Swan Guard Station
Swan Guard Station is located next to beautiful Swan Lake, in northwestern Montana, where visitors enjoy all kinds of recreation. The fully restored historic cabin can accommodate up to eight people and offers somewhat modern amenities and plenty of space. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 4 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Swan Guard Station is available for $70 a night for a maximum stay of seven consecutive nights. Within the maximum window (a rolling 6 month window), the maximum consecutive stay rule is 7 days and there is a Stay Beyond Maximum Window where customers can book past the 6 month rolling window if… |
The accessible cabin has beds and mattresses to accommodate up to eight people. It offers electricity, but no indoor plumbing. A propane heater provides heat in the living room. A kitchen provides a refrigerator, sink, cooking range, and oven. It has ample cupboard space, as well as preparation and serving surfaces. A vault toilet and a hand-pump water system are available outside the cabin. Guests will need to bring bedding, food, flashlights, a first aid kit and other necessary camping gear. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all trash carried out before leaving.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Bigfork take Hwy 83 south towards Swan Lake. Continue through the town of Swan Lake to mile-marker 69, just south of town. The cabin driveway is just south of the cabin rental sign. Continue down the driveway to the cabin with the porch.
| Nearest town | Swan Lake, Montana |
| Coordinates | 47.9094° N, 113.8353° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Bish's RV ↗ | 27.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Rocky Mountain Outfitter ↗ | 29.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 2 miSwan Lake Day Use Pass ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miBond Creek ↗7.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miWire Trail ↗6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2 miHall Lake Trail ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowmobile
- 2.2 miCrane Mtn Snowmobile Spur B ↗9.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 2.6 miCrane Mtn Snowmobile ↗20.2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2.8 miSixmile Lookout ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Flathead National Forest.
- inFlathead National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,651,693 acres
- 0.1 miSwan River National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 1,937 acres
- 11.5 miGreat Bear Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 286,659 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
The cabin is the oldest building in the Flathead National Forest. It was constructed in 1909 as a remote ranger station and has since been fully restored and reconstructed. It is located at the south end of Swan Lake, near the village of Swan Lake. The nearby Swan River Wildlife Refuge provides abundant bird and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Recreation
In addition to wildlife viewing, hiking and mountain biking trail access is nearby at Bond Creek Trailhead. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are popular activities enjoyed by visitors during the winter. The cabin is located just south of the town of Swan Lake, which offers opportunities for fishing, motor boating, non-motor boating, swimming and picnicking.
Guidebooks for Montana
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Swan Guard Station?
Sites at Swan Guard Station are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Swan Guard Station?
Swan Guard Station is available for $70 a night for a maximum stay of seven consecutive nights. Within the maximum window (a rolling 6 month window), the maximum consecutive stay rule is 7 days and there is a Stay Beyond Maximum Window where customers can book past the 6 month rolling window if…
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Swan Guard Station?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Swan Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Swan Guard Station?
Yes, pets are allowed at Swan Guard Station. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Swan Guard Station?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Swan Guard Station?
In addition to wildlife viewing, hiking and mountain biking trail access is nearby at Bond Creek Trailhead. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Swan Guard Station?
Swan Lake, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Swan Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Swan Lake Campground (2 mi, partly first-come), Peter's Creek Campground (13.5 mi, first-come), and Spotted Bear Campground (14.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby