The formation of the Kootenai Falls was said to be due to a succession of phenomena. The underlying Belt Supergroup layer of crust was the result of the despoition of quartzites, mudstones, and shale from when the area was an ancient sea floor. Next, tectonic forces caused there to be a folding action where the crust compressed up against a different tectonic plate as they were headed in opposite directions. The Kootenai River exposed the hard rocks of this Belt Supergroup including the tectonic folds and faults that now resulted in the "steps" over which the river flowed. Such violent geologic forces ultimately would give rise to the rugged Rocky Mountains that dominated the Continental Divide. This would separate the ancient seas of the west and the Great Plains to the east. The Kootenai Falls bridge was initially built in 1937 to help the US Forest Service access forest fires on the other side of the Kootenai River, but a major flood destroyed it in 1948. The bridge was rebuilt in the 1950s, and with the creation of the Libby Dam, and was protected from flooding. This particular bridge I believe was rebuilt in 2019. The best thing about it? Not many people know it's there. Worth your time to visit. read more

See all

I've been to the great Kootenai (Pronounced Coo-tah-knee) Falls and Swinging Bridge a few times and it's amazing every time! Pretty short and easy hike to both. If you're in Northwestern Montana you must come here and then take a trip to nearby Glacier National Park. Right next to where you park at the trailhead to Kootenai Falls, there a little shop that sells treats and wares called "Main Street Perk 2.0 at Kootenai Falls". We got some bottled water and Huckleberry ice cream. Don't miss out on the ice cream! read more

See all

Some places grab your soul from the moment you pull off the highway -- Kootenai Falls is exactly one of them. I rolled through here expecting a nice view, and got full-on nature theatre. The hike isn't brutal -- about half-a-mile from the road to the bridge or viewpoint, with picnic tables and restrooms at the lot. Enough challenge to feel good, not so much that it kills your afternoon. The trail that leads upstream to the main falls is short but dramatic: water rushing over rock terraces, multiple drops, including a 30-foot fall seen from the overlook. Downstream you cross that swinging bridge -- it creaks, it sways above the green Kootenai water, and it gives you a rush just standing there. Accessible but wild feeling: old railroad overpass, rocky descent sections, metal stairs, forest canopy, birds, moss -- all the good stuff. I went there in early summer; the river was high, mist in air, sun breaking through trees. The light hits the falls just right at golden hour -- reflections everywhere, water sparkle, shadows dancing. Ambience is pure Montana: no loud crowds, mostly locals, forest smells, river roar, the rustle of pine needles. Parking isn't fancy, but it's clean; restrooms are basic. Picnic area shaded, with enough space to sit, eat, soak it all in. Final take: 5 stars, no doubt. Probably one of those places I'll revisit again and again just to feel that rushing water, that bridge sway, that "whoa" moment when you turn the corner and see the falls looming. If you're in this part of Montana -- don't pass it by. read more

See all

Kootenai falls and the suspension bridge are the perfect hike for everyone and I mean everyone! Whether you are not in the best of shape or you are traveling with kids or you have your dog with you, not only can you do this trail but you will thoroughly enjoy it. This is one of the best experiences I have had during my travels and I recommend it to everyone. We spent hours here enjoying the beauty of nature. The walk is gorgeous, The falls are gorgeous, the suspension bridge is fun and exciting! And when I say anyone can do this, the lady in front of was by herself with two children...she literally had a newborn baby strapped to her and was pushing a stroller for her toddler and they made it over the suspension bridge and all the way back up. The only caveat is that there are some steps which are definitely not dog friendly. They are kind of a twisted metal with spikes that is probably great for traction and melting snow, but would be very difficult on a dog's paw pads, so if you have a dog with you you will have to carry them down some stairs. However, we encountered multiple people with large dogs, so unless that's a problem for you, for some reason you can still do this hike with your large dog. Our dog is small so it was a breeze. Another thing you will see a lot of on this hike is smiling faces. This is a genuinely beautiful place where people are just really happy. I could not recommend this more highly and even if you're not super close, it is worth the drive. read more

See all

Super easy hike, a bit busy a little too busy for my preference. Plenty of parking, dog friendly and stunning views along the hike. read more

