Lincoln County: Nature, Water and History

In northwestern Montana, Lincoln County brings together striking waterways, outdoor experiences and stories from the region. Kootenai Falls is the state’s largest unimpeded waterfall and also a sacred place for the Kootenai Tribe. For those interested in nature and cultural significance, it offers a distinctive focus for a trip.

Lakes and Water as Defining Features of the Landscape

Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park covers approximately 3,000 acres and stretches for more than 20 miles along Highway 2. Activities listed there include swimming, boating, camping, water skiing, fishing and wildlife viewing. This gives you different ways to spend time by the water: enjoying activities on the lake, relaxing on the shore or watching wildlife. The park’s size is useful to keep in mind when planning: it is not a single viewpoint, but an extensive area along a long stretch of road.

Libby Dam also shapes the region’s waterways. It is 422 feet high and creates Lake Koocanusa, a 90-mile-long reservoir. The Libby Dam Visitor Center is about 17 miles north of Libby and can be reached via Montana Highway 37 and Forest Development Road 228. If you are specifically interested in the dam and reservoir, these location and road details can help you find your way.

Active Days and a Variety of Places to Visit

Souse Gulch Recreation Area brings several amenities together in one place: playgrounds, picnic shelters, a boat ramp, hiking trails and an 18-hole disc golf course. At Downstream Recreation Area, options include views of Libby Dam, trout fishing, disc golf, a boat ramp and a trail along a former railroad bed. The choices range from exercise and play to spending time by the water. Lincoln County also has numerous hiking trails; fishing is promoted at the “Chain of lakes” as well.

Those interested in wildlife can visit Kootenai Falls Wildlife Management Area. There, you may spot bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer, black bears, moose, elk, bald eagles and ospreys. The variety of species includes several kinds of deer and bighorn sheep, as well as black bears and birds of prey.

History and Regional Traditions

Tobacco Valley Historical Village features ten historic buildings and their furnishings. The buildings and artifacts date from the 1880s to the 1920s. Examples include a general store, a schoolhouse, a library, a church, two log cabins, a hand-built house, a railroad depot, a caboose and a fire tower. An exhibit on native plants explains their significance, as well as the importance of native animals to Indigenous peoples and early settlers.

Rexford’s history is also connected to changes in the landscape: the Army Corps moved the town to higher ground and also relocated Highway 37 and the Great Northern Railroad line. For a trip with a historical focus, the Village and this local history offer different perspectives. Maps are available in Libby for J. Neils Park and its trails, as well as for the trail from J. Neils Park to the Heritage Museum. Libby can thus be included in your plans as a destination of interest in its own right.

Regional events add further highlights. Held annually in Eureka, Rendezvous Days features concerts, food and entertaining activities for the whole family. Libby Logger Days includes sporting competitions as well as educational programs and demonstrations on managing public forests. In Troy, a free, family-friendly Fourth of July event is described as a 100-year-old tradition; the program includes theater performances, concerts, food, art, quilting and a Frisbee golf tournament.

For a summer visit, the Eureka Farmers Market offers a set weekly schedule: it takes place every Wednesday throughout the summer, from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. If you are planning your trip around particular experiences, you can consider which places and activities you want to prioritize during your vacation when choosing a vacation rental—water and nature, history or regional events.

Discover More Destinations

Jefferson County, Granite, Ravalli County, Wibaux County, Glacier, Carter County and Stillwater County.

For the main travel overview: Montana.