Rexford Montana Summer Activities Around Lake Koocanusa

Every Rexford summer used to be shaped by the weather, the water level, and whichever neighbor was hosting a bonfire. This one is different. For the first time, the town has a printed calendar — and it belongs to Abayance Bay Marina. The concerts, the fan fest, the gravel race, the restaurant hours: they set the tempo of the season now, and the rest of the shoreline stays quiet precisely because the crowd is tracked to one address.

If you live here, that is the thesis worth holding in your head this summer. One venue is doing the heavy lifting for tourism. The other sixty miles of American shoreline are yours.

The Marina Became The Anchor

Abayance Bay is the only full-service marina and hospitality facility on the U.S. side of Lake Koocanusa, about eight miles west of Eureka. That was true before, but the amenities have caught up to the geography. Amenities include 200 boat slips, a boat launch, an outdoor bar, a concert amphitheater, a year-round restaurant, tent and RV camping, two beaches and 40 acres of recreation space.

The founding story matters if you have watched this parcel change hands over the decades. The Stewart Family and Partners welcome you to Abayance Bay, on picturesque Lake Koocanusa in NW Montana. Built by Larry Stewart, a longtime resident and local builder, Abayance Bay fulfills his vision to bring accessibility, top-flight hospitality, and world-class recreation to the lake's shores. On land once taken from the community through eminent domain and later returned in a state of neglect — we have worked to transform this once-devastated property into a vibrant, functioning facility. That history is part of why the venue reads as local rather than parachuted in.

Practical logistics for residents planning around it: Marina Summer Hours Mon - Sun, 10am to 8pm (closed for the Winter, usually re-open at the end of June) The Bowl Restaurant at Abayance Bay: Tue. - Sat. 4 pm - 9 pm.

The 2026 Concert Calendar, In One Place

The lineup is the reason distant weekenders are booking Rexford this year. It is also the reason to know which nights the ramp at Abayance Bay will be busy and which won't.

The Fan Fest is a first. Join us for the very first annual Red Clay Strays Fan Fest!! The Red Clay Strays have dreamed of doing an event for their fans who've been riding with them since day one and are excited to finally make it happen! It's all going down for 5 days in beautiful Rexford, Montana at Abayance Bay Marina from June 24th through June 28th. They have been making the trip up to Rexford for the last five years for some great shows and some much needed R&R time!

August brings a nationally touring act. The sound of Southern rock and soul will also roll into the bay Aug. 19 when Gov't Mule headlines one night as part of their "Kicking In Your Stall Tour."

If concerts aren't your thing, the calendar is still useful in reverse. Book your quiet water days for the Mondays and Tuesdays between headliners.

The Race Weekend Locals Should Know About

A 5-mile out and back track with 231 feet of climbing that is suitable for both walkers and bikers. Perfect for families and kids.

That is the family-friendly option inside the Koocanusa Scramble, a gravel event with courses stacked for every fitness level. The Koocanusa Scramble brings an exciting Ultra, 32.2K, 8.9K to Rexford, Montana on July 11, 2026. The Koocanusa Scramble is a one-of-a-kind day-long Montana event featuring a gravel ride (with 4 options), as well as a 5-mile family walk or ride option.

The routes read like a map of the backroads you already drive. Travel deep into a remote part of the Salish Mountains to enjoy peekaboo views of Lake Koocanusa and a trip around the backside of McGuire Mountain. Pedal back into the Pinkham Drainage via Ten Mile Talus and into Upper Fortine, travel west of Eureka via Thirsty Lake Road, and finish with a steep descent on Sand Hill Lane. Even if you have no interest in racing, the start and finish sit at 290 Abayance Bay Drive, so plan around it.

Stone Hill: Still The Rest Of The Story

The marina gets the marketing budget. Stone Hill gets the climbers, and it is a bigger deal than most residents realize.

The Stone Hill climbing area is located at mile marker 51 on Highway 37 along Lake Koocanusa. The views of an open ponderosa pine forest and Lake Koocanusa make this undeveloped area stand out from the rest. Stone Hill is located in Rexford, MT, on Kootenai National Forest land, and encompasses hundreds of climbing routes on both sides of Lake Koocanusa. Routes range in difficulty from 5.5 to 5.13+, are primarily single pitch, and include sport, mixed, and trad lines.

