Swan,
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Bigfork Dam to Flathead R. (The Wild Mile)
Class III-IV
1.25 Miles
Avg Gradient 100 fpm
Max Gradient 100 fpm
Bigfork Whitewater Festival
Bigfork Whitewater FestivalPhoto of Dan Gavere by Randy Clark
Gauge Information
River Description
Photo of Dan Gavere at the Bigfork Whitewater Festival courtesy of, and copyright by, Randy Clark.
WOW!! This is it!! The "Mad Mile" !! Home of the Bigfork Whitewater festival held at the end of
May.
Locals get to run this as early as the first part of April, depending on snow melt. Runnout extends
longer than most Montana Rivers, thanks to Swan Lake, which feeds out warm water into July most
years.
If you are new to the mile, be sure to scout the "Big Drop" about a hundred yards from the
putin.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2006-12-20 12:50:08
Editors
User Comments
www.montanaeddyhop.blogspot.com Edit
you can. The road is closed so you will have to walk. The dirt road offers very limited views of
the river. To get good shots you will have to hike down a steep hill on some very faint trails. I
was able to hike the whole section but it was not easy. Expect lots of climbing over trees and
rocks. The run is very continuous class 4 (at 2500cfs)
But that is the run above the playspot. There is an easily accessible playspot. But to access it
you will need to speak to the home owner as the only way to take pictures is to be in someone's
back yard. When you cross the bridge over the swan into town you will see a dam sort of thing.
Upstream of the dam maybe 200 yards is a playspot in the middle of the river (maybe 4 or 5 houses
down). There is a rope in the eddy so I would assume people play there pretty often
The playspot is a great wavehole, loops, blunts, cartwheels, all are possible and easy on the
wave
I ran the river when it was 3000-25000 cfs (Medium High level i believe) the river has lowered so
the hole may be different now.
-Chris
For more info and pictures of my trip out west this summer check out
http://www.AutoBoofProductions.com