(DILLON, Mont.) – Boaters and tubers on the Madison River will have a new, safer boat ramp at the Bureau of Land Management’s Warm Springs Day Use site this summer season.
The popular site on Highway 84 just east of Norris will be temporarily closed starting April 12 to allow for work crews to begin demolition of the current boat ramp, which will then be replaced by a new single-slab, multi-lane ramp. The site is expected to re-open during the first week of June. The day-use site’s parking lot will also get a much-needed asphalt repair and chip seal during this time.
“This project will increase the usability of the boat ramp while addressing the safety and environmental concerns surrounding the old boat ramp,” said Dillon BLM Field Manager Amanda James. “The current ramp is damaged and has multiple safety concerns, including foot entrapment and the undercutting of the ramp which exposes sharp edges under the water. By the time our summer season kicks into high gear, we think the public will have a much better recreation experience at the site—one that will last for years to come.”
During the site improvement work, the public should park at California Corner, a mile downstream from Warm Springs. California Corner also offers an additional launch area for boaters and tubers. Parking is prohibited along the entrance road and highway.
Warm Springs offers opportunities for floating, boating, and fishing and is the take-out for the Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness whitewater float.
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