When do the leaves change in Montana?
Western larch, a needle-dropping conifer, turns gold across the Rockies each October alongside aspen groves, especially along Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Bitterroot Valley. Peak usually falls late September into early October.
Peak: October 4–October 16
Color builds from September 22 · mostly bare by October 29
This window comes from 74 weather points across Montana, nudged 2 days earlier to match 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. Against Montana's own climatology, the 2026 weather puts the peak 1 day later. Montana does not turn all at once, and the gap from the earliest corner to the latest runs about 12 days. How the forecast works
Known for
Things to do in fall in Montana
8 iconic stops, including scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Scenic drivePeak September 17
Glacier National Park's 50-mile alpine crossing peaks at Logan Pass, 6,646 feet on the Continental Divide, where subalpine larch needles…
Beartooth Highway
Scenic drivePeak September 29
US 212 climbs from Red Lodge to nearly 11,000 feet across switchbacks above treeline, and Rock Creek Vista Point, just below the summit…
The Bozeman Maze
Corn mazeColor nearby peaks September 28
A family maze farm on the north edge of Bozeman that cuts a new design into the corn every fall, wrapped with hayrides, a mini-train, a…
Montana Corn Maze
Corn mazeColor nearby peaks September 27
West of Bozeman near Manhattan, this six-acre corn maze is cut with three difficulty levels and reached by a wagon ride out to the field.
Spooks and Spirits Haunted Tours
Ghost tourColor nearby peaks September 28
A two hour walking tour through Uptown Butte's mining era streets, stopping at sites tied to the city's documented hauntings, from old…
Harvest Fest at Ravalli County Fairgrounds
Fall festivalColor nearby peaks September 23
Local makers fill heated vendor barns at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds for a fall craft market, with Halloween and holiday goods laid out…
Color nearby peaks September 24
A brand new corn maze cut into the fields at Grass Valley Farms outside Missoula, with three difficulty levels and more than five miles of…
Philipsburg
Historic townColor nearby peaks September 27
A silver mining town gone quiet, with a false front Broadway Street that still looks much like it did a century ago.
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in Montana in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 4–October 16 (best estimate October 10). Color starts around September 22 and trees are mostly bare by October 29.
- How reliable is the Montana forecast?
- The forecast blends recent-year weather normals with photoperiod and elevation; it tightens as the season approaches. Against published peak dates the model lands within a few days for most regions, but it can be a week or more out. Mountains and coastlines are the hardest. Higher elevations turn roughly one day earlier per 300 m.
- When is Montana's autumn season?
- Montana is in the northern hemisphere, so its color season is autumn (September to November). The turn takes roughly 37 days end to end, centered on October 10, and the last 10 of those are thinning canopy rather than color.
- What are the best things to do in fall in Montana?
- The iconic stops: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Beartooth Highway, The Bozeman Maze, Montana Corn Maze, Spooks and Spirits Haunted Tours, Harvest Fest at Ravalli County Fairgrounds. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
Nearby & similar
Season by season
2026 (forecast)
Peak October 4–October 16
September 22 → October 29