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State Park

Photo: USFS M chamberlainPublic domainRecreation.gov

Swan Guard Station

Bigfork, MT

Verify with the state park system

State parks set their own rules and reservation systems. Fire bans, road closures, and operating dates change seasonally — check the state park website before traveling.

Directions

2

Total Sites

0.0

0 Reviews

1 Tent1 Cabin

Official sources & verification

Managed by State Park

Verify before you go

Source of truth

Verify by phone or mail

We display cached information from agency feeds. Hours, fees, permits, closures, fire restrictions, and conditions change without notice. Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current conditions for this campground using the links above before you go — you are responsible for compliance. Last verified by us: Oct 11, 2026. Spot an error in our data?

Live availability

via Recreation.gov
See every open campground nearbySame dates & filters, across the whole area

Availability is a recent snapshot, not a live hold — you always complete the booking on recreation.gov.

About

Overview 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. 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. Facilities 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. [Click here](http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/flathead/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=77522&actid=101) for more cabin details. 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.

Reviews

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How busy it gets

Recreation.gov
Well reviewed4.5

72 camper reviews on Recreation.gov

Moderate demand

68% booked

138 of 204 released site-nights were already reserved · Sep 2026 – Mar 2027 · busiest Sep 2026 at 100%

  • Sep

    100%

  • Oct

    100%

  • Nov

    79%

  • Dec

    73%

  • Jan

    60%

  • Feb

    33%

  • Mar

    27%

Share of nights Recreation.gov had released for online booking that were already reserved when we checked. Walk-up sites, closures, and nights outside the booking window are excluded.

Amenities

Flush Toilets
Fire Rings

Cell reception

Camper reports · checked Sep 29, 2026

Some Coverage

Average 2.2 of 4 bars · 47 reports across 3 carriers

Phone calls may occasionally drop; text messages may be delayed. Data service may be unusable. Drop-outs are common and it may be necessary to search for signal. Social media likely unusable.

  • Verizon

    Some Coverage

    1.9/4

    29 reports

  • AT&T

    Some Coverage

    2.5/4

    11 reports

  • T-Mobile

    Good Coverage

    2.9/4

    7 reports

Reported by campers on Recreation.gov, not measured by us. Reception varies by handset, weather, and where you stand in the campground. Recreation.gov

Check-in & Check-out

Check-in 2:00 PM

Check-out 12:00 PM

Campground Rules

  • Campfires generally permitted — verify current fire restrictions before lighting

Reservations

This campground accepts reservations. Book early for popular dates.

Make a Reservation

Individual Sites (2)

Within ~30 miles

Trails near Swan Guard Station

Explore trails near here

Hunt context

Hunting units around this campground

During hunting seasons, wear blaze orange and check regulations — see the Montana hunting page

Nearby Campgrounds

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