Swan Lake Montana
Swan Lake, Montana sits below the Swan Mountain Range, separated from Flathead Lake by the Mission Mountain Range. For 93 miles, Swan River connects Lindberg Lake to Flathead Lake.
It flows quickly through the Mission Mountain Range until it settles for a while in Swan Lake. From the lake it flows another 13 miles before reaching Bigfork Dam and emptying into Flathead Lake. Swan Lake and Swan River are visited by boaters, kayakers, fishing enthusiasts, as well as travelers just passing through to view the wildlife and serene surroundings.
There are two theories as to how Swan River and Swan Lake got their names. The first is that they were named after Emmett Swan, an early resident of Swan Valley. The second is after trumpeter swans that once lived on the lake in 1881. However they were named, there are no signs of swans living in the area in present day. There are however many other critters that call this glorious valley home like waterfowl, shorebirds, deer, mink, and muskrat. Much of the upper Swan River remains undeveloped providing many opportunities to view wildlife and enjoy remote wilderness areas that surround the lake.
The town of Swan Lake is quaint but has basic amenities and a campground for visitors passing through or planning to stay in the area for a while. Scenic Montana Highway 83 travels southeast from Bigfork, passing between the Swan and Mission Ranges, eventually linking to Missoula. Travel along this road takes you right through some of the nation's most remote wilderness areas. East of Hwy 83, the Great Bear Wilderness, Bob Marshall Wilderness, and Scapegoat Wilderness invite hikers, backpackers, and fishermen to explore their secluded and serene treasures. Although logging remnants scar the hill sides, Swan Valley is a wonderful location to enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, viewing wildlife, photography, and the great outdoors.
Swan River is typically known for having many logjams and downed trees. Back in the day logging companies tried to transport logs by floating them down the river. Most of them ended up along the banks or blocking river boat access. Upper Swan River receives record amounts of runoff each year providing high flows into July. This makes some of the sections of river recommended for experienced boaters only. Above Swan Lake is a great section for beginning boaters. It flows through Swan River National Wildlife Refuge, home to many species of birds and game. A great section for float trips is an 8 mile stretch between Montana Highway 209, just east of Ferndale, and Swan River Road Bridge. The river is known for having the nation's greatest population of Bull trout. Fishing for these guys is prohibited and fishing for cutthroat and rainbow trout is limited to catch and release only. Huckleberries go wild come August, so make sure to pull off and get your fill while you can. Just make sure to share them with the bears too.
The Bigfork Dam intersects the Swan River one mile before it pours into Flathead Lake. The section between the dam and the lake is known to many experienced boaters as the "Wild Mile." It drops 100 feet in 1 mile, rushing past sharp rocks and eddies that are difficult to catch. Whether you come to Swan Lake, MT for the whitewater, the fish, or the remoteness, you won't leave the valley without sampling a bit of its magic.
Other pages you might find helpful:
Swan Lake-Salmon Elementary
The official site for the Swan Lake-Salmon Elementary School.
Swan Lakers
Swan Lakers strives to protect the natural ecosystem that surrounds the lake as well as the character of the area.
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