Fall flies by in the blink of an eye, and it’s important to soak up the splendor of the season while we can. Due to the early snowfall and chilly temperatures, fall is actually a pretty short season in Montana. So we’ve put together the following bucket list for fall fun in Montana. Give it a read, and then set forth for some fun fall adventures in the Treasure State! 

  1. Take part in at least one festival or classic autumn event.

Big Sky Town Center / Facebook Oktoberfest. Harvestfest. The Bannack Ghost Walk. Halloween festivals. Montana has plenty of fall festivities to choose from, and you’ll be ready to embrace the season after enjoying one. Town Center Avenue, Town Center Ave, Big Sky, MT 59730, USA

  1. Enjoy the fall foliage on a scenic drive down some country roads.

Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr The Bitterroot Valley is an excellent choice, but you’ll find beautiful fall colors to admire statewide. Bitterroot Trail, Hamilton, MT, USABitterroot Drive, Bitterroot Dr, Blendon Township, OH 43081, USA

  1. Go hiking before it’s too cold.

Forest Service, USDA/Flickr You’ve still got time to hit the trail. Pick a place that’s especially gorgeous right now, like the Jewel Basin. Jewel Basin, Montana 59911, USA

  1. Go to Glacier National Park.

Shutter Runner / Flickr You might think of it as a summer destination, but fall is actually the best time to visit Glacier National Park. Some of the park’s attractions close down at the end of September, but the lack of crowds makes it seem even more peaceful. Going-to-the-Sun Road is usually open through October, weather permitting. Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

  1. Enjoy a seasonal delicacy from your local bakery.

Wyatt T / Yelp This is a pumpkin roll from Bozeman’s Daily Coffee Bar, and it tastes even better than it looks. The Daily, 1203 N Rouse Ave #3A, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA

  1. Spend as much time outdoors as you can breathing in the crisp, clean air.

Loco Steve / Flickr Unless you love snow sports, you probably spend a lot of time inside during winter. So spend your October enjoying the great outdoors while you still can to tide you over until next spring. Take a walk every day if you can. Here are some great trails to check out.

  1. Get lost in a corn maze.

Montana Corn Maze/Facebook They’re surprisingly fun! This is an aerial shot of the Montana Corn Maze in Manhattan. Montana Corn Maze, 4605 Cameron Bridge Rd W, Manhattan, MT 59741, USA

  1. Go to a pumpkin patch.

Sweet Pickin’s Pumpkin Patch/Facebook Getting your pumpkins from a pumpkin patch feels so much better than plucking them from a store display. Plus, pumpkin patches usually have hot cider and tasty treats. Sweet Pickins’ Pumpkin Patch, 1990 Holt Stage Rd, Kalispell, MT 59901, USA

  1. Spend a weekend at a cabin enjoying nature.

Blue Sky Cabins Facebook This is something you can do even after the snowfall since cabins are always cozy. This one of the Blue Sky Cabins in Red Lodge. Blue Sky Cabins, 32 Blue Sky Ln, Red Lodge, MT 59068, USA

  1. Gather around a bonfire.

Sampo Sikiö / Flickr Montanans love a nice bonfire. If you don’t have the room to host one yourself, tell your nearest and dearest to meet you in the mountains.

  1. Dress up for Halloween.

Marc Moss / Flickr You know you want to.

  1. Visit a craft fair or bazaar.

Little Red Truck Vintage Market Facebook Summer is Farmers Market season in Montana, but October and November are packed with weekend craft fairs where you can buy local handmade items and get ahead on your holiday shopping.

  1. Enjoy all the seasonal delicacies of autumn.

Katie / Flickr Apples. Apple pie. Pears. Root veggies. And yes, pumpkin spice everything. Fall is a wonderful season for foodies. Pies for days!

  1. Be thankful you live in Montana.

minonda / Flickr Because really, it doesn’t get better than calling the Treasure State home.

How many of these things can you do before December? How many of these bucket list activities have you already checked off your fall fun list in Montana?

Big Sky Town Center / Facebook

Oktoberfest. Harvestfest. The Bannack Ghost Walk. Halloween festivals. Montana has plenty of fall festivities to choose from, and you’ll be ready to embrace the season after enjoying one.

Town Center Avenue, Town Center Ave, Big Sky, MT 59730, USA

Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr

The Bitterroot Valley is an excellent choice, but you’ll find beautiful fall colors to admire statewide.

Bitterroot Trail, Hamilton, MT, USABitterroot Drive, Bitterroot Dr, Blendon Township, OH 43081, USA

Forest Service, USDA/Flickr

You’ve still got time to hit the trail. Pick a place that’s especially gorgeous right now, like the Jewel Basin.

Jewel Basin, Montana 59911, USA

Shutter Runner / Flickr

You might think of it as a summer destination, but fall is actually the best time to visit Glacier National Park. Some of the park’s attractions close down at the end of September, but the lack of crowds makes it seem even more peaceful. Going-to-the-Sun Road is usually open through October, weather permitting.

Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Wyatt T / Yelp

This is a pumpkin roll from Bozeman’s Daily Coffee Bar, and it tastes even better than it looks.

The Daily, 1203 N Rouse Ave #3A, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA

Loco Steve / Flickr

Unless you love snow sports, you probably spend a lot of time inside during winter. So spend your October enjoying the great outdoors while you still can to tide you over until next spring. Take a walk every day if you can. Here are some great trails to check out.

Montana Corn Maze/Facebook

They’re surprisingly fun! This is an aerial shot of the Montana Corn Maze in Manhattan.

