Trail Conditions
Current trail reports for the Mission Mountains Wilderness and Swan Front are available May through October. Please contact us if you require additional information, or grab one of our Swan Valley maps, which includes information on recreation, as well as local natural history!
Mission Mountains Wilderness Trail Conditions
Last updated 7/24/26
Important information, warnings, road conditions:
*Expect to encounter heavy blowdown on trails that have not yet been cleared*
General information:
Snowline at approximate elevation of 8,000 ft.Contact your local district office to get the most up-to-date details!
• Be bear aware and prepare to store food appropriately.
Motorized/mechanized use is prohibited in Wilderness areas.
• Please be aware that group size is limited to 8 people.
**
Stock Users: High lines are left at Cedar, Piper, and Whelp Lakes to concentrate and minimize stock impacts. Please do not take them down. Keep stock 200 feet from shorelines.
| Number | Trail Name | Date Opened | Remarks, Projects, Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | Jocko | - | Trail has been cleared of blowdown 2.5 miles past the wilderness boundary from the Beaver Creek trailhead |
| 119 | Piper | - | Trail has been cleared of blowdown 3 miles up trail |
| 121 | Cold Lakes | 7/20 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown 1 mile up trail ** Camping is prohoibited within 1/4 mile of lower/upper lakes |
| 351 | Crystal Lake | - | Trail has been cleared 0.5 miles to Crystal Lake from both north and south trailheads |
| 490 | Lindbergh | - | Trail has been cleared of blowdown 1 mile up trail |
| 481 | Glacier Slough | 3/28 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown |
| 515 | Hemlock Peak | - | Trail has been cleared of blowdown to wilderness boundary |
| 607 | Hemlock Lake | 6/29 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown. *Bring bug spray |
| 690 | Glacier Creek | - | Trail has been cleared of blowdown. **Camping is prohibited within 1/4 mile of Glacier Lake |
| 695 | Hemlock Feeder | 6/29 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown. Lots of sun |
| 708 | Turquoise Lake | 7/18 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown. Expect crowds on weekends. |
| 738 | Cedar-Piper | - | Trail has NOT been cleared of blowdown. |
| 33 | Elbow Lookout | 6/20 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown. |
Swan Front Trail Conditions
Last updated 7/24/26
Important information, warnings, road conditions:
*Expect to encounter heavy blowdown on trails that have not been cleared*
General information:
Snowline at approximate elevation of 8,500 ft.Contact your local district office to get the most up-to-date details!
Be bear aware and prepare to store food appropriately.
Motorized/mechanized use is prohibited in Wilderness areas.
| Number | Trail Name | Date Opened | Remarks, Projects, Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Smith Creek | - | Trail has been cleared of blowdown 2.5 miles up trail |
| 31 | Napa Lookout | 6/20 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown |
| 35 | Holland-Gordon | 6/30 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown. Watch for packtrains and please step off trail downhill to let them pass |
| 42 | Holland Lookout | - | Trail has NOT been cleared of blowdown |
| 110 | Big Salmon | 7/1 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown |
| 120 | Sapphire Lakes | 7/1 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown |
| 192 | East Foothills | 4/8 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown. Used by hikers, bikers, and horses |
| 415 | East Holland Connector | 4/5 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown. Hikers should use this trail to get to Upper Holland Lake |
| 416 | Holland Falls | 3/18 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown. This is a very popular hike for people of all ages |
| 457 | Pendant | 7/1 | Trail has been cleared of blowdown. |
Backcountry Trail Stewards
SVC is proud to have once again partnered with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to provide backcountry trails and ranger services in the Mission Mountains Wilderness and Swan Front. SVC currently applies for funding from Montana Trail Steward Grant Program (MTSGP) to assist the USFS in completing these tasks. With reduced Forest Service staff, capacity, and funding, this program is more vital than ever before; no trails would be cleared or maintained in the Mission Mountains Wilderness or Swan Front this year without SVC's Trail Stewardship Program.
For the eleventh year, Nathan Noble and Kaydee Borchers of Daughter of the Sun Backcountry Services have been contracted to perform trails steward duties. Their tasks include clearing many miles of trail in the early summer, maintaining trails and drainage structures, trailhead maintenance, campsite naturalization, and visitor education. Visitor education can entail a wide range of topics that may include: Flathead National Forest bear food storage orders, Leave No Trace principles, Wilderness management, wildlife encounters, or trail conditions just to name a few. Throughout the summer, Christian, Nathan, and Kaydee provide SVC with regular trail condition updates that can be found on this web page.
