Kootenai National Forest
Kootenai National Forest spans NW Montana, offering backcountry trails, alpines lakes, and wildlife habitat. From glacial valleys to forested ridges, it's a destination for long hikes, fishing, and remote camping.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Pacific Northwest |
| Subregion | Northern Rockies |
| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Boundary County |
| District | Kootenai National Forest |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 48.4 |
| Longitude | -116.75 |
| Maps |
7:14 PM LOCAL TIMEKootenai National Forest covers roughly 3,670 square kilometers across NW Montana, sharing a border with Canada and providing access to some of the region’s most rugged wilderness. The landscape includes jagged peaks — such as Nohop Mountain and Toboggan Mountain — high alpine lakes, and thick coniferous forests of lodgepole pine and western red cedar. Visitors come for multi-day hikes, with routes like the Kootenai Falls Trail, as well as day-use fishing, river recreation, and wildlife viewing — keep an eye out for grizzly bears, mule deer, and bird species like ptarmigan. The forest supports several campgrounds, and backcountry camping is popular for those seeking solitude. Whether you're crossing from the border region, descending into glacial valleys, or climbing above timberline, the Kootenai's mix of seasonal accessibility, remote terrain, and rich ecology makes it a dynamic outdoor destination.
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