Public Use Opportunities

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Swan River 

National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome

Swan River National Wildlife Refuge 

(NWR) was acquired by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service in 1973 to be managed for 

the benefit of migratory birds. This 1,568-

acre Refuge is part of the Benton Lake 

NWR Complex and is administered by the 

Refuge staff at Benton Lake NWR located 

just north of Great Falls, Montana. 

Nestled between the Swan Mountains to the 

east and the Mission Mountains to the west, 

the Refuge lies within the Swan River flood 

plain south of Swan Lake. The Swan River 

valley was formed when glacial ice poured 

down the steep slopes of the Mission Range 

into Swan Lake. The valley floor is generally 

flat, but rises steeply to adjacent forested 

mountain sides. Swan River once meandered 

widely through the floodplain, but silt 

deposits gradually forced the river to flow 

along the west side of the valley, leaving a 

series of oxbow sloughs within the Refuge 

floodplain.

Approximately 1,254 acres of the Refuge 

consists of wetland/grassland habitat. Dense 

stands of reed canary grass are mixed with 

native reeds and sedges. Every spring, when 

snowpack begins to melt, run-off from Bond 

Creek, Yew Creek, and Spring Creek merge 

with the inundated Swan River and Swan 

Lake to flood large portions of the Refuge. 

The remaining Refuge acreage consists of 

forested uplands dominated by old growth 

fir, spruce, cedar, and larch. In places, large 

cottonwood trees shade the banks of the 

Swan River.

Wildlife Viewing Opportunities

■The Refuge provides nesting habitat for 23 

species of waterfowl with the most 

common species being mallard, cinnamon 

teal, blue-winged teal, and common 

goldeneye. Other common species include: 

wood duck, ring-necked duck, bufflehead, 

common merganser, and lesser scaup.

■Bald eagles have successfully nested on the 

Refuge for many years. The eagles arrive 

in February to begin nesting and usually 

fledge one or two eaglets in mid-May. 

Transient eagles also use the Refuge; up to 

eight eagles have been spotted at one time.

■Canada geese nest on the Refuge. Spring 

and summer populations increase when 

broods hatched within the Swan River/

Lake system migrate to the Refuge in 

search of food and loafing sites.

■Annual flooding of the Refuge in the late 

spring and early summer provides 

excellent habitat for marsh and water 

birds. Careful observers may spot sandhill 

cranes, American bitterns, great blue 

herons, or pied-billed, red-necked, or 

horned grebes.

■Shorebirds, gulls, and terns that can be 

observed on the Refuge include black 

terns, Wilson’s phalaropes, common snipe, 

American avocets, killdeer, and several 

species of sandpipers.

■Coniferous and deciduous forests on the 

Refuge offer excellent resting and loafing 

sites for many raptor species. Northern 

harriers, Swainson’s hawks, red-tailed 

hawks, and great horned owls are 

commonly observed.

■The Refuge provides excellent seasonal 

and year-round habitat for white-tailed 

deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. Other 

resident and transient wildlife include 

coyote, beaver, muskrat, black bear, and 

raccoon.

■The Swan and Mission Mountain Ranges 

have been designated as critical habitat for 

the grizzly bear. The Refuge serves as an 

important corridor between these two 

ecosystems. Grizzly bears are occasionally 

observed on the Refuge in the spring and 

summer.

Authorized Public Uses

■Visitors are allowed to observe or 

photograph wildlife, hike, cross-country 

ski, or snowshoe on Bog Road Trail 

year-round and in the hunt area during 

waterfowl hunting season.

■Bicycles are permitted on Bog Road Trail 

and on roads open to motorized vehicles.

■Discharge of a firearm for any reason other 

than the legal take of waterfowl is 

prohibited. 

■Persons possessing, transporting, or 

carrying firearms on National Wildlife 

Refuge System lands must comply with all 

provisions of State and local law. Persons 

may only use (discharge) firearms in 

accordance with refuge regulations (50 

CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations 

in 50CFR Part 32). 

■Fishing is allowed per State regulations on 

Swan Lake and Swan River. Fishing is 

only permitted on the portion of Spring 

Creek north of Bog Road Trail and only 

during the waterfowl hunting season.

■Boating is allowed through the Refuge on 

Swan River; this section of the river is 

classified as a “No-Wake Zone.” 

■Motorized vehicle use is restricted to 

Forest Service Road 9714. Bog Road is 

closed west of the parking area to all 

motorized vehicles.

■Horseback riding is not permitted on the 

Refuge.

■Pets must be on a leash and attended at all 

times, except dogs are permitted off-leash 

in the hunt area during waterfowl hunting 

season.

■Collecting, injuring, disturbing, destroying, 

or harming animals, animal parts (including 

antlers) or plants is not permitted.

■Open fires are prohibited.

■Overnight camping is prohibited.

Hunting

■Portions of the Refuge are open to 

waterfowl hunting following Montana 

State Regulations (see map for hunt area). 

All other hunting and trapping is 

prohibited on the Refuge.

■Hunters may possess only approved 

non-toxic shot.

■Temporary portable blinds or blinds 

constructed of natural dead or down 

vegetation may be used.

■All blinds are available on a first-come, 

first-served basis, regardless of who built 

the blind.

■Blinds may not be built on the Refuge prior 

to the opening day of waterfowl hunting 

season.

■All boats, decoys, portable blinds, other 

personal property, and any materials 

brought onto the Refuge for blind 

construction must be removed at the end of 

each day.

This goose, designed by 

J.N. “Ding” Darling, is 

the symbol of the National 

Wildlife Refuge System.
Lime Creek

Accessibility Information 

Equal opportunity to participate in and 

benefit from programs and activities of the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available 

to all individuals regardless of physical or 

mental ability. Dial 711 for a free connection 

to the State relay service for TTY and 

voice calls to and from the speech and 

hearing impaired. For information or to 

address accessibility needs, please contact 

the Refuge staff at 406 / 727 7400, or the 

U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of 

Equal Opportunity, 1849 C Street, NW, 

Washington, D.C. 20240.

Swan River National Wildlife Refuge

Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex

922 Bootlegger Trail

Great Falls, MT 59401

406 / 727 7400

406 / 727 7432 fax

Jim_Lange@fws.gov

http://www.fws.gov/bentonlake/swanriver

For State relay service

TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information

1 800 / 344 WILD

July 2013