Top Things to Do in Southwest Montana this Fall
I have a hard time thinking of September as fall. The days are still warm and sunny. Plants are still green, and the world has not yet been invaded by pumpkin spice masquerading as a legitimate flavor. But. Fall is coming. The crispness will turn to coldness. The leaves will turn to orange. You will regret your decision not to bring a jacket. You must take measures to prepare yourself for the crisp fall air, the rioting fall colors, and the profusion of gourds (Oh! The Humanity!), and the flood of cider. This year, I’m not quite sure how I feel about the coming of fall, I was really enjoying summer. But then I started thinking about all the things there are to do in Southwest Montana during the fall, and I started to get excited:
Fishing: Fall means fewer anglers and more aggressive fish. Make sure to check the weather before you go, though, fall weather can be finicky.
Hot Springs: Fall is a great time to hit up one of southwest Montana’s many hot springs. The crisp fall weather will make you relish the hot springs even more. And fall adds a different dimension to the scenery around the springs.
Fall Festivals: Summer may be peak festival time, but there are still plenty of fall themed festivals to choose from. Including the Butte-toberfest, Townsend’s Fall Festival, Tizer Garden’s Scarecrow Fest and many more.
Hunting: With Southwest Montana’s diverse terrain, fall offers the chance to hunt deer, antelope, elk, waterfowl and gamebirds.
Ghost Towns: Some of the buildings might be closed down for the winter, but visiting ghost towns in the fall-with the deciduous trees looming around you-makes it a far different experience from visiting in the heat of summer.
Animals-Many animals, including elk, move down to lower elevations during the fall, making your chances of spotting SWMT’s many species all the better.
High School Sports: Nothing is quite the same as watching a high school football game, maybe while munching on a hamburger or a walking taco from the concession stand. With volleyball, soccer, and cross country going on too, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Ghost Tours/Cemeteries: Bannack, Virginia City, Helena, and Butte all offer ghost tours during the fall. Or you can visit one of the region’s many historic cemeteries for a slightly creepy twist on Southwest Montana history.
Even if you’re not sure how you feel about the end of summer, there are so many fun things happening in Southwest Montana this fall you can’t help but be excited for fall!
