Exploring Montana: The Yaak: A NW Montana Treasure
We explored a rural area of Montana known as the Yaak. It is in extreme NW Montana nestled close to the Canada border in the Purcell Mountains. Yaak is a small, don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it, community. The highlight of the rural community are two bars with a ton of character - The Dirty Shame Saloon and The Yaak River Tavern & Mercantile. Both are worth a stop and have lots of history. There have been sightings of the rare woodland caribou in this NW corner of the state, although consider yourself extremely lucky if you happen to see one. It is said that the mighty Sasquatch also inhabits this area... so explore with caution.
Along the way, we cross Lake Koocanusa, which was formed when the Libby dam was built on the Kootenai River (pronounced coot-knee). The reservoir is 90 miles long and spans the USA/Canada border. The bridge is the longest/highest in Montana. The name Koocanusa comes from combining KOOtenai river, CANada and USA.
You can also find us on:
Yaak River
Yaak River, Montana set to Halo by Beyonce.
Yaak River Montana
A little underwater footage with my GoPro. Very cool!
Yaak River in Montana 2
The Yaak River originates near Yahk Mountain, in the Yahk Range, part of the Purcell Mountains, in southeast British Columbia. The river flows south, crossing into Montana. It receives the East Fork Yaak River, then the West Fork Yaak River (also called the West Yahk River). The West Fork originates in Montana near Rock Candy Mountain, flows northeast into British Columbia, then southeast back into Montana to join the main Yaak River.
Yaak River, Montana, Memorial Day 2014
This fast and dangerous river runs through the mountains and forest of Northwestern Montana. If you fall in that's probably the end of you. In person, the roar of the water is amazing.
Kootenai Falls, Troy, MT
Mesmerizing Kootenai Falls, Troy, MT
July 2015.
Troy, MT, 2015, birds eye view.
latrax alias, quad copter with camera. 400 ft birds eye veiw of Troy Montana. nice sunny day flying, little windy but not bad.
Scott Island - Troy, MT
Contact Shawna Norry at Clearwater Montana Properties today regarding this amazing property!
406-334-4300
shawna@cmpmontana.com
Kootenai River III
Riding the Kootenai River Bonners Ferry to the Yaak
Ufo sighting in troy montana
Did research and making alot of sense video doesnt do justice
Kootenai Falls Montana
Kootenai Falls is the largest free flowing falls in the state. It offers an unforgettable and breathtaking view as the Kootenai River loses 300 feet in elevation traveling a few hundred yards down river. A pleasant surprise to any photographer or nature lover. An attraction at the falls is a swinging bridge that provides access to the opposite side of the Kootenai River, a prime Montana fishery. To the Kootenai tribe, the falls is a sacred site. They view it as the center of the world, a place where tribal members can commune with the spiritual forces that give direction to the tribe and to individual members.
Video by Deerlake Designs with music from Incompetech.com.
Yaak Track (September 10th, 2018)
Today we're going to retrieve a Jim Palmer trailer from a campsite in extreme northwestern Montana!
Wagon Wheel Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Links!
Find me at @EllieODaire on Twitter, Xbox Live, and Steam!
Drive With Me!
Truck: JP0109 Maxwell 2016 Freightliner Cascadia Evolution full sleeper with Detroit DD15 engine & Eaton 10-speed manual transmission.
Camera: GoPro Hero 5 Black
Microphone: Rode VideoMicro
The buzzing noise Maxwell makes is a lane departure warning intended to mimic the sound of hitting the rumble strips on the side of the road. The sensor for this system was mounted incorrectly, causing many false alarms.
Kootenai River Swinging Bridge and Kootenai Falls, Montana
Troy Montana - Swinging Rope Bridge Over Big River
Yaak Wilderness, Montana
This is truly wilderness area. - created at
Montana -- Yaak Falls in Winter
Beautiful Yaak Falls in Montana in winter. It's so beautiful in the snow! :-) Love the Yaak River! February 19th, 2012
Kootenai River September 2017
Location: Kootenai River, Montana to Idaho
Base camp: Twin Rivers Canyon Resort, Moyie Springs, Idaho
Route: Yaak River Campground, Montana to Twin Rivers Canyon Resort, Idaho. 18.1 Garmin Miles.
Many floats are easy from Twin Rivers Canyon Resort, and Rex might be able to arrange a shuttle for you. We traditionally shuttle up to Yaak River Campground in Montana, Where we put in is just west of the Yaak River. We launch on the gravel beach with enough slope to float our raft off the trailer.
