This home is the quintessential Montana log cabin. Perched on a plateau above the Madison River, it has commanding views of the entire valley. The imposing Sphinx Mountain looms in the distance and the gentle flowing Madison River is in your foreground below. This home is perfectly situated for an amazing Montana experience of a lifetime! It's just 15 miles south of the quaint cowboy town of Ennis where you can find a large full-service grocery store, gift shops, galleries, bars, restaurants, fishing guide services and fly shops. There's even a community hospital in Ennis, so you know you aren't too far from all the amenities you may need! This area is a fisherman's paradise. The "Varney Bridge" fishing access/boat launch site on the world-famous Madison River is just two minutes from the house, with a large parking area. The Madison River offers exceptional fishing in a beautiful setting, and is one of the premiere trout fishing rivers in Montana. Cast for world-class rainbow and brown trout with nymphs, streamers and grasshoppers. Other great fishing (also swimming/kayaking) locations include: Ennis Lake, Cliff and Wade Lakes, Earthquake Lake, Hebgen Lake, and Yellowstone Lake (for huge lake trout you can keep). There are also several unique and amazing day trips possible from this home, in all directions (only a quick mention here--see more info below and in the photo captions): You can experience Yellowstone National Park (1hr 10min), Lewis and Clark Caverns, Norris Hot Springs, Virginia City/Nevada City, Missouri Headwaters State Park, and Bozeman, for the Museum of the Rockies and Bozeman Hot Springs. (Bozeman International Airport is just a bit over an hour away, and is the closest airport to fly into.) This home is also an outstanding basecamp location for hunters. You can access hundreds of thousands of acres of public land in the Tobacco Roots, Gravelley Range and Madison Range mountains and come back to this comfortable cabin to recover and share hunting stories. It is a short drive to many Forest Service roads accessing the surrounding Beaverhead National Forest and Lee Metcalf Wilderness. This home has a high speed internet connection with WIFI. It features three bedrooms, a sleeper couch in the downstairs den, two full bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen with everything you'll need to make yourselves at home, along with a Great Room made for entertaining and spending time with friends and family. Or watch one of your favorite shows on the new flat screen TV! The stacked-stone fireplace in the open Great Room can be a great comforting amenity on chilly nights, adding a bit of western ambiance to the experience. There is a large dining table to seat all of your guests. A gas BBQ grill on the deck helps to get the men involved in the meal prep. The two main floor bedrooms include one king-size bedroom and another with two queen beds. They share a full bathroom in the hall, with a double vanity, shower and jetted tub. The lower level consists of another bedroom with three twin beds, and a den with a queen sleeper couch, and Dish Network satellite TV. You'll also find the laundry room and a second full bathroom downstairs. We provide high quality bedding to ensure a good nights rest on your vacation. Outside you'll find a full wrap-around covered porch to soak in the views in any direction and enjoy the sunrise and sunset each day. The inviting outdoor furniture is a great place to start your day with a cup of coffee or end it with an evening cocktail taking in the views. We also have a contained fire pit for evening fun or roasting marshmallows after a long day of adventures in the area when weather permits (see Rules for safely using the fire pit). Wood is provided throughout the season, but picking up some if you plan for lots of fires is encouraged. When you are out at the fire pit, you get the sensation of being on top of the world. You feel like you are the only ones enjoying the pristine landscape of the Madison Valley. The kids can enjoy the expansive mowed lawn for yard games as well (automatically irrigated). FYI: Ennis does not have a public road to Big Sky. The route is about 90 miles around through West Yellowstone. This area offers recreational opportunities all year long. The spring caddis fishing quickly transforms into amazing salmon fly fishing as summer approaches. The Madison River is one of the densest fish-per-mile fishing rivers in America! Enjoy the river with a full service guide boat experience or access the river from any of the fishing access points maintained by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department. You can also take a 37 mile drive to Cliff and Wade Lakes to see the crystal clear blue waters that are more reminiscent of the Caribbean than the Rocky Mountains. Earthquake Lake, 50 miles away, formed after an earthquake over 60 years ago is an interesting stop with its own museum.. If fishing isn't for you, you won't be disappointed. Take a day trip to the nearby town of Virginia City (28 miles) and explore the restored old ghost town with its fun miniature railroad, legendary candy shop and gold mining history! This home is centrally located to so many activities. Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is only 55 miles to the north. On a hot day, take a refreshingly cool guided tour through the huge well-lit network of underground caverns, to see all kinds of colorful natural limestone formations, including stalactites and stalagmites. (Ennis Lake is a picturesque place for taking a swim on the way home.) Be sure to plan a day trip to our nation's oldest National Park, Yellowstone, with the majority of the world's geysers and geothermal features within its borders. Check out their website for seasonal road openings and distances within the park. In the Canyon area, see the Upper and Lower Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and take a walk along the amazing canyon rim. Don't miss the view from Artist Point or Inspiration Point. Be sure to be present for an eruption of Old Faithful Geyser. They happen at amazingly similar intervals of about 100 minutes due to the unique geology of this natural wonder. Wildlife are abundant throughout the park, including bison, elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorns, moose, bald eagles, river otters, and even occasional wolves or bears. When winter sets in, which can be early in this part of the world, you can enjoy well plowed roads at the house. We do recommend all wheel drive vehicles for most of the year due to the possibility of snowfall from September to May! Accessing the home is easy as long as you plan ahead for this location and are mindful that occasional harsh weather conditions can be possible nearly all year in Montana. We are in the Rocky Mountains which can be unpredictable although beautiful! Dress in layers, and be ready to adjust and stay comfortable. If you are looking to take a trip of a lifetime, immersed in the grandeur and history of beautiful south-central Montana, with unique and amazing things to do and places to explore, you will love our Madison Overlook Cabin!