Kootenai Falls is Montana’s largest waterfall, featuring a 30-foot main waterfall that can be seen from a swinging suspension bridge that spans the Kootenai River. The turquoise waters and blue skies made for vivid colors the day we visited. The trail takes you past several rapids that are quite splendid before taking you over the river on the suspension bridge. You can see evidence of the Civilian Conservation Corps’ work to create the site decades ago.
After crossing the bridge, we chose to keep hiking up the trail a ways to an overlook that may have offered us one of the best views of the river. The hiking on the north side of the river was quite challenging, but well worth the spectacular payoff. We turned around after the overlook, but this trail continues for miles along the river. The Kootenai Indians once called the area home, and consider the falls a sacred site. It was a place where tribal members communed with spiritual forces. There is a concession service provided at the parking lot from May through September with food and souvenirs. |