Summary 
| Difficulty | 2-3 Beginner-intermediate to intermediate |
| Length | Up to 8.2 miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
7450 |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
Up to +1300, -1300 round trip |
| Navigation | Road and map |
| Time | Up to most of a day |
| Season | Mid-December through mid-April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Low |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Mount Jackson, Mount Patterson |
| Start | North side of Highway 395, 1.1 miles east of Devils Gate Summit. Usually a small parking area is plowed at the starting point. |
Description
Tucked away in the Sweetwater Mountains is narrow Swauger Canyon. This canyon is so well sheltered that snow still blankets it when the snow in surrounding areas has melted away.
Although the first mile of this tour gets tracked by the people living in the canyon, you will probably find yourself all alone. Advanced skiers seeking a long one-way tour with some excellent telemarking terrain should consider the Burcham Flat to Swauger Canyon tour, which ends with a descent of Swauger Canyon.
The first 2.5 miles of this tour is through private property but over a public access road. Please respect the property rights of the landowners by staying on the road until you are north of the East Fork of Swauger Creek.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 1.2
Elevation change: +300
From the trailhead (1), ski north on the snow-covered road for 1.2 miles until you reach Swauger Creek (2). One-tenth mile before reaching the creek you will pass a large home on the east (right) side of the road.
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 1.2 - 1.9
Elevation change: +250
Continue north on the road for 0.7 mile until you reach a cabin (3) located on the west (left) side of the road. When you reach the cabin, you are just entering a meadow that the locals call "E-Z Does It Meadow."
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 1.9 - 2.5
Elevation change: +200
Continue north on the road for 0.6 mile, skirting the east (right) side of the meadow, until you reach the East Fork of Swauger Creek (4) where there is another cabin located in the meadow.
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 2.5 - 4.1
Elevation change: +550
Continue north on the road as it climbs gradually up narrowing Swauger Canyon for 1.6 miles until the terrain abruptly becomes steeper (5). In this section, when the road disappears, pick a route along the east (right) side of the creek.
The farthest point of this tour is the location beyond which the land rises 850 feet to a saddle from which you would descend on the Burcham Flat to Swauger Canyon tour.
Return to trailhead
Miles: 4.1 - 8.2
Elevation change: -1300
Retrace the route for 4.1 miles back to the trailhead (1).
