Places to See Fall Colors in Southwest Montana

Late September in Southwest Montana means frost on the windshield in the morning and a jacket you’ll shed by noon. The aspens above Georgetown Lake flicker gold, the cottonwoods along the Big Hole start to turn, and elk bugle from the forests.

This is when fall colors start showing up across the region, and they typically hold into mid-October as the gold works its way down from the high country into the valleys. Here are five of our favorite places to see the fall colors, from the summit of Mount Helena to the cottonwoods at Bannack:

1. Mount Helena City Park

Right above downtown Helena is the iconic Mount Helena City Park, boasting a robust trail system connecting with the larger South Hills trail network, with over 40 miles of trails popular for hiking, trail running and mountain biking.

View of downtown Helena, Montana, from Mount Helena City Park in early October, with fall colors in yellow, gold, and green across the city's tree canopy. The twin spires of the Cathedral of St. Helena rise above brick buildings on the left, while orange and rust-colored shrubs and a young conifer stand in golden grass in the foreground. Beyond town, the Helena Valley stretches toward distant mountains under a deep blue sky full of white cumulus and wispy clouds, a classic fall foliage view in Southwest Montana. Photo by Alyssa Starr, Tempest Technologies LLC. — Fall colors over downtown Helena and the Cathedral of St. Helena, seen from Mount Helena City Park in early October, 2025 | Photo by Alyssa Starr, Tempest Technologies

The fall views here, however, aren’t necessarily on the trail itself; they’re below you. Between the trailhead and the summit of Mount Helena, you’ll gain about 1,100 feet in elevation. The entire park offers sweeping views of the valley below, dotted in yellow, gold, and red from the changing leaves. So even if you don’t take the most popular route, the 1906 Trail to the summit, you’ll be met with impressive views of the Mansion District, Cathedral of Saint Helena, and the rest of the valley as it sprawls out towards the Sleeping Giant.

2. Ovando

The small town of Ovando is located along the Montana Scenic Loop in sprawling ranch country within the Blackfoot River Valley, flanked by the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex to the north and the Garnet Mountains to the south. Cottonwoods and aspens along the Blackfoot River near Ovando and around Browns Lake are the first to change. Then the larch on the slopes above the valley take over, going gold through October after much of the region has started to go bare.

Take a walk around town and enjoy the fall foliage. If you’re looking for something a little bit spookier, check out Garnet Ghost Town, about 30 miles south of Ovando, and a beautiful drive between.

Aspens with bright yellow fall leaves line a curving dirt road near Ovando, Montana, with fallen leaves scattered across the grass and the two-track path. Beyond the grove, a weathered wooden barn with a pale blue metal roof sits in an open meadow, backed by dark evergreens and more golden aspens in the Blackfoot River Valley, a fall foliage scene in Southwest Montana. Photo by Mike Dreesman, Tempest Technologies LLC. — Fall aspens near Ovando | Photo by Mike Dreesman, Tempest Technologies

3. Big Hole River

The Big Hole River runs about 150 miles from Skinner Lake to its confluence with the Beaverhead near Twin Bridges, and the fall colors change along the way. In the upper Big Hole Valley, willows turn yellow along the braided channels, and the hay meadows fade to gold between the Anaconda Range and the Pioneers. Near Wise River, the river narrows into a canyon. Below Divide, it opens onto a wide plain lined with cottonwoods that glow in October.

Fall is also a good time to fish the Big Hole, one of the many blue-ribbon trout streams in Southwest Montana. This time of year, there are fewer anglers on the water, and the brown trout are feeding hard before winter.

