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Madison County, Near Harrison
Nestled in the rolling foothills between the Tobacco Root Mountains and the Madison Range, Harrison Reservoir is a mid-elevation impoundment that provides a crucial stopover point for birds moving through the valleys of southwest Montana.
The reservoir is relatively deep, making it attractive to diving ducks and loons during the spring and fall migrations. Common Loons, Western Grebes, and Red-breasted Mergansers can often be seen resting on the open water. The shallower margins and inlet areas support dabbling ducks and migrating shorebirds. In the surrounding sagebrush and grasslands, birders can find Vesper Sparrows and Western Meadowlarks, while the scattered trees near the dam often hold nesting raptors.
Visitor Access
The reservoir is open to the public year-round, with access primarily managed by Montana FWP at a designated fishing access site near the dam. Entry is free. There are no formal hiking trails, but birders can walk the shorelines where public access is permitted. A boat ramp is available, and birding by canoe or kayak offers the best approach to the shallower inlet areas.