Escape to These Charming Mountain Towns in Montana Before Fall Ends

In the Rocky Mountain West, mountains are—well, just about everywhere. But sitting at the foot of and hiding in the valleys between the soaring peaks of America’s craggy spine are also numerous small mountain towns, which have the incredible fortune of being immersed in indescribable beauty. Montana is especially full of these quaint communities, each boasting just a touch of rustic, Western architecture to go with their seriously exhilarating backdrops.

If ever there was a time to visit these scenic communities, autumn is it. Fall in Montana is as diverse as the state itself, ranging from thick stands of pine intermixed with vibrant larches and cottonwoods dusted with snow to sweeping golden grasslands to technicolor brush dotting low, rolling foothills and outlining quiet lakes. To make the most of this fleeting season, using one of the state’s many charming mountain towns as a base camp for exploration is the best way to get up close and personal with autumn’s best and most vibrant sights. Your best bet: start in the northwest corner of the state and work your way south and southeast. If you do that, you’ll find yourself enjoying Montana’s prettiest fall colors and best fall activities even long after the first snow.

1. Eureka

• Mountain Ranges: Purcell, Whitefish
• Fall Highlights: Glen Lake, Ten Lakes Trail, Therriault Pass, Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway, Tobacco River Corridor

Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Canada, Eureka sits in Montana’s scenic Tobacco Valley, flanked by forested ridges and mountains and boasting phenomenal views, especially after leaves start turning. Surrounded by the Whitefish Range to the east and the Purcell Mountains to the west, this quiet mountain town offers some seriously dramatic vistas—especially when the larches turn golden in late September to mid-October. The nearby Ten Lakes Scenic Area is a must-visit, with multiple alpine trails to choose from that lead to high-elevation lakes rimmed by golden trees and framed by snow-dusted peaks. For easier access to all that autumn beauty, the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway offers stunning shoreline drives and roadside pullouts with sweeping views of the reservoir backed by colorful forests and cliffs.

2. St. Mary

• Mountain Ranges: Lewis, Livingston, Clark
• Fall Highlights: GNP, St. Mary Falls & Virginia Falls Trail, Lower St. Mary Lake, Upper St. Mary Lake, St. Mary Valley, Sun Point Nature Trail, Beaver Pond Loop, Camping

As the eastern gateway to Glacier National Park, St. Mary has an endless amount of scenic beauty to explore. And, if just one day isn’t enough, it also has multiple spectacular campgrounds to choose from, plus bucket list-worthy waterfalls and sweeping (no-hike) overlooks of one of the most scenic valleys in Glacier Country. Every corner of town and its surroundings glows with color and is blissfully quiet after summer. If you don’t feel like hiking, Sun Point and Sunrift Gorge offer quick, accessible tastes of alpine drama bathed in golden mountain light and immersed in fiery hues. In town, wildlife is active, the lakes are glassy, and the crowds are gone. What more could you ask for?

3. West Glacier

• Mountain Ranges: Lewis, Livingston, Clark
• Fall Highlights: GNP, Going-to-the-Sun-Road, McDonald Creek, Avalanche Creek/Avalanche Lake, Belton Bridge, Flathead River, Hungry Horse Reservoir, Huckleberries

Glacier National Park, of course, boasts some of the most jaw-dropping autumn sights in the country. But don’t think you have to head into the national park to enjoy its seasonal beauty! As the western gateway to GNP, the tiny town of West Glacier is almost as breathtaking as the national park it hugs. Nestled between the Lewis Range to the east and the Flathead Range to the southwest, the town is enveloped by layer upon layer of rugged peaks and colorful stands that are unmatched anywhere else. West Glacier also borders the mirror-like Lake McDonald and the Middle Fork of the crystal-clear Flathead River, and offers access to deep valleys, alpine views, and old-growth forests, all bursting with autumn hues. Golden larch trees, rust-red huckleberry bushes, and yellow cottonwoods are abundant here, but you’ll want to lace up and head out to truly enjoy them. Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Lake/Avalanche Gorge is one of the easiest iconic hikes you can take in the national park, while the Gateway to Glacier Trail is an easy, scenic paved stretch outside the park that connects the town to the gold-wrapped Hungry Horse Reservoir. No matter where you are, it’s a photographer’s paradise.

4. Whitefish

• Mountain Ranges: Whitefish, Swan, Flathead
• Fall Highlights: Great Northwest Oktoberfest, Whitefish Mountain, Horseback Riding

Whitefish is the most populated mountain town on this list, but it’s undeniably stunning, especially in autumn. You might not know it, but the Whitefish Mountain Resort here isn’t just for winter powder-chasers; fall is actually a phenomenal time to visit this gorgeous recreation area for a scenic chair lift ride or stroll instead. But if you don’t feel like mountain biking the ski runs or tackling any major hikes, you actually don’t even have to leave town to enjoy Whitefish’s fall beauty and activities. Riverside Park is incredibly picture-perfect, and the annual Great Northwest Oktoberfest in Depot Park is nationally recognized.

5. Condon

• Mountain Ranges: Swan, Mission, Bitterroot
• Fall Highlights: Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars, Condon Lookout Trail, South Fork Flathead River, Big Prairie Trail, Holland Lake

Tucked away in a lush valley and framed by the soaring Cabinet Mountains and Flathead Range, Condon boasts stunning fall colors, courtesy of dense forests of aspen and western larch, plus scenic river corridors and peaceful hiking trails. Its proximity to the Flathead National Forest, the gorgeous Holland Lake, and plenty of pristine nature spots makes it a fantastic small town option for leaf-peepers and hikers hoping to venture into the heart of Montana’s seasonal beauty. For those looking for a laid-back autumn outing, perhaps one of the best places to enjoy it all is from the banks of the Swan River. Or, head into one of the multiple wilderness areas surrounding the town for more challenging hikes and rewarding sights. And waterfalls? You’ll find those, too!

