Swan Valley

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Credit: Ted Wood

The Swan Valley is a natural masterpiece of glacier-capped peaks, crystal clear lakes, lush meadows, and productive forestlands. Located between the Bob Marshall and Mission Mountain Wilderness Areas, the Swan Valley is one of the most ecologically diverse areas within the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. The valley provides critical connectivity between the two wilderness areas, particularly for far-ranging animals like the grizzly bear and lynx.

Until recently, land ownership in the Swan Valley formed a checkerboard pattern—one square mile sections alternating in private and public ownership. The largest private landowner was Plum Creek Timberlands (PCT), owning approximately 72,000 acres, many of which were slated for development. To address this looming threat, TPL and local partners, including the Swan Ecosystem Center, led a community-driven, science-based assessment to identify those lands most in need of protection.

Through the Montana Legacy Project, TPL and our partner, The Nature Conservancy, have acquired the entirety of Plum Creek's remaining lands in the valley.