The Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway is a designated 67-mile drive on a paved road that runs through Northwest Montana. The drive stretches between the small towns of Eureka and Libby, following the Kootenai River and the eastern shoreline of Lake Koocanusa.
Participants on the drive get treated to some seriously scenic sights along the way, especially as the route passes through the Tobacco Valley and the Whitefish Range. Sweeping vistas of the lake and its surrounding mountains feature along the way, as do those of Libby Dam and the Kootenai River.
We will take a closer look at the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway along with the various events and sites you will find along the way.
A Guide to The Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway
Traffic on the scenic byway tends to vary according to the time of year, but it is generally fairly moderate. The regions passed through along the route offer plenty of recreational opportunities like fishing, boating, camping, and hiking.
Scenic Drive Stats
- Length: Approximately 67 miles long
- Time: Around 2-3 hours of continuous driving
- Highlights: Lake Koocanusa, Libby Dam, the Kootenai River, and Tobacco Valley
Starting Out and the Main Attractions
The drive starts out from the scenic and interesting small Montana town of Eureka. After passing the town the scenic byway then heads in a westerly direction along the paved Highway 37.
The highway is surrounded by the expansive and rolling landscapes of the Tobacco Valley which unfold as you drive. The route then leads through another small town by way of Rexford, which is ensconced between the open fields of the Tobacco Valley and the forests and small mountains that begin to indicate the Salish Range.
Once past Rexford and a few more miles along Highway 37, the route comes within range of the eastern shores of Lake Koocanusa. The byway then closely follows the lake for almost another 50 miles, which brings you close to the vicinity of Libby Dam.
This particular section of the route is possibly one of the most picturesque. You can see the lake for a long time, and sweeping vistas of the Salish and Purcell Mountains provide the surrounding backdrops. There are also plenty of pullover spots to stop and capture some of that incredible scenery.
The Koocanusa Bridge across the lake provides an additional highlight along the route. The bridge is recorded as the longest and the highest bridge in Montana, with a length of 2,437 feet and a height over 270 feet according to water levels.
The views over the lake from the top of the bridge are rather impressive. From the highway, you can access a little parking area where sidewalks on the bridge allow passers-by to stop and walk out right into the middle. Here is your best opportunity for a great Lake Koocanusa shot.
After winding gradually along the Lake Koocanusa eastern shoreline for forty miles, the byway comes to Libby Dam. This is a huge dam over 400 feet high and 3,000 feet across, and the site contains a visitor center and a recreation site.
Tours of the dam are available seasonally and the dam is a hot spot for trophy trout in the region. On top of that, the Kootenai River is just below Libby Dam, and this waterway is also home to some of the biggest rainbow trout across the state.
Once you get beyond Libby Dam, the byway starts to wind around the Kootenai River. Between Libby Dam and the end of the route in Libby there are plenty of pullover spots. Some are designated spots and many others are D-I-Y ones that have been formed over the years in particularly scenic stretches of the journey.
Anyone wanting to add more mileage to the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Drive might consider the somewhat more laid-back forest road loop that runs 44 miles around the southern and western sides of the lake.