Kootenai Falls — 90ft Cascade in Montana

Kootenai Falls is a 90-foot cascade waterfall in Lincoln County, Montana, reached by an easy walk over 1.6 miles.

Kootenai Falls is the largest free-flowing waterfall in Montana — a 90-foot multi-stage cascade on the Kootenai River in the far northwestern corner of the state, between Libby and Troy. The site was made famous by the 1990s Anthony Hopkins / Alec Baldwin film 'The Edge.' A swinging pedestrian suspension bridge crosses the river just below the falls — itself a Montana iconic landmark. The 1.6-mile out-and-back trail from the Highway 2 pullout is moderate, with stairs descending to the bridge and falls overlook. The site is on Kootenai National Forest land and free.

What to expect

Drive Highway 2 between Libby and Troy in northwestern Montana. The Kootenai Falls pullout is signed. Park in the highway pullout. The 1.6-mile trail descends about 200 feet via stairs to the falls overlook and the famous swinging bridge. Cross the bridge for the upstream falls view (the bridge is structurally sound but bouncy and not for severe vertigo). The largest single drop is ~30 feet, with multiple smaller cascades. Pair with a Libby-area weekend or as a stop driving between Glacier National Park and Spokane.