After saying good-bye to the Lodge at Sandpoint and the placid, blueness of the Pend Orielle Lake, we headed northward towards Bonners Ferry, Idaho on Highway 2, and later entered Montana. We were on our way to Lolo Pass enjoying the views of deep green evergreens and the occasional color of hardwoods moving into autumn attire.
Bert spied a sign on Highway 2 between Libby and Troy, Montana, saying Kootenai Falls and asked if I wanted to go. Why not? I said. We don’t exactly have an agenda today. And that brief decision revealed one of the prettiest spots along the way.
Kootenai Falls Park leads you through tall timber and a natural area marked with fallen trees, mossy patches, naturally decaying woods and leaves and plants. A real forest in its almost-natural state (except for the pathways for which we were grateful.)
The falls themselves did not disappoint. Rushing waters tumbling over rough gray stone, bubbling and gushing with the sounds you would expect. And yet there was a peacefulness that comes from being the solitary visitors in one of America’s prettiest spots in the Inland Northwest.
Later, we read that the Kootenai Indians held this place sacred since they communed with the spirits here.
The falls are accessible via footpaths, and the Libby Lions Club has added a picnic area. A swinging bridge is nearby for an even better view of the falls, but we didn’t take the time to explore in that direction. We were content to enjoy the forest and the quiet right where we were.
On our way back to the car, the distant sound of a train “comin’ ’round the mountain” stopped us. So we waited. And got the camera ready. And shot. Like a child seeing a train for the first time, we were excited. After all, it’s not every day that we’re front and center for what is an ordinary occurrence in Kootenai Falls Park, but something rare for us.
Isn’t it fun to leave the highway and find unexpected memory-maker places?
Kootenai Falls Park
http://www.libbymt.com/areaattractions/kootenaifalls.htm
Mapquest Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Kootenai%20Falls&state=MT
For more pictures and posts on our trip through the Inland Northwest, click on the Page at the top of this post.
FreeRangeCow
Oh Rusha, you Kaptured it soooo well!
Rusha Sams
Thanks! Pretty places are fun to write about, right?
The Rider
Wow- this is a beautiful place!
Rusha Sams
It was a super find. And how often do we have the quiet time to appreciate nature! Thanks for commenting.
cyardin
Those falls are unique and cool! It is like Mother Nature did some rough chiseling out of the stone ground but got halfway through and decided not to polish the edges.
Rusha Sams
What a great description! You are so right!
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Kevin Brent
Kapture it you did!
Rusha Sams
It was a lark, but a good one!
suzjones
That’s my favourite part of travelling. We found an awesome beach once because we had time and decided to detour. We were the only people there on a cold and windy day with cliffs behind us and shipwrecks around us. Loved it. I think detouring off highways is the best!
Rusha Sams
We get off the interstate often. Knowing that the trip might take longer doesn’t deter us since we almost always see something more interesting. It’s the journey, isn’t it?
susanissima
Love the generous photos, which bring your trip to life and inspire a reader’s own adventures. Thank you!
Rusha Sams
Thanks so much, but I’m already worried about what will happen when I’ve used up my photo allotment!!! Oh, well. Worry about that another day! Thanks for the nice comment!