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.
A cottonwood skyline in Cottonwood Bottom! (Keith Hammer photos)
Thirteen Swan Rangers skied and snowshoed in Krause Basin on a slightly sticky Saturday, January 19, 2019!
The skiers broke trail up through Cottonwood Bottom to Strawberry Lake Road, where some returned by the road to make a loop and the others retraced their path!
The Swan Range seen from Blacktail Mtn in the Salish Range! (Keith Hammer photo)
Eight Swan Rangers practiced inversion aversion by skiing and snowshoeing the Blacktail Mountain Nordic Trails on an inverted Saturday, January 12, 2019!
The upper potrions of the nordic trails were right at the top of the cloud layer while Blacktail Mtn rose above it all!
Click here for maps and info on how to support the non-profit Blacktail Mountain Nordic Trails!
The Swan Crest above Noisy Creek! (Keith Hammer photos)
Twelve Swan Rangers hiked DNRC lands between the Jewel Basin Road and Mud Lake on a crunchy Saturday, January 5, 2019!
Warm days with rain but freezing nights have put low elevation skiing on hold for a while!
Treetop skyline of birch and hemlock. (Keith Hammer photos)
Thirteen Swan Rangers skied and snowshoed the North Fork of Krause Creek on a snowy Saturday, December 29, 2018!
There were tracks of wildlife galore and a story told in the reading of them!
Rangers last seen here before going off-track! (Keith Hammer photos)
Twelve Swan Rangers bushwhacked up Noisy Creek on a partly sunny Saturday, December 22, 2018!
Part of the bushwhack included the overgrown Noisy Creek Road that runs out the north end of North Shore Nordic's Foothills Ski Area!
Peters Ridge seen through hemlocks on The Knob! (Keith Hammer photos)
Ten Swan Rangers hiked "The Knob" in Krause Basin on a somewhat squally Saturday, December 15, 2018!
A little more snow and Krause Basin will be skiable!
Gray sky meets a flat Flathead Valley bottom! (Keith Hammer photos)
Eleven Swan Rangers hiked the Birch Flats area on a mostly gray Saturday, December 8, 2018!
Birch Flats is located largely on DNRC lands along the foot of the Swan Range, between Jewel Basin Road and Mud Lake.
Looking south along the Swan's foothills! (Keith Hammer photos)
Eight Swan Rangers hiked to Patterson Creek on a snowy Saturday, December 1, 2018!
They hiked in via the Peterson Creek Road, which is now gated to motorized vehicles until July 1!
Click here for a map of the Peterson Creek Road and Trail system.
A view of Flathead Lake from the Phillips Trail! (Norma Linsky photos)
Ten Swan Rangers hiked the Phillips Trail on a partly sunny Saturday, November 24, 2018!
They hiked out and back from the Beardance Trailhead on Highway 35 to the Phillips Trailhead on Crane Mountain Road.
Click here for a map of the Beardance and Phillips trails.