SEELEY SWAN VALLEY

Seeley Swan Valley Map (Click for Larger Image)

Water, water everywhere. In the Seeley Swan Valley, you'll be treated to hundreds of crystal-clear alpine lakes perfect for boating, swimming, fishing and just plain relaxing. Flanked by the Mission Mountains on the West and the Swan Mountains on the East, this is also a valley of plentiful pine forests. Part of this area's peaceful solitude comes from its neighbors: the Bob Marshall, Great Bear and Scapegoat Wilderness Areas, which combine to form 1.5 million acres of protected forest.

SEELEY-SWAN VALLEY
DRIVING TOUR

Lake Alva (Click for Larger Image)

While the adjacent wilderness areas are only accessible by trail, the Seeley Swan area is accessible by various kinds of transportation: car, bike, boat, snowmobile and others. Start at the valley's south end on Highway 83, where the major lakes are Salmon Lake and Seeley Lake. Four miles north of Seeley Lake is a unique wildlife viewing opportunity: the Clearwater Canoe Trail. Put your canoe, raft or boat in the Clearwater River for a relaxed four-mile trip.

Just 12 miles south of Swan Lake, Old Squeezer Loop Road is an Audubon-recognized birdwatching area. In this small creek bottom, you'll find two short-loop trails and wildlife viewing benches. How to get there: across from the State Lands Headquarters, take Goat Creek Road east for 1.5 miles. At the fork, turn right.

In Winter, the Valley has a network of ski trails for nordic skiing. For snowmobilers, there are 230 miles of groomed trails, and many more miles of backcountry trails.