Swan Guard Station, Bigfork, MT

Swan Guard Station is located in the Swan Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest (1 hr 54 min north of Missoula, MT) with an elevation of 3,093 feet. The site is open all year. There is a fee of $70.00 per night.

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Campsite Reviews (44)

4.7 out of 5

5 star		70%
4 star		25%
3 star		2%
2 star		0%
1 star		0%

@KallyA796FD582 · Camped on May 28, 2024 at Campsite #1

Our stay at the Swan Lake Cabin was a nice treat along the southern portion of the refuge. The cabin has a nice stove, a big refrigerator, lots of items to create meals in the cabinets and the water is just up the hill!We loved our two night stay and would absolutely rest our tired hiking legs here again; there are ample trails nearby or within a reasonable drive.

@PhilippeV48401 · Camped on Mar 1, 2024 at Campsite #1

A wonderful glamping experience. The cabin is comfortable, warm, the kitchen is well equipped with pots, pans, utensils and dishware. The dining table comfortable sits six. The living room has a 3-person sofa and two armchair. There is light reading and heaps of board games. They also provide a high quality JBL Charge 3 bt speaker. There's a single bed private bedroom downstairs. A queen size+ single bed in the bedroom on the left, upstairs. A double + 3 single beds in the bedroom on the right, upstairs. The fire ring, 30 'from the front door has 4 steel benches comfortably sits 8. The cabin doesn't have running water although thankfully it does drain. The clean and potable is a stones throw away. The cabin provides jugs to fill so you can drink or do dishes. There's a pit toilet outside which surprisingly doesn't have light so bring a headlamp. It wouldn't be difficult to run a 20' cable to add a light for those after dark restroom stops. Another shortcoming is a lack of shower. The cabin has electricity and gas so why couldn't there be a way to fill a tank from the well and have a gas heater for a shower, since it already has plumbing to drain the kitchen sink. As a final note, the cabin has no wifi and poor signal. I've found the trick is to dedicate a phone placed on the kitchen window sill (best reception) and use it as a hotspot for music streaming and looking up Scrabble dictionary. In summary, it's a wonderful alternative to sleeping in a tent. And fantastic place to spend 2-3 nights among friends in a cozy and clean wood cabin. I've rented twice and I'll rent it again in the future.

@MatthewM156652 · Camped on Feb 18, 2024 at Campsite #1

Great for the money!

@SteveT7934674 · Camped on Dec 20, 2023 at Campsite #1

Went out for the Solstice weekend with friends and it was very cozy. The area is stunning. There is a great little trail across the road, and the cabin is well kept. You might want to set a mouse trap once you get in. We only saw one, but they are around. Enjoy!

@RobertJF2873B6 · Camped on Nov 14, 2023 at Campsite #1

Well, tried to give five stars but the page does not allow me to select Excellent in either chrome or safari :(. This was our second visit to the cabin, this time with friends and we loved it. We recommend bringing plenty of water, otherwise there is a pump about 100 feet away from the cabin and a water container on site.

@ZoeB9778414 · Camped on Jun 22, 2023 at Campsite #1

Great stay as usual, but bad smell coming from kitchen area.

@RhondaV4B4DE1C · Camped on Jun 2, 2023 at Campsite #1

An awesome get away with lots of amenities. The cabin is very clean, well maintained and spacious. Having electric and heat is a great bonus. There’s a water pump up the hill and a container provided. It sometimes takes a little perseverance to make the water flow, but it does work! No WiFi and cell service is very minimal but we like it that way! The swan lake day use area nearby is a great place to spend the day swimming or paddle boarding, but remember to bring cash or pay online in advance (at recreation.gov). There are several other lakes along the road as well that are worth exploring if you like to kayak or paddle board. Don’t forget a flashlight to get to the toilet at night, and lots of insect repellant! We’ve been here a few times now and will definitely return!

@AmandaK6014539 · Camped on May 15, 2023 at Campsite #1

Our family loves coming here year after year. The cabin is always clean, close to wildlife viewing area and swan lake and feels secluded even though you are right next to the road. Thanks for such a wonderful and updated cabin, forestry service!

@JohnA1386005 · Camped on Apr 24, 2023 at Campsite #1

Very cool cabin. It's equipped better than a lot of others. Many modern touches. It is quite close to the highway, so there's a bit of noise. And we did have people just drive in curiously while we were there. Kids had fun catching snakes.

@LaurieM1044324 · Camped on Apr 18, 2023 at Campsite #1

The place was clean and comfortable with all of the cooking gadgets, a person needs, easy heat source and peaceful surroundings! I was able to check out Bond Creek Trail and the wildlife refuge; each were super easy walking distance from the cabin! There was one hiccup, the door lock mechanism busted, but the problem was remedied shortly after I called the ranger station. The guys that came to do the repair were super courteous too. I look forward to staying here again!!

