If you feel like fall arrives early in Montana, it isn’t merely your imagination. Here, fall foliage season starts in mid-September, and you’ve probably already noticed how many leaves have started to turn. If you’d like to take in those autumn hues before snow covers the ground, fuel up and hit the road within the next few weeks — fall colors are already vivid on higher elevations, while lower elevations will see a peak in early October.

In the days before the Autumn Equinox, western Montana goes from green to gold and yellow.

JD Hascup / Flickr The Bitterroot Valley, south of Missoula, turns into a leaf-peeping paradise almost overnight.

If you live near the Bitterroot Valley, take a nice scenic drive through the area on Highway 93, surrounded by the Bitterroot Mountains on one side and the Sapphire Mountains on the other.

Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr You’ll be surrounded by beautiful bronze foliage, and the scenery here is fantastic in any season.

If you live in the Flathead area, late September and early October are especially enchanting…

JD Hascup / Flickr

…and then, of course, there’s Glacier National Park.

NatureLifePhoto / Flickr The North Fork of the Flathead River has an abundance of aspens that go golden early in the season, with the colors promptly spreading through the park.

Bowman Lake is surrounded by a lush forest that looks amazing in the autumn, and the shores of Lake McDonald has a fierce fall foliage display as well.

JD Hascup / Flickr And if you can make it all the way up to the outlet for Kinta Creek from Lower Kinta Lake in the northwest corner of the park, you’re in for a visual delight.

In East Glacier, Two Medicine Valley should be your destination of choice.

Loco Steve / Flickr And if you can drive Going-to-the-Sun Road before it closes for the season, you can cross the park from west to east.

If you’re lucky enough to live within driving distance of Montana’s most colorful spots, don’t miss the chance to explore them in the weeks to come.

Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr Custer Gallatin National Forest and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness east of Gardiner are also great leaf-peeping areas.

Do you have any Montana fall traditions? Share them with us in the comments!

JD Hascup / Flickr

The Bitterroot Valley, south of Missoula, turns into a leaf-peeping paradise almost overnight.

Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr

You’ll be surrounded by beautiful bronze foliage, and the scenery here is fantastic in any season.

JD Hascup / Flickr

NatureLifePhoto / Flickr

The North Fork of the Flathead River has an abundance of aspens that go golden early in the season, with the colors promptly spreading through the park.

And if you can make it all the way up to the outlet for Kinta Creek from Lower Kinta Lake in the northwest corner of the park, you’re in for a visual delight.

Loco Steve / Flickr

And if you can drive Going-to-the-Sun Road before it closes for the season, you can cross the park from west to east.

Custer Gallatin National Forest and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness east of Gardiner are also great leaf-peeping areas.

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Address: Glacier National Park, Montana, USAAddress: Flathead River, Montana, USAAddress: Gallatin National Forest, Montana 59027, USA