Swan - Bigfork Dam to Flathead R.


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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 Festival
Photo of Dan Gavere by Randy Clark

Gauge Information

Name Range Updated Level
Swan River near Bigfork, MT 800 - 4000 cfs 03h03m 499 cfs (rc= -0.1 )


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

Stream Team Editor
Gary Barker
Kalispell, MT


Bigfork Whitewater Festival

Detail Trip Report Edit  Bigfork Whitewater Festival  Swan, MT(14.10KB .jpeg)

Wild Mile dishing it out

Detail Trip Report Edit  Wild Mile dishing it out  Swan, MT(3.09MB .jpeg)

Playboating on the Wild Mile

Detail Trip Report Edit  Playboating on the Wild Mile  Swan, MT(2.85MB .jpeg)

Gorgeous evening on the swan

Detail Trip Report Edit  Gorgeous evening on the swan  Swan, MT(3.25MB .jpeg)

The first rapid on the Wild Mile

Detail Trip Report Edit  The first rapid on the Wild Mile  Swan, MT(2.93MB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The online USGS gauge measures inflow to the project. Of this flow approximately 600 cfs is diverted for power generation. Boating opportunities are available in the spring when you can estimate flow left in the river channel by subtracting the 600 cfs diverted for generation from the inflow to the project. Optimal boating opportunities are available when calculated flow in the river channel is 800 cfs or above.

As flows drop in summer, scheduled opportunities are provided. During the month of July and August the generators are turned off on Wednesday evenings to restore the full project flow into the river channel. These releases take place from 5 pm - 9 pm and are contingent on project inflows equal to or greater than 800 cfs at 8 am the day of the release. In most years this provides boatable flows on Wednesday evenings through the month of July but by August inflow typically drops below 800 cfs and the releases are no longer provided.

A staff gauge is located at the putin, at the bottom of the fish ladder on river right. Approximate gauge correlation to cfs: 2.0' = 800 cfs. 2.5' = 1000 cfs. 3.0' = 1500 cfs. 3.5' = 2000 cfs. 4.0' = 2500 cfs.

Gauge Information

Name Range Updated Level
Swan River near Bigfork, MT
usgs-12370000 800 - 4000 cfs 03h03m 499 cfs (rc= -0.1 )

RangeWater LevelComment
800.0000-4000.0000 barely runnable-high runnable

Report - Reports of Swan Bigfork Dam to Flathead R. and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Swan [MT] Bigfork Whitewater Festival n/a Matt Muir
168d16h18m Bigfork Festival [MT] Big Fork Slalom Race n/a Kevin Colburn
3y119d16h48m Swan [MT] Wild Mile dishing it out 3ft? Kevin Colburn

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User Comments


2007-07-27 05:03:04 (835 days ago)
new online whitewater guide for montana area paddling - check it out!
www.montanaeddyhop.blogspot.com Edit

2006-07-12 03:44:53 (1215 days ago)
Chris GormanDetails
There is a closed dirt road along the river. Drive up through big fork past a fly shop as far as
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
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Rapid Descriptions

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