It’s the leaf-peeping season in Montana! Time to head to Big Sky Country to see the spectacular scenery bursting with color right now!
To save you time on where to go to see the best of Mother Nature, our real estate office in Montana which specializes in Lakefront properties is offering their top picks for “leaf peeing” this year in Montana.
Here’s an important tip: Our colors change quickly when the temperatures drop, and they often blanket the ground by late September and early October. So, pack that picnic, bring the camera, and get ready for dazzling days and jaw-dropping colors!
Top Spots to See the Colors Change in Montana
First, a little background. Montana is the fourth largest American state, featuring over 3,000 named mountains and 100+ ranges. These statistics confirm that there are some of the most scenic sights to be found to soak up the grandeur within. And now, here is the list of the top spots to see the fall colors in Montana – from north to south, east to west!
Glacier National Park
Different from the busy summer months, reservations to get into the park are no longer necessary after September 8. With over 700 miles of trails wrapped with landscapes steeped in Mother Nature’s best assets, the Park is one of our top recommendations. Throughout the Park you will enjoy its showcase of glaciers, wandering meadows and rivers carving their way into the valleys below. It’s a glorious time, too, to kayak or canoe across the Park’s turquoise-laden lakes.
Flathead Lake
With 185 miles of shoreline wrapping around the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, you are guaranteed to set sights on some of Montana’s Northwest showcase of colors bathed in hues of honey and gold. The north end will showcase its colors first, followed not too long after the Lake’s south edges lined with Aspens turn their classic yellow colors. There are two routes: the west side along Highway 93 or the east via Highway 35. Both will provide opportunities to stop at the Lake’s varied small communities to shop, eat and absorb the best of the fall season.
Kootenai Falls
Home to one of the largest free-flowing waterfalls in the northwest, the Falls offer several options to see the trees that line this spectacular scene. For the more adventurous, walk along the famous swinging rope bridge for a breathtaking view high above 30-foot waterfall and the rushing water below. For the more casual approach, there is a hiking trail that wanders down to another fork in the river where Autumn unfolds before you.
Bitterroot Valley
The southwest corner of Montana offers its own storybook setting throughout the Bitterroot Valley. It’s as prime for a fall fishing adventure as it is for capturing the colors of the season. Along its 96-mile trek on Highway 93, you will be traveling through some of the state’s more popular small towns to raise a family – with the Bitterroot Range to the west and the Sapphire Mountains to the east.
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
In Central and North-Central Montana, the Lewis and Clark National Forest stretches over 2.8 million acres. It’s home to six ranger districts and comprised of mountain ranges bisected by the Missouri River and the famous Continental Divide. No matter where you roam, those gorgeous fall colors await you and yours throughout the fall months. The region is so expansive we recommend you purchase your choice of maps through the Helena-Lewis and Clark store.
Yellowstone National Park
Within Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres, you have one of America’s unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain about half the world’s active geysers, and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River – and leaf peep to your heart’s content! The top times to do so are as early as mid-September in the higher elevations and perhaps as late as the end of October – depending on the weather.
Southeast Montana
Not to be outvoted by our expansive list of National Parks, Southeast Montana is always on our top 10 list for exploring the endless wonders of the Treasure State. With miles and miles of rich farmland and ranches, this is the place to explore the true essence of “backcountry drives” lined with its far-reaching expanse of golden hay and corn fields and classic scenes of crop harvesting throughout the fall season.
Live the Colorful Life in Montana
For more insight on where you can see or live within the ‘fairytale’ sights of the fall colors in Montana, contact our family at Hollinger Real Estate in Bigfork, Montana. We are always delighted to show you some of our top leaf-peeping havens in a place we are honored to call home.
