Visited: May 2024
Nearby town: Libby, MT
"The time has come to identify and preserve free-flowing stretches of our great scenic rivers before growth and development make the beauty of the unspoiled waterway a memory."
-Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson, in a special message to Congress on Feb 8, 1965
Johnson's efforts led to the passage of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968
The Kootenai (or Kootenay) River starts high in the Canadian Rockies, flows south into Montana, and then bends to the north before flowing into the Columbia River near Castlegar, British Columbia.
The wild 485-mile run of the Kootenai River is full of breathtaking scenery, including Kootenai Falls in northwestern Montana. Although not remarkably tall (56 ft), it is very wide (846.5 ft) and is one of the largest waterfalls in the country by flow rate.
The falls can be easily accessed by a short footpath right along U.S. Highway 2.
the foot path crosses over a railway.
The falls are a very popular roadside stop thanks in part to the Swinging Bridge. The bridge was first built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to better facilitate firefighter access to the north side of the river.
The original bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1948. It was rebuilt, and rebuilt again in 2019.
It was a little scary to cross the swinging bridge, but the bridge is very safe.
Thrilling to cross high over the raging river.
The raging river and the falls have been featured in several movies, including "The River Wild" (1994) and "The Revenant" (2015).
If traveling in northwestern Montana/Idaho panhandle, Kootenai Falls is well worth a stop.
