The northern Swan Range -- home to the Jewel Basin Hiking Area and Alpine Trail No. 7, is the rugged backyard and scenic backdrop of the Flathead Valley. From Inspriation Pass to Columbia Mountain, the northern Swan supports our unique way of life and contributes much to the natural beauty and economic prosperity of the entire Flathead Valley. This website is dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of the northern Swan Range. Now is the time to act for the future of the Swan.
Whittling away with hand tools! (Keith Hammer photos)
Seven Swan Rangers cleared fallen trees from trails in Krause Basin on a sunny Saturday, October 12, 2019!
Big windstorms the past two weeks blew a lot of trees down. Since 2011, Swan Rangers in Service have pitched in 1,054 hours of trail maintenance via a volunteer agreement with the Swan Lake Ranger District!
Clouds rebirthing from wet trees along the Swan Range. (Keith Hammer photos)
Five Swan Rangers hiked around Noisy Creek on the Foothills Ski Area on a rainy Saturday, October 5, 2019!
There are a lot of trees blown down by last weekend's storm, so be aware when going out to hike your favorite trail!
The Foothills Ski Area/Bigfork Community Nordic Center is managed by North Shore Nordic, so check their web site for maps and to learn how you can donate or help maintain their trails!
North Shore of Flathead Lake with Swan Range in background. (Keith Hammer photos)
Four Swan Rangers strolled the north shore of Flathead Lake to watch a forecast record-breaking winter storm roll in on Saturday, September 28, 2019!
It was a bit breezy - enough to delay this report due to a 5-hour power outage that was the second outage of the day!
The old DNRC road is a pleasant Fall hike on a wet, low cloud cover day! (Keith Hammer photos)
Ten Swan Rangers hiked the closed DNRC road linking Jewel Basin Road to Brosten Lane on a cloud-birthing Saturday, September 21, 2019!
Trees were birthing new clouds from nighttime rainwater, as plant life continues to mature into Fall!
Looking up Wolf Creek Canyon from Windy Point. (Keith Hammer photos)
Nine Swan Rangers hiked to Lunch Rock in Wolf Creek Canyon on Saturday, September 14, 2019!
It was a great day to observe late-summer plant life going to seed!
Click here for a map of the Echo - Broken Leg Trail.
Looking down Quintonkon Creek to Hungry Horse Reservoir. (Keith Hammer photos)
Seven Swan Rangers hiked Sixmile Peak on an atmospheric Saturday, September 7, 2019!
They went seeking clarity and were fortunate enough to find some!
Click here for a map of the Sixmile Trail.
A view of the Flathead Valley from near Strawberry Lake! (Debra Schweitzer photos)
Five Swan Rangers hiked to Strawberry Lake on a foggy-turned-sunny Saturday, August 31, 2019!
A few other Rangers were off-grid camping and hiking in the Galton Range and hence this late report!
Click here for a map of the Strawberry Lake Trail.
Sittin' on the dock of the bay, above Elk Spring! (Keith Hammer photos)
Eleven Swan Rangers hiked a loop from Bear Creek to Wolf Creek, up to Elk Spring, and back down to Bear Creek on a partly cloudy Saturday, August 24, 2019!
It was a tour of bear scat and Huckleberry Heaven!
Sorry, there is no map of this partly off piste route. Really!
Good day to carry a rain coat? (Keith Hammer photos)
Eight Swan Rangers hiked a loop in Johnson Creek on a still-unsettled-weather Saturday, August 17, 2019!
Their hike was cut short not by the weather but by subdivision of private lands once open to public recreation!