Montana whitewater - Swan River, Lake County

Lake county, Bigfork Dam to Flathead River section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.

 

CLASS III-IV     1.25 miles
  The put-in location is a short drive from Kalispell, as you can see on the road map further down. The Bigfork Dam to Flathead River stretch of Swan River is 1.25 miles long and is a class III-IV section of whitewater according to American Whitewater. Whitewater rafting and kayaking in Montana is often easier than elsewhere, so better not forget that rivers here are less demanding. This stretch is very short so better bring some good walking shoes. The natural beauty of Montana and the playfulness of the water beats anything. This is the only paddling stretch
    along Swan River. You might have to settle for a hotel a bit away from the river if you want to stay the night, but you'd better reserve in advance because these hotels fill up quick. A bit of exercise and a chance to spend some time outdoors will make you glad you came. There's
camping available near Swan River.

Briefly about the general area:
Through the summer months highs here at Swan River get into the 70's while nighttime lows are frequently in the 40's. All through the winter highs are frequently in the 20's, and during the dark hours in the wintertime at Swan River temperatures sink to the 10's. Swan River gets very little rain; through the month of June you get the most rain around here, and February is the month with the least moisture.
A day at Long Beach in the neighborhood of Swan River is time well spent.
 

Swan River, Bigfork Dam to Flathead River road map
Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked.

QUICK STATS
AW Class: III-IV
Length: 1.25 miles
Average Gradient: 100 fpm
  
Putin Location Coordinates:
Latitude: 48.01979
Longitude: -113.97811

Takeout Location Coordinates:
Latitude: 48.06079
Longitude: -114.07891

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Current weather conditions at Swan River, Montana
WXPort

Local climate location: CRESTON 4 miles away


RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS

There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river.

Best Western White Oak Grand, Kalispell
15 miles away
This Kalispell, Montana hotel is located in the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana and offers luxury and comfort 30 miles from Glacier National Park. The Best Western White Oak Grand is one mile fr...

Bridge Street Cottages, Bigfork
15 miles away
Bridge Street Cottages, completed in 2004, are located, on the Swan River where it flows into Bigfork Bay. It's an idyllic setting for our luxury cottages that are full of amenities, Just a short stro...

Bad Rock B&B, Columbia Falls
17 miles away
Bad Rock B and B is 14 years old. It has won several awards and has a great repeat business. Its owners are world travelers with medical science backgrounds. They know what travelers want!Glacier Nati...



OTHER_INFO
  All Montana Whitewater
Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in Montana.
Books about whitewater paddling on Swan River, Montana
List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Swan River, Montana.
Find a whitewater outfitter in Montana

Whitewater Basics
If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info.
Outdoors Recreation Near Kalispell, Montana
Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Kalispell, Montana, the metro area neareast to Swan River. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.
 

   

OUTDOORS
These outdoors activities are available near Swan River.
 Whitewater Near Swan River:
Flathead River - Middle Fork, -blank- County , 20 miles away, Class II - 6 miles long (West Glacier to Blankenship Bridge)
Flathead River - Middle Fork, -blank- County , 22 miles away, Class III - 9 miles long (Moccasin Creek to West Glacier)
Flathead River, Lake County , 26 miles away, Class II-III - 10 miles long (Kerr Dam to County Road Bridge)
Flathead River - Middle Fork, -blank- County , 27 miles away, Class II+ - 31 miles long (Bear Creek to Moccasin Creek)
 Ski Areas Near Swan River:
Blacktail Mountain, Montana , 24 miles away, 1440 vertical feet
Big Mountain, Montana , 30 miles away, 2500 vertical feet
Montana Snowbowl, Montana , 47 miles away, 2600 vertical feet
Marshall Mountain, Montana , 52 miles away, 1500 vertical feet
Teton Pass, Montana , 85 miles away, 1010 vertical feet
Discovery Ski, Montana , 99 miles away, 1670 vertical feet
Lost Trail, Montana , 109 miles away, 1800 vertical feet
Turner Mountain, Montana , 114 miles away, 2110 vertical feet
Lookout Pass, Idaho , 118 miles away, 1150 vertical feet
Lookout Pass, Montana , 118 miles away, 1150 vertical feet
 Beaches Near Swan River:
Long Beach, Flathead County , 4 miles away
 Hotels Near Swan River:
Best Western White Oak Grand, Kalispell , 15 miles away
Bridge Street Cottages, Bigfork , 15 miles away
Bad Rock B&B, Columbia Falls , 17 miles away
Glacier Park Super 8 Motel, Columbia Falls , 17 miles away
Bayview Inn Budget Host Polson, Polson , 18 miles away
 Camp Grounds Near Swan River:
Ronde'vue Park, Bigfork, 2 miles away
Woods Bay Marina and RV Park, Bigfork, 2 miles away
Outback Montana RV/Tent Campground, Bigfork, 2 miles away
 Trails Near Swan River:
Wolf Creek Trail, Flathead County , 7 miles away
Noisy Creek Notch Trail, Flathead County , 8 miles away
Alpine Trail, Flathead County , 9 miles away
Jimmie Ridge Trail, Flathead County , 10 miles away
Peterson Creek Trail, Lake County , 10 miles away
 National Parks Near Swan River:
Glacier National Park, West Glacier - MT , 21 miles away
 Golf Courses Near Swan River:
Eagle Bend Golf Club, Bigfork , 5 miles away

Outdoors related information copyright © Stratus-Pikpuk, Inc. - Detailed hotel information copyright © Interactive Hotel Solutions
Some content, including Reach Name, Class, and Length, comes from American Whitewater