Gibbon River

Gibbon River
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Mouth
Location	Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming
Length	~25 miles (40 km)
River system	Missouri River

The Gibbon River flows east of the Continental Divide in Yellowstone National Park, in northwestern Wyoming, the Northwestern United States. Along with the Firehole River, it is a major tributary of the Madison River, which itself is a tributary of the Missouri River.

Description

The Gibbon River rises in the center of the park at Grebe Lake. It flows for a short distance into Wolf Lake. Below Wolf Lake, the river flows through Virginia Cascades into the Norris valley. It flows near the Norris Geyser Basin and through the Gibbon Geyser Basin. From there it flows through the Gibbon River Canyon to its confluence with the Firehole River to form the Madison River. Early maps listed the river as Gibbons Fork or the East Fork of the Madison River. The river between Norris and Madison Junction is paralleled by the Grand Loop Road. The river, along with Gibbon Falls, is named for Colonel John Gibbon, U.S. Army who participated in the 1872 Hayden Geological Survey of Yellowstone.

Angling

The Gibbon River is a popular trout fishing destination. The upper section of river has very difficult access being choked with thick forests and lots of downed timber. The fish, consisting of brook trout, rainbow trout and grayling are all on the small side, rarely exceeding 10 inches (250 mm). Below Gibbon Falls access is excellent and the river has a healthly mix of rainbow and brown trout. The lower river receives a good run of spawning browns in the fall.

The Gibbon River is fly fishing only and catch and release below Gibbon Falls. Above the falls, any grayling or cutthroat trout caught must be released. An unlimited number of brook, rainbow and/or brown trout may be harvested daily in the waters above the falls.

Gallery

Images of the Gibbon River
Gibbon River bridge at Norris, 1912 Gibbon River bridge at Norris, 1912  Gibbon River bridge near Beryl Spring, 1912 Gibbon River bridge near Beryl Spring, 1912  Gibbon River bridge near Madison Junction, 1912 Gibbon River bridge near Madison Junction, 1912  Gibbon River headwaters, 2003 Gibbon River headwaters, 2003  Gibbon Falls, May 2003 Gibbon Falls, May 2003

See also

• Gibbon Falls
• Grand Loop Road Historic District
• Angling in Yellowstone National Park
• Fishes of Yellowstone National Park
• Tributaries of the Missouri River