What clients say about Kootenai Falls in Columbus (MT)
DOG OWNERS BEWARE!
The falls and the park are absolutely beautiful! However, to get to the falls, you must use the pedestrian bridge over the train tracks. The stairs for this bridge WILL HURT DOG PAWS! So unless you can carry your dog up and down the stairs, or you put boots on their paws, please don’t think they’re scared of the stairs. The stairs are hurting their paws! Pads on bigger paws will go through the open part and then the spike parts will go between their toes.
Otherwise, enjoy the beauty! Entry to the park is free.
Looking at good, quality stops for your drive from Highway 93 to Highway 95? Look no further! Kootenai Falls is well worth a 45 minute stop with all of the falls and Whitewater rapids there are to look at. Additionally when we stopped they also offered a good little food service area and gift shop. I personally had a waffle Cone of cookie dough and it absolutely hit the spot after walking around the waterfall area!
There is plenty of parking in the main area, with overflow parking about 1/4 of a mile to the east!
We love visiting the Kootenai Falls. Walked approx 4 miles back and forth, across the swinging bridge and down to the beach on the other side. Stunning water falls and wildflowers everywhere. Early season so the water was much higher than late summer.
One of the most unbelievable places in all of the United States ?? to visit at observe in awe. We’ve visited the park (3) times in the last 3 years and we live 1,140 miles/18 1/2 hrs from where we live in California.
Beautiful drive from Columbia Falls about 117 miles. Gradual hike down to the suspension bridge. Only bad thing is all directional signs have been removed for winter but someone wrote an arrow and bridge on pole signage usually hang on. There is a big map at start of trails too.
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! Definitely a must see! If you have dogs, at the start of the trail there is several flights of stairs that are grated and can be a little hard on their feet and small dogs feet could slip through, so watch your pup closely.
This place is an absolute gem! I mean wow. What a spectacular area. The river and falls are well worth almost any hike, let alone a short hike from the road. Not 100% sure I would consider it an easy hike, as it is a little steep in some spots and there are a few flights of stairs, but if you take your time it is very doable for all. 11/10!
Worth the trip. We’re vacationing in Kalispell and the 2 hour drive was more than worth it. Falls are impressive and amazing. Swinging bridge is really fun (I’m not an engineer, but it appears to be incredibly well built). More than one parking lot off the highway. Not well marked, so pay attention to the big parking lot a couple hundred yards to the east of the main entrance. Fantastic pics.
Falls were indeed beautiful....BUT if your over 50 please be sure to take plenty of water. The trail down to the Falls gets rough with loose rock and there is a bridge over a rail road track that has 4 levels of stairs.
I believe the trail is about 1 mile down & 1 mile back going up hill, then the stairs again. Did not make it to the Swing Bridge. I think they should post more information on the trail for those visiting. Did appreciate the small refreshment stand and was able to get ice for a bad ankle.
I really enjoyed my stop at Kootenai Falls. It was very beautiful and the hike was nice too. Not a particularly difficult hike, but be sure to take plenty of water if it’s hot. A very worthwhile stop.
Always take my guests here if we can't get into Glacier. Take a picnic lunch and eat be the falls. Bridge crossing always a good challenge for the timid.
That was first time being there. The parking lot was packed when we got there. They have a little ice cream stand by the parking lot. They have floats, ice cream and other stuff. The staff was nice. It is quite a hike to the bridge. There are some rocky spots where the roots are in the trail.
You have to do this! The falls are INSANE! Three different spill-offs you can see! The walk is very easy and not long at all! To top it off you can go to the SWINGING BRIDGE! We had so much fun! You should def do this! Especially for the kids!
Absolutely beautiful! Shorter hike than the bridge. The parking lot was packed and there's lots of people but you can find a quiet spot. You can even put your feet in the calm spot be careful though, a slip up can be dangerous. Wouldn't reccomend swimming
Excellent place to take the family if you don't want to walk to far to see a waterfall and some rapids. There is a picnic area in the shade which is comfortable. Also there is a small food and drink stand at the beginning of the trail. It's a fairly easy walking trail but some areas require some agility and flexibility to reach. If you don't like heights then the swinging bridge wouldn't be for you. Hope this helps you decide. If you found this review helpful please leave a like. Thanks for reading.
The falls is absolutely beautiful! With tons of photo ops. However the trail is a bit of a guessing game and not easily navigable. Very rocky and definitely not maintained. There is restrooms and trash cans available on site as well as a snack shack. And if you are lucky you may even run into "Robert the Wood Carver" who is a bit of a local legend. He is usually there early mornings and you can not only watch him carve but hear a story at the same time. He is the main reason I give this place a 5 star rating. Without him it would be 3 out of 5 stars.
Absolutely gorgeous here. There are good trails here that lead to spectacular views. There is a swinging bridge that is suspended over over the river with a great shot of the falls and rapids. The trails to the falls themselves spit you out onto rocks that offer an awesome view of the falls. Everything is fairly close to the parking lot so minimal hiking is required to see the falls. At the parking lot there are also pit toilets and a coffee/ice cream shop. Definitely stop here if you have the time.
The falls are really beautiful, and the hike there should be doable for most. The swinging bridge seemed interesting, but there was a line I didn't want to wait for. There's also a great little grill at the trailhead for refueling before or after your hike.
Beautiful location to visit in the touring season. Well marked trail to the falls viewing area and the swinging bridge (cable suspension bridge). Safe for small children and not so long of a walk that tiny tots can't be carried in and out!
Pretty falls. You have to hike down to them across a train overpass which is maybe 1/4 mile. The trail gets a bit obscure with paths running all over. It would be nice to have the parks service define the trail better. There is also a bridge but I didn't have time to see it. This place could be better developed while not detracting from the natural beauty.
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