Swede Mountain Runabout

This trail provides a wonderful showcase of the Kootenai National Forest's beauty. Once leaving the pavement, a maintained gravel road takes you up and over Swede Mountain and down to the Fischer River. The road is the main access to the Swede Mountain Fire Lookout Tower which is still "manned". The road presents excellent views of the Cabinet Mountain Range along with the chance to see multiple species of wildlife and beautiful wildflowers. The trail can hold snow into mid-spring but is normally melted by mid-May. There are plenty of places to stop for lunch, along with an abundant amount of side spurs and roads to explore.