Montana Fall Foliage 2026
Montana runs two fall seasons. Aspens and cottonwoods in the valleys along the Rocky Mountain Front and around Flathead Lake peak in late September. Western larch, a deciduous conifer found at higher elevations in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Glacier National Park backcountry, turns brilliant gold from late October into early November, often against fresh snow.
When Montana peaks
Sep 11 – Sep 19
Centered on Sep 15. Aspen peaks late September; larch is a late-October into early-November event.
low confidence. Long range. Treat as a planning estimate only.
Where peak usually lands. Drought or an early freeze moves it by a few days. Method
What turns here
- western larch
- quaking aspen
- cottonwood
Yellows show up every year. Reds need sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. A bad year takes those first.
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 15Typical color progression for Montana. No change from Aug 8 to Aug 25. First color from Aug 25 to Sep 3. Approaching peak from Sep 3 to Sep 11. Peak from Sep 11 to Sep 19. Past peak from Sep 19 to Sep 29. Bare from Sep 29 to Oct 13.
Color starts around Aug 25.
Peak by elevation
15 days between the ridges and the valleys. County maps average this away, which is how you miss peak at the right place.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 7,000 ft | Sep 7 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 4,500 ft | Sep 15 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 2,500 ft | Sep 22 | No change |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Light at peak
Montana on September 15, the day it typically peaks. Knowing when color arrives is one thing. Knowing where the sun will be is another.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:40 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 85° | 7:11 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 41 min of low, warm light | 7:51 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:29 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 41 min before sunset | 7:06 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 275° | 7:47 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 8:17 PM |
Times in America/Denver · day length 12h 36m · computed from NOAA solar equations
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of those and the canopy glows translucent. Turn your back to them for flat, accurate color.
Location pages name the light directly.
Where to shoot in Montana
3 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Holland Falls Trail No change
Swan Valley · 4,290 ft · peaks Sep 16
The trail traverses the north shore a few hundred feet above the water, and at the falls you turn around to a view west down the full length of Holland Lake with larch stacked on both sidewalls. Late October strips the cottonwood and leaves the larch alone against dark fir.
- Lake McDonald at Apgar No change
Glacier National Park · 3,153 ft · peaks Sep 18
From the Apgar shoreline the lake runs northeast toward Stanton Mountain and Mount Vaught, with colored cobbles under clear water in the foreground. Western larch on the lower slopes turn in the last week of October, after the cottonwood along McDonald Creek have gone.
- Seeley Lake No change
Seeley-Swan Valley · 4,029 ft · peaks Sep 18
Western larch line the Clearwater River channel and the marshy north end of the lake, turning butter-yellow well after the aspen have dropped. From the water you shoot east across the lake to the Swan Range with the larch reflected in the shallows.
Recent reports from Montana
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Montana?
- Montana typically peaks Sep 11 – Sep 19, centered on Sep 15. Aspen peaks late September; larch is a late-October into early-November event. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model, not a live reading of this year's canopy.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Montana?
- Yes, by about 15 days. High ground around 7,000 ft peaks near Sep 7, while valleys near 2,500 ft wait until Sep 22. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb, so if you miss it low you can often drive up and find it.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Montana?
- We track 3 verified locations in Montana, including Holland Falls Trail, Lake McDonald at Apgar, Seeley Lake. Holland Falls Trail turns first, around Sep 16, and Seeley Lake is last, around Sep 18. Each has real coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Montana?
- Mainly western larch, quaking aspen, cottonwood. Yellows and oranges come from carotenoids that are already in the leaf, so they show up every year. Reds are made fresh each autumn and need warm sunny days with cool, frost-free nights, which is why a dry summer or a warm September produces a duller year.