Woke up early after not being able to sleep until 1:00 this morning. I don’t know why, but I think it might be from being excited to be out traveling.

I got on the road around 9:00 and decided to go to Kootenai Falls to beat the crowds. I was here many years ago but wanted to see it again. This was one location for the movie “The River Wild”, and it was certainly wild today.

I was a little hesitant to do this hike, especially since I am a solo hiker. The bears have been really active lately and I did not bring my bear spray since I need a travel container just in case of a canister malfunction.

The trail is a bit of a walk and I hiked about 1.2 miles round trip. I only went to the upstream trail to the right and not the left trail so the total for both is a little longer.

It is a nice trail but can get extremely busy so go early. The trail had many flowers along the way, and I wish there were thimbleberries but just a little too early. At least they are blooming so it won’t be long.

Partway along, you come to a steel bridge to take you over the railroad tracks.

The other end has a few flights of stairs to walk down and back onto the ground. When the trail splits the left side goes down to the water (I believe), and the right side goes upstream and along the falls.

The falls were just loud & raging! So much energy being released you can literally feel the power. There has been a lot of water (unfortunately it’s been warm and the spring melt is a bit early). I was here later in the year several decades ago and I do not remember seeing it like this.

I turned around and hiked back toward the parking lot. I did not encounter any bears, and the safety in numbers I was counting on were non-existing. It was a nice hike and I got some cardio and steps in.

I went back to Libby and hit Rosauer’s – a regional grocery chain. I personally avoid the big chains – especially Kroger brands. I picked up a couple of things to snack on and went north toward Eureka, along the east shoreline of Lake Koocanusa.

I stopped to look at the Libby Dam just a few miles up the road for a look from below and from the top. It’s too bad the dams no longer offer tours. The hydroelectric generation rooms are so old, but also spotlessly clean. It is pretty interesting and some are really cool inside with old tiled walls and floors with an art deco feel.

The drive was a drive I do not recall driving before. It was a nice one with lots of public land access and beautiful views. Lots of places for all types of outdoor recreation. Both days this far north I had practically no cell service so plan accordingly.

I got to Eureka, put some gas in the truck, and headed back toward Kalispell. The weather was starting to turn and as I got a little ways down the highway the rain started coming down pretty good. It felt like an appropriate close to a great trip. It was taken at a slow, easy pace on purpose. I made a lot of stops, saw some places I had never seen before, and some places I had been but most were long ago.

That’s a wrap. thanks for going along. See you next time!

Shawn