an informational sign overlooking the lake

filled us in.

In 1959, hundreds of people were camping along the river when at 11:47, a giant earthquake caused a huge landslide. Some people were buried alive. Tents and cabins were destroyed. 

People had to run for their lives as the river suddenly became dammed, 

and water started filling the area.

Upstream, at the highpoint along the road, a sign read, "Refuge Point." 

We pulled over to learn more and walk the path overlooking more remnants of destruction.

The rising river flooded a campground, pulling five cabins from their foundations and floating them upstream. Their broken remains lay in the distance.

The cabins that were washed away can be seen next to the forest. The entire area turned into a lake while the landslide blocked the river's path down stream.

Around the next bend was Campfire Lodge Resort with a cafe that was open (during Covid).

Views of the river while we ate breakfast.

While we waited for our meal to be ready, we watched the fishermen across the river. 

They even held up their fish for us to see!

First meal inside a restaurant since March!

After brunch, we walked the path down the river to get a closer look at the cabins.

This cabin was on our side, so we could walk around it.

We could see dozens of white balls floating in the river.

When we got closer, we noticed they were pelicans!

The final road marker was at another lake past a dam.

Because of the earthquake, this lake had the ground shifted beneath it causing the water to slosh back and forth within the banks creating tsunami-like waves. Many cabins here were also pulled from their foundations and people escaped with their lives.

It was a riveting story with so many remains left to view!

We would have never stopped if the roadside signs hadn't piqued our curiosity with their descriptions!

Kudos to the city council or whoever had such a great idea.

West Yellowstone Entrance wasn't open yet (or we would have for sure made a trip to Old Faithful),

but we did stop at at wildlife park to see the grizzly bears and wolves.

Then back to Island Park where we stopped at Johnny Sack's cabin and Big Springs.

Huge natural springs bubbling up from no where -- one of many springs that create the beginning of The Snake River.

The water was so clear, the plants beneath the surface were bright green!

What a great day! We loved stopping wherever we wanted whenever we wanted and both of us wanting to! One of the nice things of traveling with just the two of us!

That night we went to dinner at Trout Hunter -- a lodge/restaurant along another beautiful river bank.