Montana Corn Maze, 4605 Cameron Bridge Rd W, Manhattan, MT 59741, USA

Sweet Pickin’s Pumpkin Patch/Facebook

Getting your pumpkins from a pumpkin patch feels so much better than plucking them from a store display. Plus, pumpkin patches usually have hot cider and tasty treats.

Sweet Pickins’ Pumpkin Patch, 1990 Holt Stage Rd, Kalispell, MT 59901, USA

Blue Sky Cabins Facebook

This is something you can do even after the snowfall since cabins are always cozy. This one of the Blue Sky Cabins in Red Lodge.

Blue Sky Cabins, 32 Blue Sky Ln, Red Lodge, MT 59068, USA

Sampo Sikiö / Flickr

Montanans love a nice bonfire. If you don’t have the room to host one yourself, tell your nearest and dearest to meet you in the mountains.

Marc Moss / Flickr

You know you want to.

Little Red Truck Vintage Market Facebook

Summer is Farmers Market season in Montana, but October and November are packed with weekend craft fairs where you can buy local handmade items and get ahead on your holiday shopping.

Katie / Flickr

Apples. Apple pie. Pears. Root veggies. And yes, pumpkin spice everything. Fall is a wonderful season for foodies. Pies for days!

minonda / Flickr

Because really, it doesn’t get better than calling the Treasure State home.

Our state really is a beautiful place in any season. In case you need a reminder of why Montana is the best state, read this.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Fall fun in Montana October 04, 2021 Sarah What’s the best season to visit Montana? Here’s the thing: the Treasure State is always beautiful, no matter when you visit. There are many reasons why Montana is one of the most coveted scenic states in the country: the expansive land, distant mountain ranges, and unfettered natural attractions all come to mind. But we have a few other reasons why visiting Montana is a worthwhile venture, and they include the changing of the seasons. Depending on the time of year in Montana, there are different seasonal activities to participate in. For instance, have you ever wanted to take a sleigh ride the plains? How about picking your own pumpkins at a nearby pumpkin patch? Do you know the best place to view Monarch butterfly migration in the fall? The Treasure State offers a uniquely wonderful adventure depending on the season, and our guide to the best seasonal activities in Montana will get you prepared. What’s fall like in Montana? Fall is a rather short season that always seems to go by in the blink of an eye! But if you’re in Montana in the fall, expect beautiful colors and scenery, plus lots of buzzing and busy wildlife. Wondering when to expect fall foliage around your neck of the woods? Check out this article! What are some scenic places to explore during the fall in Montana? Gas up the car – we have the most amazing fall foliage road trip in Montana that you’re absolutely going to want to take! This road trip to the best fall foliage in Montana takes you from Missoula up to Glacier National Park, then to the northwest corner of the state before looping back. Take a long weekend and see Montana like you’ve never seen it before, in the golden glow of autumn.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Fall fun in Montana

October 04, 2021

Sarah

What’s the best season to visit Montana? Here’s the thing: the Treasure State is always beautiful, no matter when you visit. There are many reasons why Montana is one of the most coveted scenic states in the country: the expansive land, distant mountain ranges, and unfettered natural attractions all come to mind. But we have a few other reasons why visiting Montana is a worthwhile venture, and they include the changing of the seasons. Depending on the time of year in Montana, there are different seasonal activities to participate in. For instance, have you ever wanted to take a sleigh ride the plains? How about picking your own pumpkins at a nearby pumpkin patch? Do you know the best place to view Monarch butterfly migration in the fall? The Treasure State offers a uniquely wonderful adventure depending on the season, and our guide to the best seasonal activities in Montana will get you prepared. What’s fall like in Montana? Fall is a rather short season that always seems to go by in the blink of an eye! But if you’re in Montana in the fall, expect beautiful colors and scenery, plus lots of buzzing and busy wildlife. Wondering when to expect fall foliage around your neck of the woods? Check out this article! What are some scenic places to explore during the fall in Montana? Gas up the car – we have the most amazing fall foliage road trip in Montana that you’re absolutely going to want to take! This road trip to the best fall foliage in Montana takes you from Missoula up to Glacier National Park, then to the northwest corner of the state before looping back. Take a long weekend and see Montana like you’ve never seen it before, in the golden glow of autumn.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Here’s the thing: the Treasure State is always beautiful, no matter when you visit. There are many reasons why Montana is one of the most coveted scenic states in the country: the expansive land, distant mountain ranges, and unfettered natural attractions all come to mind. But we have a few other reasons why visiting Montana is a worthwhile venture, and they include the changing of the seasons. Depending on the time of year in Montana, there are different seasonal activities to participate in. For instance, have you ever wanted to take a sleigh ride the plains? How about picking your own pumpkins at a nearby pumpkin patch? Do you know the best place to view Monarch butterfly migration in the fall? The Treasure State offers a uniquely wonderful adventure depending on the season, and our guide to the best seasonal activities in Montana will get you prepared.

What’s fall like in Montana?

Fall is a rather short season that always seems to go by in the blink of an eye! But if you’re in Montana in the fall, expect beautiful colors and scenery, plus lots of buzzing and busy wildlife. Wondering when to expect fall foliage around your neck of the woods? Check out this article!

What are some scenic places to explore during the fall in Montana?

Gas up the car – we have the most amazing fall foliage road trip in Montana that you’re absolutely going to want to take! This road trip to the best fall foliage in Montana takes you from Missoula up to Glacier National Park, then to the northwest corner of the state before looping back. Take a long weekend and see Montana like you’ve never seen it before, in the golden glow of autumn.