LIBBY
A great small town, that’s known as the gateway to Lake Koocanusa for a reason. If you plan on riding one or both sides of the Lake you’ll want to make a plan for food and gas. Libby and Rexford are your only options for fuel and food around the lake.
Hav-a-Java Expresso To Go
7 Seeds Coffee
The Kootenai Falls Swinging Bridge was built by the Forest Service to access forest fires across the Kootenai River. This foot bridge was destroyed by a major flood in 1948. The bridge was rebuilt on concrete piers and is now protected from flooding by the Libby Dam.
It is suspended 40 feet about the turquoise water, and offers a beautiful view of the Kootenai River Gorge and pine trees...if you can take your eyes off the boards immediately in front of you while crossing.
If you're in the Libby area on a Motorcycle, the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway should be on your to-do list. Lake Koocanusa is a 90 mile long reservoir that is held back by the Libby Dam. You can ride along both sides of the lake. Most people ride the East side, so the West side is much less busy. There are multiple points along the lake for camping, fishing, and boat access.
The Koocanusa Bridge near the Canadian border, is the longest and highest bridge in Montana, standing over 270 feet above the water -depending on the water level.
Whitefish | Kalispell | Columbia Falls
Whitefish and Kalispell are ideal places to re-supply if you're in need of parts, or other things only bigger cities can provide. Be aware though, Whitefish can be quite spendy. In comparison hotel rates in Columbia Falls are a little better, but still have the side-effect of being a gateway town to Glacier National Park.
Three Forks Grille, Columbia Falls
Montana Coffee Traders
HipCamp is an excellent budget friendly way to stay near Glacier National Park. If you’ve never used HipCamp before here’s a $10 Credit to Hipcamp (this is my friend invite code, if you use this I get a $10 credit back). We looked into Air BnB but most hosts were booked, needed a week+ notice, or were just as expensive as the hotels.
We couldn't be in Columbia Falls and not make a nostalgic stop at the Montana Vortex. Depending on your own personal beliefs, the Montana Vortex is said to be home of the Golden Vortex, a quantum or gravitational anomaly that allegedly re-define the laws of physics and nature. No matter what you believe, it's a fun place to spend a couple hours.
Seeley-Swan Valley
The Seeley-Swan Valley is known as the outdoor-lovers paradise, because it acts as a launching point to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex which covers 1.5 million acres.
The Seeley-Swan scenic drive is a 90 mile long corridor along Highway 83 stretching through the Swan Valley from Seeley Lake to Swan Lake. There are hundreds of natural lakes, ranging in size from a few acres to several thousands of acres, all squeezed into this narrow heavily forested valley. The Mission Mountains rise to the west, and the Swan Rang walls off the East, creating a pocket of solitude.