See all

Beautiful spot and relatively easy walk down and back up from/to parking lot. Manageable with young children and nice swimmable spot on across the bridge if it's a hot day and you're looking to cool down! Definitely worth the trip! read more

Kootenai Falls - Kootenai Falls - Hiking Near Me - Libby, Montana

This county park is more spectacular than just about any state park I've seen! The water falls are massive - and you can walk right up to them. This is a must see spot if visiting Montana. Parking lot is small but I managed to squeeze in. read more

See all

This place is great always packed. Its just such a long hard hike. Wencouldnt make it the whole way. Be prepared for it. Take water you will need it. read more

I absolutely love this entire area. You know I have to admit when I thought of Montana the only thing other than Hannah I thought about was just a hug weatfield wasteland with just a bunch of cows and not much else. I was completely ignorant in thinking that! I am a big nature lover and enjoy the outdoors. Nature is my favourite thing to be immersed in. This place has something magical about it, aside from being one of the on site shooting scenes for The Revenant staring Leonardo DiCaprio, it just has such an ancient feeling as old as time itself. One of my favourite things to do is to swim in those waters because it is so cold and so freeing! I will always recommend this place. Such good fun for the whole family or just a solo trip! It makes no difference. Thanks Montana!!! read more

See all

Obviously, if you haven't been, it's a must. This place is such a sight to see. It can get super crowded, but that's expected. The views are out of this world. If you're lucky, you can see some wild people actually kayaking the Kooteani river. Not much of a hike but the views make up for it. After you get done, there's a food stand with the most amazing chili dogs and best of all... some ice cream to cool you down. It's Deff a must! read more

See all

An Amazing Attraction for Anyone!!! Finally, after all these years of seeing the signs on the highway, I decided to make it a point of seeing this wonder of nature. On an overcast day with on and off rain, I made my way to the falls after spending most of the morning hiking and viewing Lake Pend Orielle. I came up through the road from Clark Fork and pulled into the park's parking area. I was happy to see other cars and vehicles parked so I knew there would be people around. I made my way into the trail area and began my adventure. The first thing I came across on the trail was the tower staircase, which can be daunting for kids and the elderly, so be wary of this as it has many many stairs to climb. I then made my way to the trailhead where you have two choices, Falls or the swinging bridge. I went to the falls first and found some very spectacular views. Keep in mind that these are smaller falls so if you're thinking its anything like Niagara Falls, it's not. The falls though in the setting of a wooded gorge is worth the hike, as its a stunning area with many views of the mountains, the river and the valley. There many great vantage points in which you can take photos. Next up was the swinging bridge, which I have to say be careful when hiking here on a rainy day, as there is mud, water, rocks and it can be very slippery. Despite that, it was a very nice hike from the falls to the swinging bridge. Along the way I saw a few people hiking, I met a nice family from Montana, and I saw a family on the other side of the river camping and fishing. I am mentioning this as it is a place where families with children can visit. Once again I was met with the majesty of the area. This is a great spot for taking photos to form the river banks, and while you are on the bridge. It wasn't very windy that day, just raining a little on and off so the bridge did not really 'swing'. I spent a couple of hours in the area checking out the river and the scenery from both sides of the bridge. This is a fantastic wilderness area with great trails and great views. You could spend a couple of hours there or as I witnessed, people camp in the area as well. I was very happy that I finally made it. If you are just there to check it out, I recommended planning for a few hours at least, as there is quite a bit to see and do. One last thing, this is a wilderness area so go to the bathroom before you head out on the trails as I witnessed one panicked mother who didn't know what to do with her young child who had to go to the bathroom. Plan accordingly. read more

See all

While driving through Libby, we took the advice of a local and stopped by the Kootenai Falla swinging bridge. There is a great kiosk with very reasonable food abs drinks. The walk to the swinging bridge is roughly 1/2 mile from the parking lot. There is no charge to walk across the bridge which is a nice plus. There are bathrooms and the trials are well marked. The swinging bridge is quite unique. Very beautiful and would recommend. read more

See all

We were pleasantly surprised with its beauty. We enjoyed our visit to the falls, great place for a quick hike.

