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Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets East, the mansion
is open Tuesday through Sunday from May 15th to
October 15th with guided tours at a reasonable rate.
Call to reserve a time for a tour & tea for parties of six
or more, (406) 755-2166.
Another attraction in Kalispell is the Northwest
Montana History Museum. It is housed in an
1894 four-story stone building that opened as an
elementary school in the late 1800s and served as
home to Flathead Valley Community College in the
1980s. In the late 1990s, the city completely restored
the structure and leased it to the Northwest Montana
Historical Society to operate as a museum, with
educational programs, school tours, and exhibits
relating to the history of Northwest Montana. A gift
shop offers many unique items and a wide range of
books on local and regional history. Visit the museum
10am-5pm weekdays weekdays at 124 Second Ave.
East in Kalispell. For more information phone (406)
756-8381.
There are two main city parks in Kalispell.
Woodland Park, located off Woodland Avenue on
Conrad Drive, is a serene setting alongside a placid
lagoon with swans and geese, beds of flowers, a rose
garden, and picnic areas. There is a skateboard park
and the Aquatic Center Lap Swim Pool and Lazy
River feature two water slides. Biking and walking
trails, playgrounds, and ball fields are also available.
Lawrence Park, located east of North Main Street, Flathead Lake
provides a cool atmosphere in the trees adjacent to the
Stillwater River. In addition to picnic facilities, there
is a playground for youngsters.
Lone Pine State Park sits on a band of bluffs
overlooking Kalispell, offering spectacular views of
Glacier National Park, the northwestern edge of the
Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, and the Flathead
Valley. The Interpretive Center and 1/2 mile loop trail
offer educational exhibits; there is also a sheltered
picnic area and archery range. A small entry fee is
required to access this day-use park.
Libby
Location: Highways 2 and 37; 35 miles from
Idaho; 65 miles south of the United States-
Canadian border; 90 miles from Kalispell.
Greater Libby Area Population: 10,800.
Visitor Information: Libby Area Chamber of
Commerce, 905 W. 9 Street, PO Box 704,
th
Libby, Montana 59923; Phone: (406) 293-4167;
Website: www.libbychamber.org and www.
libbymt.com.
Libby is located in the scenic Kootenai River
Valley in some of the most beautiful rugged terrain
in northwest Montana. This friendly community is
surrounded by the picturesque Cabinet Mountain
Range and the sizeable Kootenai National Forest,
which provide extensive recreational lands for public
use. Maps of the forest are available, and visitors are
encouraged to make use of them, whether the planned from the lookout on Highway 2, 13 miles west of Troy
outing is for a one-hour hike to a glacial lake or a Libby. The falls may also be viewed from the north Location: Highway 2 and 56; 33 miles east
rugged overnight backpacking trip. shore by crossing the famed swinging bridge. Expert of Bonners Ferry, ID; 107 miles to Kalispell,
The Kootenai River offers outstanding Kokanee kayakers travel from around the world to test their MT. Population: 985. Visitor Information:
salmon fishing, along with boating and camping skills here. Troy Chamber of Commerce, 301 Kootenai
at popular Lake Koocanusa. A private marina and Libby Dam, Lake Koocanusa, and the Kootenai Ave. Troy, MT 59935. Phone: (406) 295-1064;
several public boat launching facilities are available River have all been designated “Watchable Wildlife” Website: www.troymtchamber.org and www.
for visitor convenience. At Libby Dam, located 17 viewing sites by the state of Montana. Bighorn sheep, cityoftroymontana.com
miles north on Highway 27, take time for one of the mountain goats, deer, elk, moose, bald eagles, osprey,
tours offered several times a day in the summer from black and grizzly bears are frequently seen. Popular activities in the area include hiking,
the interactive Visitor’s Center and bring a lunch to The Bull Lake Recreation Area, located between snowmobiling, boating, swimming, kayaking, rafting,
enjoy in the nice picnic area. The state record rainbow Libby and Troy off Hwy 56, offers camping, boating, canoeing, fishing, and big game hunting. The fishing
trout was caught at Libby Dam, weighing 33.1 swimming, and water skiing. Just beyond Bull Lake, is superb in Kootenai River or in the many lakes and
streams just minutes from town.
pounds. the turnoff for Ross Creek Giant Cedars Scenic Area The Cabinet Mountain Wilderness, located two
Spectacular Kootenai Falls, the last undammed leads to a lush hideaway with a self-guided nature miles from town, is known for big game hunting.
falls on a major river in the Northwest, may be viewed trail and picnic area.
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