@JANICEH6981474 · Camped on Apr 12, 2023 at Campsite #1

This is a wonderful Forest Service “cabin”. It is not rustic at all. It has all the amenities of home ( except an indoor toilet). The only drawback is its closeness to the Highway.

@TimD6087971 · Camped on Apr 9, 2023 at Campsite #1

2nd time there, always a great place to stay.

@SusanS9297654 · Camped on Apr 3, 2023 at Campsite #1

We enjoyed one early spring cold night in this cabin, especially with the cozy stove and the comfortable beds. Nice to play cribbage in front of the stove and have some food & drink treats. The kitchen was well-stocked with plates, cups, silverware, etc. and water was available at a hand pump not far from the front door. Loved seeing the old photographs of the Guard Station on the walls, and I'm glad there weren't any cutesy decorations. The only negative was all the dog hair, which is the fault of guests and not the Forest Service. The rule states no dogs on the furniture or beds but you can tell that's not followed, as there was dog hair everywhere, which stuck to all our clothes.

@ErnaJ9064147 · Camped on Mar 18, 2023 at Campsite #1

The cabin was wonderful, as always! Well stocked, and comfortable, and the spring skiing out the door through the wetlands was superb with fresh snow.

@BillC8113752 · Camped on Mar 1, 2023 at Campsite #1

As usual the cabin was ready for us when we arrived. The driveway to the cabin was recently plowed and sanded. A special thanks to Darren for plowing and sanding.

@PatrickL376701 · Camped on Jan 24, 2023 at Campsite #1

We loved this cabin. It was spacious, warm, spooky, and in a perfect location for all of our recreation needs.

@WendyL5177322 · Camped on Jan 17, 2023 at Campsite #1

Five. Wonderful women had an excellent time at the cabin. It was clean organized. The beds were great. My mom who is 85 join us and took the bedroom on the main level. It was so easy for her as an elder lots of games, laughing cross country skiing trails across the street snowshoeing out into the marshlands that were frozen we passed by the open water and saw many animals. Just enough wood on the porch for one night a fire outside they plowed the graveled. It was quite easy for four days and three nights. Thank you.

@VladimirK90702 · Camped on Jan 11, 2023 at Campsite #1

Had a great few days here with lovely friends. The cabin has everything you need. We xc skied around the wetlands behind the cabin and did a tour up Sixmile mtn. Got accosted by some angry slednecks up there whining about skiers taking away their right to stink up public lands and cause avalanches. Oh well!

@JuliaE4720899 · Camped on Nov 6, 2022 at Campsite #1

This is my 4th stay. I love this cabin, the view changes minute by minute. I do miss the wood-stove, splitting wood was a fun activity, the gas fireplace is very noisy. Bond Creek trail, across the highway, was a challenge due to many trees down, but beautiful.

@ToniC9210874 · Camped on Sep 25, 2022 at Campsite #1

Well appointed cabin! Excellent access. However, the highway was just a little too close for comfort. Road noise and concern for our dogs was a negative but the scenery over the Swan River National Wildlife Refuge was spectacular. We appreciate all that the forest service does and the fact that this cabin is open year round We stay in forest service cabins quite often. Each cabin is unique and always a treat! THANK YOU!

@ElleryL235 · Camped on Jan 3, 2022 at Campsite #1

We enjoyed a wonderful stay at this cabin. Lovely gas fire which is quite nice, and easy to use. We skied, ate good food, played lots of games, enjoyed nightly bonfires and rested up for the new year. There is no coffee maker in the kitchen like the pictures may suggest, so be aware. All in all, an absolutely stunning week.

@JuliaE114 · Camped on Nov 23, 2021 at Campsite #1

This was our third stay here. We love the Swan Guard Station as it is a short drive from home. I was disappointed to see the woodstove is gone; splitting wood & building a fire was half the fun. With no axe available we were not able to split kindling for the fire-pit, be sure to pack one. The beds are comfy, great range/oven, plenty of space for dining & playing scrabble. Will plan to return in the Fall to hike Bond Creek.

@AndreeL680 · Camped on Nov 14, 2021 at Campsite #1

The cabin kitchen is well-equipped, the outhouse was clean and supplied with TP, and it is in a great location near Forest Service trails and the wildlife refuge.

@saml827 · Camped on Nov 12, 2021 at Campsite #1

Great set up, love this cabin

@BrendaW353 · Camped on Nov 9, 2021 at Campsite #1

Cabin was bright and cheery and mostly clean. Could have used a better sweeping. Mouse traps would be great. Mice droppings on the kitchen counter and couches when we got there and when we got up in the morning.

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