Lincoln County: Water Landscapes and Regional History

The Libby Dam is 422 feet high and forms the 90-mile-long Lake Koocanusa reservoir. Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park also showcases the scale of Lincoln County’s water landscapes: it covers approximately 3,000 acres and stretches for more than 20 miles along Highway 2.

Experience the Water and Landscape

At Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park, activities include swimming, boating, camping, water skiing, fishing, and wildlife watching. The range of options spans everything from spending time on the water to observing wildlife. Lincoln County also promotes fishing opportunities along its “Chain of lakes.”

The Libby Dam Visitor Center is located about 17 miles north of Libby and can be reached via Montana Highway 37 and Forest Development Road 228. Check road conditions before setting out. This lets you factor the drive into your day’s plans without treating the approximate distance as a fixed travel time.

History and Cultural Significance

Tobacco Valley Historical Village comprises ten historic buildings and their furnishings from the 1880s through the 1920s. They 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. Access to the buildings is seasonal; check visiting conditions before your trip.

An exhibit at the Village focuses on native plants. It explains their significance, as well as that of native animals, to Indigenous peoples and early settlers. This adds another perspective on the connections between landscape, wildlife, and human history to the view of the buildings.

Infrastructure history is also part of the region’s past: the Army Corps moved the town of Rexford to higher ground, as well as relocating Highway 37 and the Great Northern Railroad line. Kootenai Falls is in Lincoln County in northwestern Montana and is the state’s largest unimpounded waterfall. The waterfall is a sacred place for the Kootenai Tribe. At Kootenai Falls Wildlife Management Area, visitors may see bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer, black bears, moose, elk, bald eagles, and ospreys.

Events and Seasonal Dates

Rendezvous Days takes place annually in Eureka, offering concerts, food, and fun activities for the whole family. Check current event dates before your trip. Eureka also hosts a farmers market every Wednesday throughout the summer from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.; check the seasonal dates in advance.

Libby Logger Days combines sports competitions with educational programs and demonstrations about public forest management. A free, family-friendly Fourth of July event in Troy is considered a 100-year-old tradition. The program includes theatrical performances, concerts, food, art, quilting, and a disc golf tournament. If you’d like to include any of these events in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.

More Outdoor Activities

Souse Gulch facilities include playgrounds, picnic shelters, a boat ramp, trails, and an 18-hole disc golf course. The Downstream Recreation Area offers views of Libby Dam, trout fishing, disc golf, and a boat ramp. It also has a trail along a former railroad bed. Together, these two recreation areas offer a variety of activities; check the condition of the facilities before your visit.

Lincoln County offers numerous hiking trails. Turner Mountain Ski Resort offers skiing; check seasonal operating hours before your trip. The Cabinet View Course in Libby is a golf course in the county. Alongside activities on and around the water, visitors can enjoy hiking, skiing, and golf.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Libby, Custer County, Wheatland County, Prairie County, Judith Basin County, Wibaux County, Chouteau County, Valley County.

For the main travel overview: Montana.