Running the river: Kayakers flock to Kootenai River
A kayaker goes over a waterfall on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A trio of kayakers survey a section of the Kootenai River falls Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker exchanges greetings with another on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Kokanee salmon anglers share the Kootenai River with whitewater kayakers Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker tackles whitewater on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker goes over a waterfall on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker goes over a waterfall on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker tackles whitewater on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker deftly tackles whitewater on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker goes over a waterfall on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
The first weekend of fall saw kayakers from northwest Montana, Idaho and several other western states running the whitewater of the Kootenai River falls.
The adventuresome boaters shared the river with anglers seeking Kokanee salmon on a perfect sunny day as they ran several rapids and waterfalls above the river’s legendary swinging bridge.
The smiles on their faces told spectators all they needed to know about their respective runs.
The rapids range from Class I to IV.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Kootenai Falls geology is composed of 1.5 billion-year-old quartzite and limestone rocks of the Belt Supergroup. The area offers impressive views of folded rock layers north of the river and in the road cut along Highway 2. Slight folds in the underlying geology are responsible for the dramatic stair-step-like waterfall.
The swinging bridge was first built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps to improve access for fire fighting. The bridge was destroyed by flooding in 1948. In the 1950s, the bridge was rebuilt on concrete towers. The bridge was reconstructed on the existing cables and supports in 1993.
A trio of kayakers survey a section of the Kootenai River falls Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker exchanges greetings with another on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Kokanee salmon anglers share the Kootenai River with whitewater kayakers Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker tackles whitewater on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker goes over a waterfall on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker goes over a waterfall on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker deftly tackles whitewater on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A kayaker goes over a waterfall on the Kootenai River Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)