Movie Locations You Can Visit in Libby
by Myranda Cravens | Published: March 23, 2022
It’s no secret that Montana is home to some of the world’s most beautiful scenery, which is why filmmakers and producers have determined it to be the perfect location for more than 80 big-screen productions. You may be surprised to learn that at least five of these films were shot entirely or partly in our remote northwest corner.
Here is a list of movies filmed in and around Libby:
Always (1989) The 1989 film “Always” is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars John Goodman, Audrey Hepburn, Holly Hunter, and Richard Dreyfuss. The spirit of a recently deceased WWII pilot is challenged with mentoring a new pilot from the afterlife.
Libby is located in the heart of the Kootenai National Forest, which serves as a backdrop for many scenes throughout the movie. Take a drive down the scenic Highway 56 to Bull Lake, where the famous crash and fire scenes were filmed, or head down Farm to Market Road to the Libby Airport, where exterior airport scenes of the movie were filmed and the rustic lookout that served as the fire-control stations still stands.
Fun Fact: Many cast and crew members stayed at the Venture Inn during their time in Libby. The film even cast nearly 500 residents to act as extras.
Filming Locations around Libby: Kootenai National Forest, Bull Lake, Libby Airport
The River Wild (1994) The 1994 film “The River Wild,” starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon, tells a story of a young family on a whitewater rafting adventure in Montana who are taken hostage by a pair of dangerous fugitives. While navigating a violent river, rafting expert Gail (Meryl Streep) takes on the criminals.
The 485 miles long Kootenai River flows through Libby before heading back to Canada and ultimately into the Columbia River system. Fed mainly by glaciers and snow melt, the river provided River Wild producers an excellent backdrop for filming as it drains a rugged region with world-class scenery. Exploring the river is not just for Hollywood. The Kootenai greets you as you enter town from either Highway 2 West or Highway 37 and you can experience the Kootenai on your own. Visit the famous Kootenai Falls and the pedestrian safe and stunning suspension Swinging Bridge, take a quick hike on the Old Highway 2 Trail to access vista views you don’t see from the highway, or fish the blue-ribbon trout stream from the banks or from the comfort an outfitters float boat.
Fun Fact: This was the first film permitted on the sacred ground of the Kootenai Indians.
Filming Locations around Libby: The Kootenai Falls, The Kootenai River
The Devil’s Pond (2003) In the 2003 film “The Devil’s Pond,” starring Tara Reid, Kip Bardue, and Merideth Baxter, a young couple travels to a remote lake island to celebrate their honeymoon. Upon arrival, the newlywed groom begins acting strangely, and his bride (Tara Reid) realizes he won’t let her leave the island. She must find a way to escape but is afraid of the water.
The mysterious lake featured in the film is none other than Horseshoe Lake, just a 45-minute drive from Libby. While the movie portrays it in a horror flick atmosphere, Horseshoe Lake has some of the most transparent and beautifully colored turquoise water in the northwest. Take a day trip or a weekend camping adventure and marvel at being able to see the bottom of the lake through the crystal clear lens of fathoms-deep pristine water.
Filming Locations in or around Libby: Horseshoe Lake
The Revenant (2015)The 2015 Oscar-winning film, “The Revenant,” stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. The film tells a story inspired by the true-story events of a fur trapper (Leonardo DiCaprio) mauled by a grizzly bear as he embarks on a trapping expedition. Leonardo’s character, Hue, is left to survive in the wilderness on his own after crewmates abandon him.
Visit the Kootenai Falls & Swinging Bridge, where the movie’s famous waterfall scene was filmed. The hike from Highway 2 to the Kootenai Falls and Swinging Bridge is short and easy any time of the year. Once you’ve taken in the views of the picturesque Kootenai Falls, get your taste of adrenaline by crossing the swinging bridge suspended over the river’s chasm.
Filming Locations in or around Libby: The Kootenai Falls
Radioflash (2019) The 2019 dystopian film “Radioflash,” starring Brighton Sharbino, Dominic Monaghan, and Will Patton, features a tech-savvy teen helping her family survive in a new world after a nuclear disaster. The teen (Brighton Sarbino) leads her family to seek refuge with her grandfather in the Pacific Northwest.
The film features a stunning shot of the Kootenai Falls, a popular area attraction located just off Highway 2. Take a short hike on an easy pedestrian trail to view the awe-inspiring falls and witness the power of the rugged river as you cross it using the Swinging Bridge.
Filming Locations in or around Libby: The Kootenai Falls
For those that don’t live here or have never visited, it may be hard to believe that the awe-inspiring scenery featured in these films is anything but a Hollywood creation. Those of us lucky enough to live here or visit know that the views are real and they’re right in our backyard. Come join us and experience some of the locations you may have already visited on the big screen. We guarantee the scenery is even better in person (and much less terrifying).