The kooky koots is a great hike because it's right off the highway and you can get a great down and back up hike down and see a lot of cool things in just 15 minutes (including the super fun suspension bridge, which seems to scare a lot of folks when deciding whether to cross is). read more

See all

A relatively easy walk to some great overlook views of the Kootenay River and Kootenai Falls. The only part that might be challenging for some is a tower of about 3 flights of stairs with about 10 steps in each set. So maybe 30 stairs or so total. Definitely worth the effort. A path leads you from the parking lot down toward the river through forests of Douglas-fir, Ponderosa Pine, and Western Larch trees. Descend to a junction on the path. Right to the falls and left to the swinging bridge. Great views, easy access. There's a little concessions stand in the parking lot to refuel at or grab a souvenir. read more

See all

You'll drive right past if you aren't paying attention, but stop you should! There will be an abundance of cars but there's also plenty of parking. It's a relatively moderate trail with slight ups and downs. Watch mostly for rocks and tree roots aiming to trip you up. At the T-junction, go right to see the Kootenai Falls - smallish but powerful and beautiful. Backtrack to the junction and go left to get to a swinging bridge. It's 4 to 5 people at a time to cross, but it's fun and perfectly safe. There can be a backup on a busy day as people wait to cross both directions. We spent a total of 45 minutes here, by the time we sat in the shade and had a scoop of huckleberry ice cream to cool off. read more

See all

Once across the railroad tracks you will see signs that say Kootenai Falls/ swinging bridge with an arrow to the left. Follow that direction, you will come to another split in the trail continue left to the bridge but also make sure to go right and take in the views from the other direction. So much to explore and very kid friendly hike, just use caution with kids who like to run ahead. Steep cliffs and strong currents in the water. In all it was a cool place to explore and we would definitely stop if in the area again. Bonus- Dog Friendly read more

See all

A must stop! The hike to the falls was a little long beer than I expected but well worth it! Watch your children closely, you can walk right up to the cliffs edge at the falls. The swinging bridge is opposite of the falls so expect another hike. Only 5 people across the bridge at a time so it can be a short wait to get across and another to come back. Still well worth the wait. read more

See all

Love this hike so much. We make it there at least 2 times a year. There is a great little seasonal stand at the begining of the trail with hot dogs ice cream soda and more, remember it is seasonal so it's not always open. The hike is not super long or super hard but it's not maintained really well and is very rocky but my little kids have always done very well with it. There are two diffrent bridges one goes over the train tracks and my kids love to sit and wait for a train to come! The second is a swinging bridge that goes over the top of the river it is very well maintained and safe but it does swing and when it's windy it's even worse but the view from the bridge is so amazing and we'll worth the hike! read more

See all

A forest trail leads from the highway parking lot down to the Swinging Bridge - it is super cool and the river below is beautiful. Along the short trail there is one point where you have to climb several flights of stairs in order to cross the railroad tracks and if you pause above them for awhile having the train go right under you in a really cool experience. Once you cross the swinging bridge you can walk all the way down to the rushing rivers edge. Kootenai Falls was the setting for the filming of the movie, "River Wild". Worth a stop! read more

See all

I love this place! Soo peaceful with all the big beautiful trees and nature on the trails you can walk on. Easy trails to hike along for people like me who like only easy hikes, lol. I wouldn't cross the bridge tho! Too scary for me! Looked like it could unattach itself at any time and you'd be carried away with the rushing river below. read more

Well worth the 2 mile hike! One of the best views I have seen my whole trip! Hike to the bridge is a little rocky but with my help my 83 year old Grandma could do it! read more

See all

Truly a beautiful place! We stopped here on our way from Idaho to Montana and were glad we did. Beautiful river flow, and we saw some huge salmon schools as well. After you cross over the railroad, the path forks. Going up the path takes you to a close up view of the falls, and going down takes you to the swinging bridge. Be sure to do both! read more

