Crashing through brush in the shadow of Glacier National Park, Alger Swingley navigates a faint Jeep trail with ease while pointing out native flowers and berries to his evening guests.
As owner of Blackfeet Outfitters, Swingley operates a guide service year round, showcasing the rivers and forests in his backyard and entertaining visitors through Jeep tours, guided hiking, fishing and rafting trips and big game hunts.
There are no crowds. Few tourists know it exists, but Swingley knows the where the trails lead – to vistas, wildlife habitats and unpressured fishing holes.
Swingley employs a handful of guides, all of whom are enrolled members of the Blackfeet tribe. In addition to sharing knowledge of the land, the trips offer guests a chance to learn about the culture and history of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
“I’m pretty lucky. I work hard to be able to enjoy these kinds of moments,” Swingley says, watching his guests cool off in a creek as the sun sets behind the peaks in Glacier National Park. “It’s a pretty special part of life.”