This year we decided to make this one day float into a two day extreme fishing trip. To fish this entire length, one needs both a Montana and Idaho fishing licenses. If you choose to only fish Idaho, use the Leonia Bridge as a landmark to indicate you're in Idaho. The bridge is easy to identify. One, it’s the only bridge; and two, it’s heavily fire damaged and left standing as a rusty structure.
We camped overnight on the island just past the state line, at the end of the Boulder Creek rapid. To find the camp, look for a steep trail on the south side near the downstream end of the island, upriver of a fallen tree. I recommend landing here first so you can check to ensure you're the first campers to arrive. If there are no other campers, there’s a better landing downstream at the northwest end. Access to the prime camp is up a few stairs carved into the dirt on the northwest end of the island.
The remaining float to Twin Rivers Canyon Resort is easy with light rowing.
Camp: An unnamed island has a flat bench above the river.
This campsite is forested with older growth trees.
Little to no undergrowth.
Hammocks or tents are good choices.
Groover's needed: Many people make this their camp, far too many
are choosing to hide behind a tree to leave their business on
top of the ground for others to discover. The results are not
pleasing. Luckily, there are dozens of soiled white toilet
paper flags waving about in the breeze destroying the charm
of the island. Be wise and don't mess this place up.
Groovers can be purchased at NRS for
a few well-spent dollars. Here's the link to make it easy:
GoPro: Hero Black 3, mounted on a 3.5' PVC pipe. This idea came from You Tube user marklamutt. This mount was the cheapest and best mount I have made yet. I used two sections of PVC pipe, 4 hose clamps, and a refitted old camera mount. The 1 x 3.5' PVC is slipped into a 1.5 x 3' PVC housing, held in place by a trailer latch spring pin. If you go to by yourself, PVC check the fit, many are different wall thicknesses and fit different. I tested the flexibility of each and purchased the best fit with sturdiest walls successfully preventing wobbling on the water.
Music: from the YourTube Library - By the Light of the Silvery Moon
Garmin users: This adventure can be found in Garmin Adventures using Garmin's BaseCamp, a free program. Search criteria: knaussjj / other / rafting.
To get Garmin BaseCamp:
Montana Real Estate: Montana Homestead, Yaak
MORE AT:
This property was homesteaded in 1915/16 and still has the original log structures including barns, storage sheds, round pen, water house and ice house. The original log cabin was taken apart and reassembled. In 1987 a new house was built then green houses were added and a huge fenced garden. The property is self-sufficient with solar panels and batteries. There are 2 wells on the property, North Fork Yaak River and Wood Creek with recorded water rights. The house water system is incredibly efficient and easy to use. The ambiance of this property is quite amazing. Great care has been taken to maintain the structures and working of the land which is in 2 separate parcels. The owners may consider selling them individually.
Contact: Molly Kieran | 406.295.4400 | Molly@CMPMontana.com
Montana Real Estate For Sale:
Montana Homestead, Yaak
$457,000
MLS 108516
NOTE: This listing information should be independently verified. All properties are subject to prior sale, change, or withdrawal. Neither listing Agents/Brokers nor Clearwater Montana Properties shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints, and shall be held harmless from any damages arising from reliance upon this listing information.
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Music: Siesta by Jahzzar (
2018 09 Kootenia River
Kootenia River in Northern Idaho. This is good fishing and floating river. There are no scary rapids, lots of rowing through calm stretches.
Best portions of the river begin or end with the Twin Rivers Canyon Resort. From there you can arrange shuttle service in the office.
Begin your float with shuttle to Yaak River Campground in Montana. Float under what I call the State Line Bridge, it's very close but not exactly at the state line, once under the bridge your into Idaho. A simple rapid, more accurately described as a riffle is located about a quarter mile down stream of the bridge. After the splashy area a good lunch spot and or popular camping island is on river right. We have enjoyed a night here. Be sure to bring your river toilet, many don't and or ruining many good tent sites with ... well you know... A few more hours and you're back at the Twin Rivers Canyon Resort with all the comforts of car camp, RV or tents. The next day, float the lower section. Best done either with shuttle service or if you can run your own trailer to the takeout after you stage your raft/boat at the camp boat launch. Just don't block the best launch areas.
This float was a series of 3 days during the week of September 6, 2018.
Day one was Yaak River, Montana to Twin Rivers Canyon Resort, ID
Day two was Twin Rivers Canyon Resort, Idaho to Bonners Ferry, ID
Day Three was once again Yaak River, Montana to Twin Rivers Canyon Resort, Idaho.
NORTHWEST MONTANA
northwest montana