Kootenai Falls and Swinging Bridge
Kootenai Falls is one of the largest free flowing waterfalls in the northwest. The calm river suddenly gathers momentum surging first through China Rapids and then over the falls, dropping 90 feet in less than a mile. The main falls is 30 feet high and can be viewed from a “swinging bridge” that crosses the river.
Getting There
Located 12 miles west of Libby and 6 miles east of Troy on US Hwy 2, the falls parking area is on the north side of the highway at the 21 mile marker.
Facilities
The Lincoln County Parks Dept. has created a picnic area just off the Falls parking area with picnic tables, barbeque cooking areas, and restroom facilities. A concession service is available at the Falls parking lot from May through September with food services, souvenirs, and visitor information.
The Trail
The trail to the swinging bridge is approximately 1/2 mile long. The falls overlook is closer at about 1/3 mile. The first 500 feet of the trail is fairly level, allowing for handicapped access to an overlook where one can get a glimpse of the falls or relax in the shaded picnic area maintained Lincoln County Parks. Beyond this over-look the dirt trail can be rough and rocky descending to an overpass over the railroad tracks.
The overpass exits onto a 3 tier metal staircase with 64 expanded metal steps. The overpass and stairs are not dog friendly. The trail continues toward the river with the falls overlook upstream and the swinging bridge downstream.
The Swinging Bridge
The first bridge was built by the Civilian Conserva-tion Corps in 1937 to improve access for fire fighting. The bridge was destroyed by flooding in 1948. In the 1950’s, the bridge was rebuilt on concrete towers. The bridge was reconstructed on the existing cables and supports in 1993.
The Swinging Bridge and Kootenai Falls are a very popular attraction and usage of the bridge has in-creased substantially over the past decade. In 2018 the Forest Service determined that reconstruction of the bridge would be necessary to improve public safety.
Background
In the early 1800’s David Thompson, a Canadian explorer and employee of the Northwest Company, traveled into the Kootenai River region using the Kootenai River as a navigational guide. He and his men portaged around the falls on a trail 300 feet above the river. Thompson’s journal describes the trail: “The least slip would have been inevitable de-struction, as the steepness of the rock allowed no re-turn; or, in once falling, to stop till precipitated into the river”.
Be Respectful
The area within the vicinity of the Kootenai Falls and the swinging bridge is culturally significant to the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. When visiting, please be respectful of this special and sacred place.
Geology
Fossils, folds, and very old – the Kootenai Falls geology is composed of metamorphic (quartzite) and sedimentary (limestone) rocks of the Belt Su-pergroup. These 1.5 billion year old rocks contain excellently preserved mud chips, salt casts, and ripple marks that signify an ancient shallow sea. The area also offers impressive views of folded rock layers north of the river and in the road cut along Highway 2. Slight folds in the underlying geology are responsible for the dramatic stair-step-like waterfall. Fossilized algal mounds, known as stromatolites, are present near the new swinging bridge. The sedimentary features, structural for-mations, and paleontological preservations make the area an intriguing geologic landscape.