Alpine vistas abound from Six Mile Trail

There is no shortage of visually stunning trails in the Swan Range, which is not to say that they're all accessible by early July, since snowshoeing can be tricky in wet snow.

In fact, my last couple of ventures into the Jewel Basin met with only disappointment, as the trails still suffered from a fair amount of wet, heavy snow—my least favorite for hiking. So I was delighted to discover Six Mile Trail, near Swan Lake, last week.

My hiking excursions have become famous among my friends and family, and it was time for me to take a couple of teenage boys, relatives who live in Columbia Falls, along for one of my hikes, accompanied by one of their friends from Alaska.

I've had an itch to get into the Swan, but I didn't want to go as far south as Inspiration Point. I decided that Six Mile Trail, which begins just north of the town of Swan Lake, stood a good chance of being snow free, while furnishing my young charges with a memorable hike and plenty of nice vistas.

I wasn't sure if we'd make it the entire way, since the Alaskan isn't use to hiking and I didn't know if we'd encounter snow on the trail. Fortunately, the trail was in near perfect condition, with only a few patches of snow at higher altitudes.

Six Mile Trail itself climbs about four miles around Six Mile Mountain, beginning at an elevation of 4,000 feet and ending at just under 6,440 feet. Six Mile Trail terminates at a junction with Alpine Trail #7, which traverses the Swan Range front for a 70-mile stretch, between Columbia Mountain and Inspiration Point on the northwestern boundary of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

From the junction with Alpine Trail #7, hikers have a couple of choices. Six Mile Peak (elevation 7,406 feet) lies another mile and a half to the north and affords panoramic views of the three major bodies of water — Swan Lake, Flathead Lake and Hungry Horse Reservoir — as well as views into the Jewel Basin, Glacier National Park, the Hungry Horse recreation area, the Great Bear Wilderness and the Bob Marshall, with the Mission Mountains in the southeast.

To the south of the trail junction, Hall Peak (elevation 6,804 feet) proves to be a much more strenuous hike, involving about a half-mile bushwhack to the top once you leave the trail, unless you continue on to Bond and Trinkus Lakes.

It was a struggle for our Alaskan friend to make it as far as Alpine Trail #7, but the other two teenagers were ready to go on to Six Mile Peak.

We decided to take a break atop a nearby ridge, where we enjoyed some highly photographic views of the surrounding area, including down into the Swan Valley and part of Swan Lake. After a quick bite and a bit of rest, we decided to go on to Six Mile Mountain.

From the Six Mile trailhead to the junction with Alpine Trail #7, the trail gains more than 2,400 feet over four miles, although the worst of it is experienced early on, in the first mile of the trail. From the junction to Six Mile Peak, the trail gains an additional 1,000 feet over a mile and a half.

While the elevation gain is enough to provide a good work out, it is not so strenuous as to be exhausting. It is the kind of trail that one might easily take a visitor on without the fear of overdoing it, while still introducing them to the quintessential Northwest Montana experience — one that will make them feel like they've been to the top of the world and glimpsed what lies beyond.

Our Alaskan friend didn't quite make it to the top, but I was surprised that he had made it as far as he had, since he had almost no experience hiking and none whatsoever with progressive elevation gain. For anyone who is remotely athletic, Six Mile Mountain would be no problem and should be considered a must.

What's more, the trailhead is easily accessible. Just 14 miles south of Bigfork on the Swan Highway (Montana Highway 83), turn left immediately after the Sinclair gas station, between mile markers 71 and 72, onto county road 9508—if you are approaching the Swan Lake Campground, you've gone too far. On road 9508, drive another four miles up the gravel road to the trailhead, which is marked by a large sign reading Six Mile LO.

The trail lies on the left, just beyond the sign. There is a small pullout, where hikers can leave their vehicle. There is seldom competition for parking, and most hikers never pass more than one or two other adventurers on the trail.

Once on the trail, there are a couple of places where the ground levels off and wildflowers seem to conceal a trail going in both directions. Ignore these meadow-like paths completely. There is also one well-worn trail that branches off to the left and eventually reaches a lake. When you see this trail, keep right if you're headed to Alpine Trail #7 and Six Mile Peak.