Floating the Lower Kootenai River
Big Kootenai River offers scenery, solitude
By David Reese/Montana Living — When the rivers in western Montana become too crowded on a hot summer day, look to some of the other Northwest Montana rivers for relief from crowds.
The lower Clark Fork River near St. Regis and the lower Kootenai River near Libby are a couple of viable options if you’re looking to hit the water and avoid crowds.
The Montana Living field research team recently explored the lower Kootenai River between Troy, Montana, and Moyie Springs, Idaho.
This 34-mile stretch of river offers solitude, good fishing and excellent camping on public land throughout the journey. We took two days and two nights to complete this trip, taking our time at camp and on the river to enjoy the remote feel of the Kootenai River.
The only intrusion to the solitude is the occasional freight train that runs between Seattle and Whitefish.
Camping along the Kootenai River on public land. (Photo by David Reese/Montana Living)
Put in at Roosevelt City Park in Troy, Montana. (Photo by David Reese/Montana Living)
There is no whitewater on this section, but there are a couple places where some river skills are needed, such as six miles below Troy at the confluence of the Yaak River. There is a large eddy swirl on the left side of the river that would likely swamp an unsuspecting or unprepared kayaker. Stay to the right side of the river here.
Or if you’re putting in here at the Yaak River, you can avoid this drama because the put in is just below the big eddy swirl.
The Kootenai River continues through a tall, narrow canyon to the takeout at Moyie Springs, Idaho, where the Moyie River enters the Kootenai River.
The only takeout is at Twin Rivers Resort in Moyie Springs, Idaho. There is a small fee to leave a rig at the takeout, and the resort offers showers and camping if you decide to do a layover day here.
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