A New Generation Outfitter

Swan Mountain is focused on providing top quality customer service for our guests. Over the last several years, owner Pat Tabor has been consulting with the outdoor recreation industry based on his business acumen, personal vacation experience and first-hand operating knowledge of the industry. This collective experience has enabled him to identify the attributes of many of the finest outfitters and bring this knowledge to Swan Mountain Snowmobiling. This expertise, combined with his dedication to a collaborative business model and first-hand knowledge gained through almost three decades in the corporate world, makes Pat unique among Montana outfitters.

Swan Mountain Snowmobiling is under US Forest Service permit to take guests snowmobiling on the Flathead National Forest. We are a proud member of the following industry associations, Pat’s positions being listed:

  • Member – Flathead Snowmobile Association
  • Member – Montana Snowmobile Association
  • Member – Gateway to Glacier – The Canyon Business Owner’s Association
  • Member – Bigfork Chamber of Commerce
  • Member – Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce
  • Member – Whitefish Chamber of Commerce
  • Member – Flathead Convention & Visitor Bureau
  • Member – Swan-Mission Search & Rescue
  • Member American Outdoors Association (Regular Speaker)
  • President-Professional Wilderness Outfitters Association (PWOA)
  • Board Member-Montana Guides and Outfitters Association (MOGA)

History of The Swan Group of Companies

The Swan Group of Companies began in 2004 when Pat initially formed Swan Mountain Outfitters, with the purchase of Lion Creek Outfitters. The outfitter base camp was conveniently located just 12 miles south of the Tabors’ 40 acre ranch in Swan Lake. Over the next few years Pat and his wife, Joanne, worked to establish Swan Mountain Outfitters as a premier provider of Montana family vacations by offering high quality summer wilderness pack trips, float and fishing trips, custom trail rides and guided hunting trips in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

The Tabors began to use their home (now named Swan Mountain Ranch) as a unique guest ranch facility to complement their summer activities and fall hunting trips. Additionally, Swan Mountain Ranch offers year round lodging with cabin and room rentals.

In 2006, Pat Tabor responded to and won a National Park Service RFP to operate the horseback concession in Glacier National Park. As a result Swan Mountain Outfitters – Glacier Division was born. Pat and Joanne recruited their daughter and son-in-law, Aubrie and Erik Loroña, to run the new business as the exclusive providers of Glacier National Park trail rides and drop camp services. Shortly after commencing operations in Glacier National Park, the family recognized a demand for, but lack of, quality training programs for horseback-based jobs. To solve this dilemma, they created Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School that same year. Through a series of unique courses including a 4-5 week wilderness guide school, a 10 day outfitter training program and several week long specialty training programs for hunters and adventurers, wranglers, packers, backcountry cooks and waterfowl guides, the school now offers the best guide school instruction and adventurer training taught by a significant staff of recognized experts and professionals.

Things remained relatively quiet until 2010 when the family welcomed the addition of their son/brother, Patrick Tabor, to the staff and added Swan Mountain Llama Trekking to the company mix. In the spring, Swan Mountain Llama Trekking was created by the purchase of Great Northern Llama Company from Steve and Sue Rolfing. The Rolfings first bought llamas in 1979 to carry Steve’s timber cruising equipment for his U.S. Forest Service work in the mountains of northwest Montana. That was the beginning of Great Northern Llama Company, America’s oldest llama pack trip outfitter and guide service.  Swan Mountain Llama Trekking has kept the service, llama application and routes the same much as it was at the very beginning – offering a wide spectrum of guided llama treks for novice and experienced hikers alike in the beautiful Glacier Country of Northwest Montana.

With the addition of Swan Mountain Snowmobiling, the Tabors and Loroña’s feel privileged to make a career out of their passion and offer year round adventure to the Flathead Valley!

Find out why Swan Mountain Snowmobiling is your family’s best choice for snowmobiling in Glacier Country, Montana!