10 Best Things to Do in Libby, MT

By VI Staff on July 26, 2020 - Updated

Galyna Andrushko/stock.adobe.com

Libby is a small town in north-eastern Montana that was founded in the 1880s and named after the daughter of a local miner. Located on the beautiful Kootenai River at the foot of the Cabinet Mountains, the town has a history rooted in mining and timber and more recently tourism and is fondly known as the ‘City of Eagles’ due several eagle sculptures around town. Libby is surrounded by over two million acres of rugged landscapes that offer a wide variety of outdoor activities from hiking in the Kootenai National Forest to fishing on the 90-mile long Lake Koocanusa and in the Kootenai River. CDC information for travelers. Hours/availability may have changed.

1.McGinnis Meadows Cattle and Guest Ranch

McGinnis Meadows Cattle and Guest Ranch is an authentic working cattle ranch with a horse program that trains horses using the Buck Brannaman style of horsemanship, which his based on the 300-year-old Vaquero tradition. The ranch caters to guests and riders of all levels who come to further their riding skills and learn more about horsemanship, as well as working on the cattle program. Non-riders can enjoy an array of activities such as hiking, mountain biking, inner tubing and fishing on a lake on the property, or simply relaxing with a book on the outdoor deck.

6220 Mc Ginnis Meadows Rd, Libby, MT 59923, Phone: 406-293-5000

2.Kootenai National Forest

The Kootenai National Forest is a national forest in the north-western corner of Montana that covers over two million acres of land and offers a wealth of outdoor recreational activities, ranging from hiking, mountain biking, and camping to fishing, skiing, and wildlife viewing. The Kootenai and Clark Fork Rivers run through the forest, along with several smaller rivers and their tributaries and there are 141 lakes scattered around the forest, including the1,240-acre Bull Lake. The forest features over 1,400 miles of hiking trails, miles of backcountry roads, and 40 developed campgrounds, as well as over 70 miles of well-maintained trails for snowmobiling, off-trail riding, cross-country skiing, and snow machines.

12557 MT Highway 37, Libby, MT 59923, Phone: 406-293-7773

3.Turner Mountain Ski Area

The Turner Mountain Ski Area is a ski and snowboard paradise and boasts wide-open slopes, excellent snow conditions, beautiful scenery, inexpensive lift tickets. Located 22 miles outside the town of Libby up the Pipe Creek Road, the ski area rests at an elevation of 5,952 feet and provides world-class downhill skiing. Facilities in the area include a 5,600-foot double chairlift, a cozy day lodge with a snack bar, and ski equipment rentals. The area is home to rugged landscapes, and a diverse array of wildlife such as elk, whitetail and mule deer, black and grizzly bears, and mountain lion, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.

Pipe Creek Rd, Libby, MT 59923, Phone: 406-293-2468

4.Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway

The Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway is a 67-mile route connecting Libby and Eureka that follows the Kootenai River and the 90-mile Lake Koocanusa. The lake is bisected by the border between the United States and Canada and the scenic byway highlights the southern half of the reservoir and includes a side loop around the west side of the lake. The Byway is intersected by numerous hiking trails, and a 100-mile long circular bicycle trail begins at the Libby Dam. Recreational opportunities are plentiful along the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway, including full-service and primitive camping, picnicking, rock climbing, wildlife watching, and fishing.

Kootenai National Forest, 12557 MT Highway 37, Libby, MT 59923, Phone: 406-293-7773

5.Libby Heritage Museum

The Libby Heritage Museum is dedicated to the history of Libby and its residents, which included miners, loggers, trappers, and Kootenai Indians during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Housed in a 130-foot, 12-sided log structure that was built in the 1970s, the museum features a collection of interesting artifacts and objects relating to the town’s industries of mining, lumber, and trapping, as well as a small house with turn-of-the-century furnishings. Other interesting attractions on the grounds of the museum include a cookhouse from the early 1900s, a blacksmith shop, a Sylvanite ranger station, renovated and furnished miner's cabin; and an array of farming, mining and logging machinery.

34067 US-2, Libby, MT 59923, Phone: 406-293-7521

6.Zero Uno Zero Robotics

Located three miles west of Libby, Zero Uno Zero Robotics is a museum and gallery dedicated to robotics and other eclectic works of art made from recycled materials. The gallery features a wide variety of amazing and interesting pieces of art put together using repurposed materials by some of the greatest under-represented artists from all around the world. The gallery features robot sculptures from Danny Caldwell and wood carvings from Tom Caldwell, along with a selection of quirky items and cool souvenirs.

28132 Hwy 2, Libby, MT 59923

7.Kootenai Angler

The Kootenai Angler is a fly-fishing shop owned by Dave Blackburn that offers a range of fly-fishing guide services and equipment. The shop is located on the beautiful Kootenai River, which is home to a native rainbow trout called the Columbia Redband, a fish renowned for its acrobatic fighting ability and exceptional strength. Dave Blackburn and his professional staff offer fly-fishing lessons, guided fly-fishing tours, fishing gear and equipment, and a range of non-angling activities.

13546 MT-37, Libby, MT 59923, Phone: 406-293-7578

8.Wildlife Recapture Taxidermy

Wildlife Recapture Taxidermy offers high-quality taxidermy on all types of animals, as well as classes and workshops and classes for all levels of taxidermists from beginner to experienced. Professional taxidermists offer cleaning and restoration services, and taxidermy of all kinds of animals from turkey to grizzly bears. Wildlife Recapture Taxidermy is USDA-approved.

1427 MT-37, Libby, MT 59923, Phone: 406-293-7878

9.The Black Board Bistro

The Black Board Bistro is a casual café that serves an ever-changing and seasonally based menu of handcrafted, farm-to-table fare in a laid-back atmosphere. Owned by Seth and Riley Black, the bistro specializes in modern Mediterranean cuisine with a fusion of influences from France, Greece, Spain, Italy, and the Middle East. Based in a historic 1923 house in the heart of downtown historic Libby, the bistro has comfortable décor and a warm, welcoming atmosphere with splendid views of the majestic Cabinet Mountains. The cuisine is paired with a unique and exceptional wine and beer list featuring specialty wines from around the globe and imported beers from Europe. The Black Board Bistro is open for dinner on Thursday through Saturday.

803 Mineral Ave, Libby, MT 59923, Phone: 406-293-4505

10.Venture Inn

Located just a short drive from Kootenai Falls along US Route 2, the Venture Inn is a comfortable motel with standard accommodations, a heated swimming pool and a hot tub, and a casual restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Well-appointed guest rooms have en-suite bathrooms with showers, flat-screen television, minifridges, microwaves, coffeemakers, and complimentary wireless Internet. A complimentary breakfast is served every morning and facilities at the hotel include a restaurant with a fresh salad bar that serves family-style, American cuisine, a guest launderette, and modern meeting and banqueting facilities.

1015 9th St, Libby, MT 59923, Phone: 406-293-7711