A guided canoe trip is perhaps the best way to experience the Madison Valley’s riparian habitats. Visit Quake Lake, a natural curiosity created by a landslide sparked by a 1959 earthquake that dammed a six mile stretch of the Madison River. Or, paddle across Cliff and Wade Lakes, a chain of azure-colored waters nestled in a steep mountain valley. The pleasure of canoeing allows you to observe wildlife in remote areas where moose, elk, coyote, bear and pronghorn antelope come to drink at water’s edge. And, keep a pair of binoculars handy to spot the dazzling birds of the area, like osprey, bald eagles, golden eagles, trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, many species of duck and a variety of raptors.