Like Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite Valley, Kootenai Falls is a marvel of nature that begs to be seen to be believed. Unlike these other popular destinations, however, it is not located in a national park, nor is it exactly accessible to the casual tourist. After all, you have to be in Northwestern Montana in the first place, which is arguably off the beaten path. On the other hand, since the well-maintained parking and picnic area are located on a major US highway and the falls are reasonably close to Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park, it's not terribly hard to visit if you plan ahead. If you do, you'll be amazed by what you see: a magnificent sequence of mighty cataracts down which crystal-clear mountain waters plunge, pour, and flume at breakneck speed over the course of a magnificent mile on a path that will culminate eventually in the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of Columbia River. It's not a huge drop - only 90 vertical feet from start to finish - but what's impressive is the breadth and volume of the ceaselessly churning whitewater that flows over the terraced rock platforms to empty into a scenic gorge downstream. Plus, you can see the whole spectacle up close and personal from both sides of the river. And in fact the best views are from a steep and slightly vertiginous trail on the other (the Northern) side. You access it by crossing a wonderful suspension bridge (the Swinging Bridge) that takes you across the river just below the falls, where if you're lucky you'll see a kayak or two in the rapids below. Take the trail uphill and to the East, retracing the route of the falls in an upstream direction. The trail is very exposed and narrow, crossing talus fields of crushed stone most of the time, so you'll need to watch your footing - carefully! Once you reach the head of the falls, the trail drops down to the river (which is one of the lowest spots in the whole state, at 1991 feet). You can follow it further, but eventually you'll have to return the way you came. This is such a picture-perfect stretch of whitewater that Hollywood took notice. Parts of the 1994 film, "River Wild" (with a buff Meryl Streep and a creepy Kevin Bacon in the lead roles, alongside some great supporting actors, like David Strathairn, John C. Reilly, and Benjamin Bratt) were filmed here, in which the Kootenai stunt-doubles for the more famous Snake River in Idaho. The falls are also sacred for the local native communities, and they've never been damned for hydroelectric purposes. They flow freely, and if you arrive during a spring snowmelt, you'll hear the raging rapids well before you even get close to see them. The pictures posted here are from a fall 2011 visit, so imagine even more water than this, and you'll get the picture. Sort of. It's not easy to capture the dynamism of the falls in pixelated form. The sound and fury is absent, and that's really what makes this place so entrancing. Northwestern Montana is full of hidden treasures like Kootenai Falls (I'll review the stunning Ross Creek old-growth red cedar grove a little later). Hidden in plain sight, that is. All you have to do is show up, bring your hiking boots, your bear spray, and a healthy sense of adventure, and let nature do the rest! read more

See all

A beautiful short hike takes you to the cascading falls. Be sure to stop if you're driving along this section of highway 2 in western Montana. read more

Kootenai Falls - Kootenai Falls, MT. This is a fun, easy hike and an absolutely gorgeous location for a picnic. - Hiking Near Me - Libby, Montana

Only a hour drive for me. One of my frequent visiting places in Montana. Spring runoff makes the falls mighty and spectacular. My last visit as seen in the photos. May 12th 2016. read more

See all

A must see, if your in the area. It's a little bit of a hike, so wear you shoes, no sandals. The falls and the bridge are in 2 different areas, but worth the hike. Dont pass this up if your in the area. read more

Great walk, great view, great location. Right on the highway if you're already driving through. Could be a small stop or a long detour, whatever you're looking to do - this place has it. No restricted areas so you can explore as much or as little as you want. Great for the bird watching, saw an Eagle while on our brief stop. And the waterfalls are ever changing and breathtaking. read more

Great fun. The bridge is amazing and frightening all at the same time. When you and your family start walking across this thin bridge and then the wind blows, someone else attempts to get on the bridge, your kid jumps, etc... lets just say your adrenaline starts flowing. If you are in the area, then take the time and have some fun. Don't forget to see the beautiful falls. read more

Visited around end of January. Brought snowshoes, but they weren't really required. They did make the stairs difficult to navigate though. The swing bridge is fun, but it's a typical swing bridge. The falls are pretty, definitely worth visiting. If you're into trains, the overpass is a fun place to see trains. read more

Amazing place that is a must see for anyone in the area! Wear your hiking boots and get out there to explore this great state!