Swan Lake Montana Travel Activities

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Swan Lake Montana Activities

Nestled between two mountain ranges, Swan Lake activities attract many visitors to its shores. Although most come to swim the invigorating water, fishing, horseback riding and llama trekking are also popular. Read More

Where can I go swimming at Swan Lake?

Swan Lake Recreation Area.
Home to one of the best lakeside sand beaches in the Flathead Valley, the Swan Lake recreation area offers great amenities like a swimming beach, boat launch, as well as grills and benches for picnicking. 

  • Location: Off Montana State Highway 83, 17 miles southeast of Bigfork, Montana just outside of the Village of Swan Lake. 
  • Season/Hours: May 14 to September 28 
  • Cost: Day-use $5.00. Camping fees $14. RV fee $25. 
  • Services: Recreation area includes sand swimming beach, boat launch, picnic benches, dock, bathrooms and potable water. 
  • Phone: Flathead Forest Service 406-836-2775

Where can I go camping at Swan Lake?

The Flathead Forest Service manages the 36-site campground at the recreation area, which is great for tents and RVs, but for a more remote experience check out Mission Lookout cabin. Located just a few miles from Swan Lake, the small rustic cabin is perched on a 40-foot lookout tower. 

  • Location: From Highway 83 turn west onto Porcupine Creek Road also called Forest Service Road #10229 for 2.2 miles then turn right onto Forest Service Road #9803-- continue 1.4 miles to the end of the road. Bring a flashlight so that you can see the combination locks if arriving after dark. 
  • Season/Hours: Year-round 
  • Cost: $25 a night 
  • Services: This is as close to camping as staying in a tent. No electricity. Fold out cots. Pit toilets and a propane stove for cooking, but the 360 degree views of the valley are priceless. Frequently visited by bears, this is a true wilderness experience. May not be appropriate for children. 
  • Phone: Flathead Forest Park Service Reservations 1-877-444-6777.

Where can I go hiking at Swan Lake?

With over a dozen trails crisscrossing the Swan Lake Ranger District, it’s hard to pick just one. Holland Gordon Trail is the most heavily visited in the area due to its access to the Bob Marshall Wilderness and spectacular scenery. 

  • Location: Access the trail from Highway 83, turning onto Road 44. Follow signs for Owl Packer Camp. 
  • Season/Hours: Summer and fall only. 
  • Cost: Free 
  • Services: Passing through dense pine forest and over rushing creeks in the heart of bear country, this 8.3 mile trail offers a scenic. At the end of the 2600 foot elevation gain, expect a jackpot view of the Swan Valley. This trail is frequently used by local outfitters, so expect company on the trail. 
  • Phone: Swan Lake Ranger Station. 406-837-7500.

Where can I horseback ride at Swan Lake?

For horseback riding, Swan Mountain Range is one of the area’s best kept secrets. With the shimming Flathead and Swan Lakes on one side and the vast Bob Marshall Wilderness on the other, the ultimate horseback adventure starts here.

Swan Mountain Outfitters 

  • Location: Outside of Bigfork, on Highway 83. 
  • Season/Hours: Year-round 
  • Cost: Trips range from $30 day trips to six-day overnight wilderness packages for $2100. 
  • Services: Trail rides for beginners and advanced riders on more than 50 miles of trails. Guided fishing trips, hunting expeditions and wilderness trips are also offered. 
  • Phone: Swan Mountain Outfitters 406-387-4405 or 877-888-5557.

Local Tip: Llama trekking is one of the best and most unique ways to see the higher elevations of Swan Mountain. Choose from day trips to overnights journeys with these adorable beasts of burden. Swan Mountain Llama Trekking is the only outfitter around. Call 406-919-4416.