Recreation Region: Clark Fork River Area

#912 Swamp Creek Trailhead & Buck Lake #912

This Cabinet Mountains Wilderness trail follows Swamp Creek drainage to Lost Buck Pass, and Trail #912A ends at Buck Lake. From Lost Buck Pass, Lake Creek Trail #656 drops into Upper and Lower Geiger Lakes, and South Divide Trail #360S follows a major ridgeline out to the southern boundary of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness. Buck Lake Trail #912A ends at Buck Lake where there are a couple dispersed campsites and the lake contains small cutthroat trout.

The trail crosses Swamp Creek at approximately the 8 mile mark. This is a major stream crossing that can be challenging and dangerous for most of the year. There are other minor stream crossings that usually do not pose any major difficulties for travelers.

Swamp Creek Trail #912 & Buck Lake Trail #912A

Current Conditions

Both Swamp Creek Trail #912 and Buck Lake Trail #912A are Trail Class 3 trails. The trail tread and corridor will be very well defined and visible. Trail #912 up to the junction with #912A is cleared every year.The portion of Trail #912 up to Lost Buck Pass is cleared every three years. Trail #912A is cleared every year. Please contact the Cabinet Ranger Station for current trail conditions.

General Information

No motorized or mechanized vehicles.
Properly possess and store all food, refuse, and other attractants pursuant to Kootenai National Forest Food Storage Order (CFR 261.58 (cc)).
Please practice Pack-in-Pack-out and Leave-No-Trace ethics.
Cabinet Mountains Wilderness has limits on the number of persons and stock when traveling in parties. Included is a list of all prohibited acts. You can learn more about wilderness by visiting Wilderness.net