Kootenai Falls reveals a distinctive side of Lincoln County: in northwest Montana, it is the state’s largest unimpounded waterfall. It is also a sacred place for the Kootenai Tribe. Nature experiences and cultural history are among the discoveries that shape the character of the region.
Waterways, Landscapes, and Activities
Libby Dam is 422 feet high and creates the 90-mile-long Lake Koocanusa reservoir. The Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park offers a different scale: it covers approximately 3,000 acres and stretches for more than 20 miles along Highway 2. Activities available in the park include swimming, boating, camping, water skiing, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
The Souse Gulch and Downstream recreation areas also offer different things to do. Souse Gulch has playgrounds, picnic shelters, a boat ramp, hiking trails, and an 18-hole disc golf course. The Downstream Recreation Area combines views of Libby Dam with trout fishing, disc golf, a boat ramp, and a trail along a former railroad grade.
At the Kootenai Falls Wildlife Management Area, you can watch bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer, black bears, moose, elk, bald eagles, and ospreys. If you prefer to get around on foot, Lincoln County has numerous hiking trails. Turner Mountain Ski Resort offers skiing; check seasonal operating dates before your trip. In Libby, Cabinet View Course is a golf course.
Explore Places and Stories
Tobacco Valley Historical Village comprises ten historic structures and their furnishings. The buildings and artifacts date from the 1880s to the 1920s. The collection includes a general store, a schoolhouse, a library, a church, two log cabins, a handcrafted house, a railroad depot, a caboose, and a fire lookout tower. An exhibit on native plants explains their significance, as well as the importance of native animals to Indigenous peoples and early settlers. Check in advance for seasonal access to the buildings.
Rexford’s history is also tied to changes in infrastructure. The Army Corps relocated the town to higher ground. It also relocated Highway 37 and the Great Northern Railroad line. To plan a visit to the Libby Dam Visitor Center, note that it is about 17 miles north of Libby and can be reached via Montana Highway 37 and Forest Development Road 228. Check road conditions before you travel.
Events and Local Experiences
Rendezvous Days takes place annually in Eureka. The program includes concerts, food, and fun activities for the whole family; check the dates before your trip. The Eureka Farmers Market runs every Wednesday throughout the summer, from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. Here too, it’s a good idea to confirm the current market days in advance.
Libby Logger Days combines sporting competitions with educational offerings and demonstrations on public forest management. A July 4 event in Troy features theater performances, concerts, food, art, quilting, and a disc golf tournament. It is free and family-friendly and is described as a 100-year-old tradition.
Maps are available for J. Neils Park and its trails, as well as for the route from the park to the Heritage Museum. These can help you plan your way to both destinations.
Discover more destinations: Libby, Mineral County, Judith Basin County, Powder River County, Silver Bow, Big Horn County, Prairie County, Beaverhead County.
For the broader travel overview: Montana.
