Kootenai Falls

The drive from Glacier to Spokane was an interesting one moving from a lush green habitat to a more arid one. Along the way we came across the Kootenai Falls that has a swinging bridge. When the ‘Lil Dude  asked “what’s a swinging bridge?”, we knew we had to stop.

The Kotenai people are a native American tribe that inhabit parts of Montana, Idaho and Washington. The Kootenai Falls are considered a sacred site to them and is still visited by tribe members for ritualistic practices. The falls drop over 300ft in elevation over just a few hundred yards and a swinging bridge across the gorge gives one a hair raising way to experience the river. The Dudes were very excited about crossing their first swinging bridge and also a little nervous.

The bridge is very narrow, is suspended about 50ft above the water and stretches across a 120ft span. The Dudes stepped delicately, held firmly to the rails and kept their Dad close by. I even felt a little anxious about the crossing. At the other end they were very excited about their accomplishment.

We did small hikes on both sides of the river which were naturally landscaped in wildflowers. We don’t have wildflowers in South Carolina like I have seen across the Rockies and my interest in them grows as my exposure to them increases across the west. I may have to invest in the comprehensive guide to wildflowers after all as the small pamphlet I bought at Glacier now seems a bit limited.

Our quick stop at the falls was fun and pretty and now the Dudes know from first hand experience what a swinging bridge is.

“The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you.” William Jennings Bryan