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.
Snow geese find it crowded on the few ice-free portions of Freezeout Lake! (Keith Hammer photos except one)
Swan Rangers are seeking social distance in the great outdoors, but it isn't always easy!
Keith and Pam visited Freezeout Lake a couple days before Governor Bullock ordered Montanans to stay home due to coronavirus concerns. Click here and here for a couple short videos of snow geese at Freezeout Lake!
Norma did a solo ski of the Power Line Trail at the Blacktail Mountain Nordic Trails Saturday.
Many National Parks, along with National Forest and State campgrounds are closed to avoid tempting people to travel and unintentionally congregate.
People are allowed outdoors under Bullock's order, but it is imperative to practice "social distancing" in those areas that remain open to the public.
While the Swan Ranger Saturday group outings remain suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic, we will try to get a report out most weeks with items of interest to folks trying to get out in the woods for some "social distancing" and spirit-calming fresh air.
Makes for dicy hiking! (Fawn Simensen and Chris Gotschalk photos)
Swan Rangers are reporting lots of blown down trees across roads and trails in the Swan Range, following last week's big wind storm!
Fawn and Chris sent these photos of their hike today down the old gated road between Bear Creek and Wolf Creek!
The Peters Ridge, Strawberry Lake, and Sixmile Trailhead roads are similarly blocked with blowdown!
As we renew our volunteer agreement with the Swan Lake Ranger District to help maintain trails, we are also looking into getting their chain saw certification for several Rangers given the amount of big blowdown this season.
While the Swan Ranger Saturday group outings remain suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic, we will try to get a report out most weeks with items of interest to folks trying to get out in the woods for some "social distancing" and spirit-calming fresh air.
Swan River and Swan Range. (Keith Hammer photos)
Three Swan Rangers hiked the Swan River Nature Trails on an arctic blast Saturday, March 14, 2020!
The Echo Lake Cafe was jammed with people who couldn't cook at home due to overnight power outages caused by high winds and downed trees!
CORONAVIRUS ALERT: The Swan Rangers will continue to meet for Saturday outings provided the group remains small and all attending follow the advice of the Montana Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control. Those not wishing to eat together in close quarters can of course opt out of the cafe breakfast at 8:30 and join in at the Swan River School parking lot at 9:30 for the outdoors activity.
The confluence of Gildart Creek and Swan River. (Keith Hammer photos)
Six Swan Rangers returned to Gildart Creek for another ski on a half-baked Saturday, March 7, 2020!
The storm front passing through during the outing failed to dump the rain that had been forecast!
A view of Ferndale from near Peterson Creek! (Keith Hammer photos)
Eight Swan Rangers skied to Peterson Creek and beyond on a Leap-Day Saturday, 2020!
The snow was pretty crunchy on the way in, but a little softer on the way back!
Click here for a map of the Bear Creek Road and Peterson Creek Trail.
Ranger enjoying the Swan River! (Keith Hammer photos except one)
Ten Swan Rangers skied Bog Road at the Swan River Wildlife Refuge on a turned-sunny Saturday, February 22, 2020!
It was a cold ski to the river, then a warm, sunny ski around the old homesteads and back!
Click here for a Swan River Wildlife Refuge slideshow pdf that provides some history of the Refuge beginning on page 4.
Sunny and threatening at Gildart Creek - Swan River confluence! (Keith Hammer photos 2/13, 2/15)
Seven Swan Rangers returned to ski Gildart Creek on a sunny and threatening Saturday, February 15, 2020!
It is wildlife rich and was known as Porcupine Creek just a few short weeks ago!
North Fork Krause Creek! (Keith Hammer photos)
Eight Swan Rangers skied the North Fork of Krause Basin on a snowy wet Saturday, February 8, 2020!
The deeper one skis into Krause Basin, the deeper the snow!
Sunrise and spindrift over Swan Peak! (Keith Hammer photos)
Seven Swan Rangers skied what little snow remains on the Foothills Ski Area while two others hiked the bare hillside trails above the Swan River Nature Trail on a 50+F high-wind-warning Saturday, February 1, 2011!
Wildfire warnings were issued for parts of eastern Montana while trees blown down on power lines in the Flathead Valley caused an 8-hour delay in issuing this Ranger report.
Yes, this is the Northern Hemisphere, it is February 1, and it is Winter. Welcome to the new normal?