The majority of Stone Hill's more than 500 climbs are challenging, rating 5.10 and up, but there are also a large number of easy and moderate climbs. Climbers can start in the shade in the morning and end in the shade in the evening by crossing the lake. That last detail is what makes Stone Hill a full-day destination rather than a morning stop, and it is why the pullouts on Highway 37 fill up in July.

Two Rexford weekends to note: the Northwest Montana Climbers' Coalition competition anchors at Tobacco River Ranch in September, drawing climbers from across the region. The Tobacco River Ranch is graciously letting us take over for their property for the weekend. Basic camping is included in your registration, and cabin upgrades are available.

Where Locals Go When The Marina Is Full

The Forest Service manages a string of developed sites down the American shore. If you know their order along the water, you can pick your Saturday by crowd tolerance.

• Rexford Bench Complex — closest to town, easiest to reach on foot or by short drive. From Eureka, follow State Highway 37 south for 7 miles to the town of Rexford and Rexford Bench Complex.
• McGillivray — a campground and day use area with group picnic shelters. Overnight camping, ball fields, a swimming beach, and a boat ramp are available. This is the pick for a family Saturday.
• Peck Gulch — has restrooms, a boat ramp, and plenty of sites for picnicking or camping.
• Rocky Gorge — has 120 campsites suitable for tents and recreational vehicles. A boat ramp gives access to the lake. The volume site.
• Barron Creek — has a boat ramp and dispersed camping areas. Quieter, less structured.
• Camp 32 on Pinkham Creek Road for climbers. Camp 32 Campground, located in Kootenai National Forest-elevation of 2755'-8 campsites with tables & fire rings. Accommodating up to a 20' RV.

Six sites, one lake, sixty American miles. The concert crowd stays clustered at one address. The rest of the shoreline moves at its usual pace.

The Scenic Byway Is Its Own Argument For Living Here

You already drive Highway 37. The reminder is that the wider world designates it a destination. Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway was created in 1992 to become the Northern Region's 5th scenic byway. Two paved highways running adjacent to the reservoir and extending from Eureka to Libby have been designated by the State of Montana as a Scenic Byway. Traffic is light and views along the roadways are memorable, including glimpses of the Ural-Tweed Big Horn Sheep herd, located on the eastern side of the reservoir along Hwy 37.

Rexford is ideal for camping, hiking, hunting, snowmobiling, boating and rock climbing (at nearby Stone Hill). In addition, Rexford is a great starting point for driving the 67-mile Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway. Sixty-seven miles of light traffic and bighorn sightings is not a marketing line. It is what your commute passes through.

A Suggested July Saturday, Built From The Above

Because a roundup of updates is not a plan, here is one built from named places:

1. Morning: Coffee at home, then drive south on Highway 37 to mile marker 51. Two moderate climbs at Stone Hill in the shade before the sun crosses.
2. Midday: Cross the Koocanusa Bridge and picnic at McGillivray. The swimming beach is the reward for the descent.
3. Late afternoon: Back north to Abayance Bay. Check The Bowl's hours (Tue–Sat, 4–9 p.m.) and post up on the outdoor terrace.
4. Evening: If there is a lineup that night, buy the walk-up ticket. If not, drive the byway home while the light drops behind the Purcells.

Purcell Mountains located west of Koocanusa Reservoir while the Salish Mountains are located on the eastern side. One range at your back, one across the water. That geometry is why people move here in the first place, and it is why the ones who stay learn the calendar rather than fight it.

When Summer Turns Into A Move

Most of the readers who find this post already own here. A smaller number are house-sitting for a friend, staying in a rental cabin, or driving up for the Fan Fest and starting to wonder what it would take to trade a week for a season. If that is you, the answer is more textured than the price-per-square-foot number you saw online. Shoreline access, road classification, well and septic conditions, and the difference between a Rexford Bench address and a parcel farther up the Tobacco Valley all change what your budget actually buys.

That conversation is what Erin Gilley does for a living. If this summer is the one that turns a visit into a plan, request a free home valuation and consultation and we will walk the specifics together.