Bad Rock Canyon, River canyon near Columbia Falls, Montana, US
Bad Rock Canyon is a river gorge where the Flathead River flows through towering rock walls that rise dramatically on both sides. Highway 2 and railway tracks run alongside the water, making this a major transportation corridor through the mountains.
Native American tribes historically used this passage as a travel route and hunting trail crossing the Rocky Mountains. Today, this same corridor remains vital for modern transportation through the region.
The Montana Department of Transportation collaborates with Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to preserve cultural resources during infrastructure developments.
Visitors can view the canyon from Highway 2, which runs directly alongside it and provides good vantage points. Several pullouts along the road offer safe spots to stop and observe the rock formations up close.
Specialized fences along the railway tracks include sensors to detect rockfall and stone movements from the canyon walls. This monitoring system helps protect trains that pass through regularly.
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