Welcome to Yaak Meadows, Montana's Premiere Outdoor Activity Venue located on the Yaak River. Take a look at the Photo Gallery where you can see the seasons change in the Yaak. Plus, we've set up links to various local highlights under the Area Attractions.
Opening in spring 2006, Yaak Meadows will offer outdoor enthusiasts the perfect place to stay and enjoy a multitude of activities in the spring and summer, from hiking and backpacking, to kayaking and canoeing, to mountain biking and horseback riding, to bird watching, nature photography and fishing.
About the Yaak
Considered by some to be one of the last wild places in the lower 48 states, the Yaak River Valley is an 800,000-acre area filled with aspen, pine and larch trees and bordered by the Kootenai River to the south and Lake Koocanusa to the east. With 1,200 miles of forest service roads and trails throughout, only a small fraction of the Yaak is privately owned with the majority of it under the care of the Kootenai National Forest.
Traveling on State Highway 508 to Yaak Meadows, it's not unusual to spot whitetail and mule deer alongside the road. The area is home to moose, elk, grizzly and black bears, mountain lions, as well as grouse, ospreys, eagles, hawks, blue herons and kestrels -- to name a few. Even an occasional woodland caribou or wolf.
The region is a water wonderland. On Highway 508 about seven miles from Highway 2 is Yaak Falls, a powerful cascading waterfall that joins the Kootenai River downstream. In addition to the Yaak River, there are more than 1,400 miles of streams, creeks and rivers with names like Caribou, Hell Roaring and Solo Joe. The Yaak also has the Northwest Peaks Scenic Area, offering spectacular views of the Purcell mountain range.
A Bit of History
Settlers wandered into the Yaak Valley from Canada in the 1860s, with the first homestead said to be in 1906. For decades the area was untouched by modern conveniences like electricity, running water, indoor plumbing and phones. Mail was brought in once a week from nearby Troy, and the Mercantile store, which has served the area since the 1930s, had one of the area's first phones. Although most in the region have stepped into the 21st century, a few still live a rustic lifestyle sans contemporary comforts. Most build their homes off the highway, tucked close to the river.
How the Yaak got its name is slightly debated. The popular theory is the Yaak is derived from the Indian word "ahk" which means arrow. Seems logical since Kootenai in Indian means "bow." But there are a few holdouts who claim that the area is named after the caribou that migrated in from the north.
We're continually updating the website so please check back often!
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East Fork of the Yaak River
Copyright© 2004 Yaak Meadows