Kootenai Falls

Kootenai Falls Montana 111

Kootenai Falls is the largest undammed falls in the state and a major attraction to those traveling through the area. It offers an unforgettable and breathtaking view as the Kootenai River loses 300 feet in elevation traveling a few hundred yards down river. A pleasant surprise to any photographer or nature lover. An attraction at the falls is a swinging bridge that provides access to the opposite side of the Kootenai River, a prime Montana fishery. To the Kootenai tribe, the falls is a sacred site. They view it as the center of the world, a place where tribal members can commune with the spiritual forces that give direction to the tribe and to individual members. Bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, and mule deer may be seen on the Wildlife Management Area during any time of year, but are most observable from fall through spring. Black bears are regular fall visitors. Moose and elk are seen occasionally, while bobcats and mountain lions are often present but seldom viewed. Bald eagles are in the vicinity of the Wildlife Management Area throughout the year, while ospreys are common during spring and summer. Shorebirds, waterfowl and a host of songbirds can be seen along the river during much of the year.

Visit the link below to see all information about Kootenai Falls and its surrounding area.

https://www.visitmt.com/listings/general/landmark/kootenai-falls

 

National Bison Preserve

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https://www.nps.gov/places/national-bison-range.htm

In 1908, the federal government established the National Bison Range in the middle of our treaty-reserved home, the Flathead Indian Reservation, on land taken without the tribes consent. The bison herd there descends from a free-ranging Reservation herd started by Tribal members in the 1800’s when plains bison were near extinction.

Through Public Law 116-260, Congress has now restored the Bison Range to federal trust ownership for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) so that our award-winning natural resource managers can take over as stewards of the Range’s buffalo, wildlife and land.

The Tribal Council has adopted, as its interim Bison Range management plan, the current Comprehensive Conservation Plan that was developed and adopted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2019 (for which CSKT was a cooperating agency).

The range is also part of Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. Flood features including strandlines are clearly visable across the range.

 

 

 

A few updated tips from a recent visitor from our lodge about getting there and back in one day:

1. Road from Eureka to Libby (actually just west of Eureka) is under construction resulting in long delays while waiting for a pilot car to escort traffic. Plan on an additional 30 minutes to drive to Kootenai Falls.

2. Kootenai Falls has a small cafe and gift shop at the beginning of the trailhead. This is seasonal and is open from May-September without actual dates. Menu included pulled pork sandwich, hot dog, etc.

3. When driving to Kootenai Falls from Libby (i.e. driving west) do not turn into the first parking lot identified by the sign which says parking for the falls. This is the overflow lot and for large profile vehicles like trailers. Drive several hundred yards further to the main parking area. There are bathrooms here.

4. The trail to the Kootenai Falls involves a steep decline down a dirt path followed by a climb up about 75 steel steps on a staircase built to take you over the railroad tracks. This alone constitutes a moderate level hike although you do not need hiking boots; sneakers are fine. Additionally, there is no signage to indicate that the trails to the swinging bridge and the trail to the actual falls itself are two different trails that separate just after getting off the staircase over the tracks. If you want to go to both, plan an additional 30 minutes of hiking time to go to the bridge and back.

5. The National Bison Preserve charges $20 for a day pass and they stopped taking the National Parks pass in 2022. There are bathrooms and a nice gift shop at the visitor’s center.

6. The roads around the Preserve are dirt and stone, not paved. The 2-hour drive portion includes a steep ascent to 4600 feet elevation followed by a 10% grade descent for several miles. I do not recommend doing this in a vehicle without all wheel drive and hill descent control due to wheel slippage and the risk to overheat and wear down your brakes if you don’t have HDC or use low gear and engine revving to slow you down. Also, this trail is full of ruts from water runoff and it is very hard on your car’s suspension. Finally, have at least half a tank of fuel before entering the property especially if the need to use air conditioning exists.

7. At the Preserve we saw a fair amount of bison including a herd crossing the road right in front of us, osprey and hawks, mule deer and a large elk standing in the middle of Mission Creek. There were reports that bear were sighted near the wooded section of the driving route, but we did not see any.

8. A nice place for dinner after visiting is NinePipes Lodge on Route 93 near Charlo.

9. We combined both the Kootenai Falls and National Bison Preserve into a single all-day adventure. Leaving the Good Medicine Lodge at 8:30 AM (on a full tank of gas), stopping for lunch in Libby and stopping for dinner at NinePipes Lodge after doing the two-hour loop at the Preserve got us back to Whitefish at 9:45 PM which included stopping for gas as we entered town. This trip will use an entire tank of fuel in most vehicles.

 

 

Call us at the Good Medicine Lodge if you have any questions regarding a trip to either of these wonderful attractions.