Cottonwoods and willows in gold, yellow, and orange line both banks of the Big Hole River near Melrose, Montana, with a few trees still holding green leaves. Clear blue water riffles past a small grassy island and a rocky gravel bar in the foreground, while a tan, grassy mountain with timbered upper slopes rises in the distance under a cloudless sky, a fall foliage scene along one of Southwest Montana's blue-ribbon trout streams. Photo by Rick Graetz. — Fall cottonwoods along the Big Hole River near Melrose, Montana | Photo by Rick Graetz

4. Pintler Veterans Memorial Scenic Route

If you’re driving between Butte and Missoula this fall, trade a stretch of I-90 for the Pintler Veterans’ Memorial Scenic Highway. The 64-mile route leaves the interstate at Anaconda, climbs to Georgetown Lake, and drops into the Flint Creek Valley before rejoining I-90 in Drummond. It’s one of our favorite scenic drives to take during the fall, and for good reason. Aspens turn gold on the hillsides around the lake, fresh snow sometimes dusts the peaks of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, and cottonwoods dot the way through the valley towards Philipsburg.

Give yourself plenty of time for stops on this route. Anaconda is chock-full of history and small-town hospitality; Georgetown Lake is gorgeous and an excellent place to spot birds and wildlife during the fall. Then spend the afternoon in Philipsburg perusing Broadway Street, with chocolates from the Sweet Palace, sapphires, and a microbrew from Philipsburg Brewing Company.

Aerial view of Rock Creek in the Flint Creek Valley near Philipsburg, MT. Photo by Mike Dreesman, Tempest Technologies. — Rock Creek near Philipsburg, MT | Photo by Mike Dreesman, Tempest Technologies

5. Bannack State Park

In 1862, prospectors struck gold in Grashopper Creek, and the strike sparked the town of Bannack. By 1863, more than 3,000 people lived in Bannack, but when the gold played out, the people went with it. Today, more than 50 buildings still line Main Street in Montana’s best-preserved ghost town. In the fall, the willows and cottonwoods along the creek turn gold around them.

For two nights each October, living history interpreters and costumed actors fill the streets of Bannack State Park for a Ghost Walk. Guides lead you through town while scenes from Bannack’s darkest moments play out after sundown. Tickets are limited and sell out most years. If you can’t make the Ghost Walk, the park is still worth a fall visit for the color along the creek and the history behind every building.

The red brick Hotel Meade, with its name lettered across the front and a wooden balcony above the entrance, rises behind weathered log cabins at Bannack State Park in Montana. A large cottonwood turns golden orange beside the hotel, bright orange leaves frame the right side of the scene, and green pine branches fill the foreground. A sagebrush hillside dotted with junipers rises behind the ghost town, a fall foliage scene in Southwest Montana. Photo by Roger Kasak, Bannack State Park. — The Hotel Meade in fall | Photo by Roger Kasak, Assistant Park Manager at Bannack State Park

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the leaves peak in Southwest Montana and how long do they last?

Every year is different, but the region typically starts to see fall colors in mid to late September, beginning in the high country and working its way down to the valleys. Fall colors can last anywhere between 4 and 8 weeks. Check out this fall foliage map that estimates peak colors around the state.

What’s the weather like in fall? Will it snow?

The mornings are crisp but give way to sunny, warm, beautiful afternoons. So bring your layers, and prepare to shed them. In Montana, snow is always on the table, especially at high elevations. A fresh dusting of snow over trees already tinted gold creates a seriously impressive view.

A grove of golden aspens stands out against fresh snow in a mountain canyon near Butte, Montana. Snow-dusted evergreens and boulders cover the steep slopes, a dark steel railroad trestle spans the canyon above the aspens, and low clouds settle over the ridgeline, an early-season snow and fall foliage scene in Southwest Montana. Photo by Rick Graetz. — Early snow and fall aspens near Butte | Photo by Rick Graetz

Are campgrounds still open during the fall? What about restaurants and hotels?

Yes! Many private campgrounds are still open, though some public campgrounds may be closed for the season. Hotels and restaurants are all still reliably open. If you’re planning to stay in one of Southwest Montana’s smaller communities, it’s worth calling ahead to a restaurant beforehand to confirm hours.

Where can I spot wildlife in Southwest Montana during the fall?

Fall is arguably the best time to spot wildlife in Southwest Montana as they gear up for the winter ahead. Check out this blog post that rounds up our favorite places to spot wildlife in Southwest Montana in the fall.