A free, easy-access waterfall featuring a famous swinging bridge—one of the largest free-flowing falls in the Northwest.
No fee indicated on the official Forest Service page
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Based on this listing's approximate location — see the note on coordinates below.
Concession/visitor services at the falls parking lot operate May through September; the falls and trail are accessible year-round
Kootenai Falls is a 30-foot waterfall that is part of a dramatic 90-foot total drop over less than a mile of the Kootenai River in the Kootenai National Forest. It is one of the largest free-flowing waterfalls in the Northwest and has become famous for its swinging bridge that spans the river gorge.
The site requires no entrance fee. A 1-mile round-trip walk provides access to both the swinging bridge and falls overlook. The first 500 feet of trail is level and accessible to an overlook, making a lower-difficulty viewing option available. The parking lot offers concession and visitor services from May through September, though the trail is accessible year-round.
Dogs are permitted on the forest land, though the page notes that the overpass and stairs are not dog-friendly. Leashed dogs can access much of the initial trail. The U.S. Forest Service manages this site, which is located near Troy, Montana.
Learn more from the U.S. Forest Service Kootenai Falls and Swinging Bridge page.
Year-round access to the trail; concession services at the parking lot operate May through September.
The first 500 feet of trail is level and handicap-accessible to an overlook, though the overpass and stairs beyond are not dog-friendly.
No fee indicated on the official Forest Service page
Via a 1-mile round-trip trail rated easy by the managing agency.
Yes, per the managing agency's own page — but check current leash rules before you go.
We track 4 waterfalls in Southwest Montana.
There is 1 other waterfall we track in Lincoln. All Southwest Montana waterfalls →
fs.usda.gov
fs.usda.gov/r01/kootenai/recreation/kootenai-falls-and-swinging-bridge, checked 2026-09-03: main falls is 30 ft high, part of a 90 ft drop over less than a mile on the Kootenai River — one of the largest free-flowing waterfalls in the Northwest. About 0.5 mi to the swinging bridge, 0.33 mi to the falls overlook (round trip figure estimated from these one-way distances). First 500 ft of trail is level and handicap-accessible to an overlook; page notes the overpass and stairs are not dog friendly, implying leashed dogs are otherwise permitted on forest land.
Checked September 2026.