Quake Lake looking in the direction of where the earthquake generated landslide took place. The remains of the forest is still visible rising from the waters where the valley and campgrounds stood. Following the earthquake, Quake Lake quickly filled to a depth of 190ft but has slowly been shrinking to its current depth of 170ft. Quake Lake, Montana.
Quake Lake looking in the direction of where the earthquake generated landslide took place.  The remains of the forest is still visible rising from the waters where the valley and campgrounds stood. Following the earthquake, Quake Lake quickly filled to a depth of 190ft but has slowly been shrinking to its current depth of 170ft. Quake Lake, Montana.

Multiple summer homes and a popular vacation lodge on Lake Hebgen were nestled inside Madison Canyon, just west of Yellowstone National Park. And just beyond the Hebgen Lake Dam was the perfect spot for both the Rock Creek and Cliff Lake Campgrounds. On August 17, 1959, the entire area was teeming with late summer tourists, campers and fishermen. It was just past 11 pm and many people had already turned in for the night, expecting no more than a peaceful night’s sleep.

Trees from the old forest still visible in the waters of Quake Lake, Montana.
Trees from the old forest still visible in the waters of Quake Lake, Montana.

At 11:37 pm the peace of that night came to an abrupt halt as the earth shook with a Richter magnitude earthquake estimated between 7.3 and 7.5. Within seconds the earth along and under Hebgen Lake tilted along its length by as much as 20 feet (6 m), causing seiches (up to 20ft waves) to surge across the lake for the next 12 hours. At the same time a landslide of 80 million tons (40 million cubic yards) of rock, mud and debris slid from the canyon walls over the Madison River and parts of the campgrounds at a speed of 100mph, creating hurricane-force winds, blocking the river and forming a new Quake Lake that would eventually be 190 ft deep. Area highways cracked, buckled and collapsed making escape and rescue difficult and in some cases, impossible.

At this location, a portion of the old Hwy 287 slid into Lake Hebgen. Hebgen Lake is also known as "the lake that tilted" during the 1958 earthquake. Luckily the Lake Hebgen Dam didn't fail during the earthquake, even as lake waters washed over it from the earthquake generated waves. Lake Hebgen, Montana.
At this location, a portion of the old Hwy 287 slid into Lake Hebgen. Hebgen Lake is also known as “the lake that tilted” during the 1959 earthquake. Luckily the Lake Hebgen Dam didn’t fail during the earthquake, even as lake waters washed over it from the earthquake generated waves. Lake Hebgen, Montana.

In addition to the 11 million dollars in damage, there were 28 fatalities including 19 campers who were buried under the massive landslide and never recovered. In nearby Yellowstone National Park, new geysers and cracks sprouted up and the earthquake damaged the Old Faithful Inn, forcing guests there to evacuate.

Remains of the old rustic Inn on Hebgen Lake destroyed during the earthquake and aftermath. Hebgen Lake, Montana.
Remains of the old rustic lodge on Hebgen Lake destroyed during the earthquake and aftermath. Hebgen Lake, Montana.

As you can see from my photos, ever after 57 years evidence of the quake is still very visible and there are visitor areas which detail the entire event. The area is beautiful now but being tourists ourselves, it was easy to imagine how helpless and terrified these people must have been.

Another view of the remains of the old rustic Inn on Hebgen Lake, Montana.
Another view of the remains of the old rustic lodge on Hebgen Lake, Montana. It was snowing when these last couple of photos were taken.

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Monte Stevens
Monte Stevens
8 years ago

I was seven years old when that earthquake happen. My family had just spent a few days in the park in a cabin near Old Faithful. The earthquake happened a few days after we had returned home. I do not remember much about this lodge as my focus was inside the park. As I think about this act of nature I am again given the insight into how much power is in nature.