Fall in Montana

[Crewleader]

Bannack State Park

Photograph by Tyler Metcalfe

The last rays of sunlight set aspen trees aglow in Bannack State Park, a national historic landmark in southwestern Montana. The park—a popular place for hiking, fishing, and camping—is also home to Montana's best preserved ghost town.




Cafe Regis in Red Lodge

Photograph by Tyler Metcalfe

Martha Young, owner of Cafe Regis in Red Lodge, Montana, carries bounty—garlic and sunflowers—from the greenhouse behind her restaurant. “We make all the food from scratch and harvest from our backyard,” Young says. “Having our own gardens creates a connection to the food that you don’t get other places.”




Kayaking in Glacier National Park

Photograph by Danita Delimont, Getty Images

Hidden from most visitors' eyes, Bowman Lake—reachable only by gravel road—is tucked into the remote North Fork region of Glacier National Park. A small campground, usually uncrowded, is a local favorite.




Great Horned Owl

Photograph by Andrew Kandel, Alamy

A great horned owl cuts a striking figure in a stand of golden cottonwoods near Missoula. The raptor is easily recognizable because of the feather tufts—or “horns”—on its head.



Kootenai National Forest

Photograph by Danita Delimont, Alamy

Bikes loaded down with backcountry supplies, visitors pedal up a hill in Kootenai National Forest. The wild space sprawls over more than 2.2 million acres in northwestern Montana and northeast Idaho—and provides stunning views as summer transitions to fall.




Swan River National Wildlife Refuge

Photograph by Tyler Metcalfe

Browning grasses indicate the approach of fall in Swan River National Wildlife Refuge, a refuge for migratory birds in northwestern Montana. The park is also home to black bears, elk, and deer.




Bugling Elk in Yellowstone

Photograph by Arturo de Frias, Alamy

During the late summer breeding season, the bugling of bull elk echoes through Yellowstone National Park. Males bellow to attract females and to intimidate the competition.




Whitefish River

Photograph by Tyler Metcalfe

A tributary of the Flathead River, Whitefish River winds for 24 miles south of its head in Whitefish Lake. The river is a popular fishing spot.