Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park Fly Fishing, Camping

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Gibbon River

The Gibbon River begins at Grebe Lake, almost in the middle of the park. It flows southwest towards Norris and then follows the Madison-Norris Road until it merges with the Firehole River to form the Madison River.

What can I do and see along the Gibbon River?

  • Fishing: Fishing is fantastic pretty much the entire stretch of the river. Anglers usually fish for rainbow, brook, cutthroat, and grayling. While the upper reaches of the river are hard to access, you can easily fish the Gibbon near Virginia Cascades, where the road parallels the river. Between Norris and Madison the Gibbon is also very easily accessible.
  • Virgina Cascades: Visit the 60 foot Virginia Cascades from a side one-way road just east of Norris.
  • Gibbon Falls: It's one of the prettiest waterfalls in the park and you can see it right from the road.
  • Norris Campground:The Norris Campground is located very close to the Gibbon River. Camp here and walk to the water's edge to fish.

Where is the Gibbon River?

The Gibbon River begins at Grebe Lake, close to the center of the park. It flows southwest Wolf Lake and past Ice Lake before meeting the Norris-Canyon Road. From here it more or less follows the road to Madison Junction where it merges with the Firehole River to form the Madison River.

When is the Gibbon River accessible?

It is best accessed in the summer and fall as these roads are closed to vehicle traffic in the winter.