The Porthill-Rykerts Border Crossing connects Bonners Ferry with Creston, British Columbia, Canada, on the Kootenay River.

The Eastport–Kingsgate Border Crossing connects Bonners Ferry with Yahk, British Columbia, Canada, on the Moyie River.

When gold was discovered in the East Kootenays of British Columbia in 1863, thousands of prospectors from all over the West surged northward over a route that became known as the Wildhorse Trail.

Before the gold rush, only a few visitors had come to the region; one of the first was explorer David Thompson, a cartographer for the North West Company.

Government surveyors of the Boundary Commission came in 1858 to establish the border between the United States and British Columbia.

[9] Entering service in 1883 the Norwegian-built steamer Midge transported passengers and freight between Bonners Ferry and British Columbia for 25 years.

Bonners Ferry, perched on stilts to avoid the inevitable spring floods, appeared to be a boom town.

On September 20, 1974, the Kootenai Tribe, headed by chairwoman Amy Trice, declared war on the United States government.

Their first act was to post soldiers on each end of the highway that runs through the town who would ask people to pay a toll to drive through what had been the tribe's aboriginal land.

The dispute resulted in the concession by the United States government and a land grant of 10.5 acres (42,000 m2) that is now the Kootenai Reservation.

[11] Bonners Ferry is 8 miles (13 km) from the site of the Ruby Ridge confrontation and siege in 1992, which occurred just outside Naples, Idaho.

Bonners Ferry is located 27 miles (43.5 km) south of the Canada-United States border.

[12] Bonners Ferry has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb/Dsb) with cold, snowy winters and dry summers with hot days and cool nights.

While licensed to Bonners Ferry and having its transmitter site located there, KBFI shares studios and offices with its sister stations (KSPT, KIBR, and KPND), in nearby Sandpoint, Idaho.

Owned and operated by Bonners Ferry Baptist Church, it is an affiliate of the Fundamental Broadcasting Network.

[20] Bonners Ferry High School has physical education programs such as wrestling, football, baseball, soccer, cheer, dance, golf, and basketball.