Libby lies in the northwest corner of Montana in a valley carved by the Kootenai River on the flank of the majestic Cabinet Mountain Range. The original townsite of Libby was located several miles upstream from the confluence of Libby Creek and the Kootenai River, but was relocated to its present location in 1892 when the railroad built tracks along the Kootenai River joining Idaho with eastern Montana. The present town is located next to the Kootenai River and Highway 2 and is at an elevation of about 2,100 feet. Libby was named after the daughter of an early settler. Libby became the county seat for Lincoln County in 1909 and today about 12,000 people live within a four-mile radius of Libby proper.
The Libby area has many attractions for the visitor. The Heritage Museum has wonderful displays of local area history and wildlife exhibits. Golfers will enjoy playing around at the Cabinet Mountain Country Club Golf Course. In July, don't miss Libby Logger Days, and September brings the Nordic Fest events to town. Libby is surrounded by lakes, trails, campsites, fishing areas, and scenic drives. For outdoor enthusiasts fishing the blue-ribbon Kootenai River or boating on Lake Koocanusa are always great pastimes. The Kootenai National Forest offers over 2 million acres of forest for hiking, camping and backpacking, miles of streams and trails, and numerous lakes. Nearby attractions include Kootenai Falls, Ross Creek Giant Cedars, Libby Dam, 90-mile long Lake Koocanusa Reservoir.
The Libby Creek Recreational Gold Panning area, about ten miles up the Libby Creek Road, gives its visitors a chance to pan for gold and keep any that you might find.
Kootenai Falls is the largest undammed falls in the state and a major attraction to those traveling through the area. It offers an unforgettable and breathtaking view as the Kootenai River loses 300 feet in elevation traveling a few hundred yards down river. A pleasant surprise to any photographer or nature lover. An attraction at the falls is a swinging bridge that provides access to the opposite side of the Kootenai River, a prime Montana fishery. To the Kootenai tribe, the falls is a sacred site. They view it as the center of the world, a place where tribal members can commune with the spiritual forces that give direction to the tribe and to individual members.
South of Libby is the Ross Creek Cedar Grove Scenic area, a preserve of beautiful Western Red Cedar trees. Some of these magnificent trees are over 8 feet in diameter and over 175 feet tall. The beauty and serenity of the cedars were preserved for all to enjoy when the 100-acre Scenic Area was established in 1960. The route to the scenic area is easy; just take State Highway 56 in northwestern Montana to mile marker 17 just south of Bull Lake, where the four mile long road to the grove heads to the west.
Located 22 miles north of Libby, Turner Mountain offers family fun for everyone. With the finest snow conditions, wide-open slopes, and fabulous scenery, Turner Mountain is truly the ideal place for the skier who desires the most from their skiing experience!
Special thanks to www.LibbyMT.com for their assistance and photo.