6. Hamilton

• Mountain Ranges: Bitterroot, Sapphire
• Fall Highlights: Blodgett Canyon, Daly Mansion, Bitterroot River Trails, Lake Como, Lost Horse Creek, Skalkaho Pass

Vibrant valley trees, jagged mountains, gorgeous river scenery, waterfalls, and a darling town that’s not too big, but not too small—that’s what Hamilton is made of. There’s a lot to love about this mid-sized town, but it’s especially scenic in fall when the surrounding forests turn yellow and gold while the granite mountain ridges are dusted with snow. The town sits in the heart of the Bitterroot Valley, framed by two mountain ranges that are dotted with fall color, but it’s the valley floor where autumn’s hues shine most brightly. The high contrast between golden trees and gray-blue granite peaks makes Hamilton’s setting beyond spectacular. Get into the heart of it by hiking into Blodgett Canyon, driving up Skalkaho Pass, or, for a more relaxing fall outing, head to the always-stunning Lake Como wrapped in gold.

7. Heron

• Mountain Ranges: Cabinet, Swan, Flathead, Bitterroot
• Fall Highlights: Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, Star Peak Trail, Ross Creek, Pillick Ridge, Bull River Valley, Goat Mountain, Wildlife

Heron is a tiny hidden gem nestled in the Clark Fork River Valley of Northwest Montana, surrounded by dense forests, rugged peaks, and steep canyons. Located just shy of the Idaho Panhandle, it’s just a short drive from the Kaniksu National Forest and Cabinet Mountains Wilderness. It’s also uniquely home to Montana’s only rainforest, and some of the more concentrated numbers of Western larch. The gold foliage is everywhere you turn! The 360-degree mountain views of the Cabinets, Bitterroots, and the Selkirks make this a seriously gorgeous place for a fall hike into the trees, but you can also explore Cabinet Gorge, the Clark Fork River, or any of the trails around Ross Creek for dreamy autumn views or overlooks of the lush Bull River Valley. This area gets a lot of precipitation, so foliage lasts long into fall, so long as temperatures don’t drop below freezing. If you need to venture beyond town for amenities, nearby Noxon is stunning as well, but a little less forested and remote.

8. Ennis

• Mountain Ranges: Madison, Gravelly
• Fall Highlights: Bear Trap Canyon/Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness, Cedar Creek Falls, Ennis Lake, Earthquake Lake, Madison River/Madison River Valley, Moore Creek

While plenty of small Montana towns are scenic, Ennis has a rare blend of epic landscapes that is hard to resist. The legendary Madison River meanders through the very heart of Ennis, which is a dream for fly fishing. As you cast a line for trout, you can enjoy the cottonwoods lining the banks turning brilliant shades of gold as the horizon ignites into pastel hues over the surrounding Madison and Gravelly ranges. Ennis is a stunning, but underrated “valley of views,” which means you can enjoy both sunset and sunrise mountain beauty, plus a hefty dose of lively Western charm in town. Beyond the plentiful trout fishing, you can raft through Bear Trap Canyon, enjoy gorgeous hikes into the changing foliage, or even venture beyond Ennis to nearby Virginia City and Nevada City, which are both worth a visit for their living, open-air ghost town-esque history. Earthquake Lake (Quake Lake) has a fascinating history to go along with the beautiful hike.

9. Cooke City

• Mountain Ranges: Beartooth, Absaroka
• Fall Highlights: Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (Wyoming to Montana), Lamar Valley, Soda Butte Creek, Yellowstone River, Beauty Lake, Bannock Trail

Have you ever wanted to wake up to mountains right outside your front door, so close you could almost touch them? Cooke City, Montana, is one of the most visually dramatic and remote mountain towns in the entire state—and it goes without saying that the surrounding mountains are spectacular, especially in the fall. As the gateway town to the Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance in Silver Gate, one of the things that makes Cooke City so special is that it beautifully blends the epic-ness of Montana’s scenery with the geological wonders of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. What that means is you’ll find soaring mountains and alpine lakes just as easily as you’ll encounter the gold and orange brush that characterizes the region’s sweeping valleys. Both high and low, the autumn colors are spectacular.

10. Red Lodge

• Mountain Ranges: Beartooth, Absaroka
• Fall Highlights: Beartooth Highway, Lake Fork Trail, Basin Creek Lakes, Red Lodge Mountain Resort, Wild Bill Lake, Wild Chokecherries

As the gateway to the iconic Beartooth Scenic Highway (which is absolutely dreamy in fall!), Red Lodge sees its fair share of visitors, many of whom are heading to or from Yellowstone. The Beartooths tower over the town and are home to Montana’s highest peaks, including Granite Peak (12,799 ft). However, rarely do travelers stop and enjoy everything that this mountain town and its surroundings have to offer beyond this scenic high route. Specifically, a world of hiking opportunities. Even before the Beartooth Highway crosses into Wyoming at a whopping 11,000 feet, scenic trails abound that show off the high elevation scenery to perfection. And come autumn? Those alpine lakes, waterfalls, and rock formations look even better. But really, you don’t even need to leave the car to enjoy the views here.

After you’ve checked these small mountain towns off your list, head to some of Montana’s most famous mountain towns, like Missoula, Darby, Kalispell, Libby, Bozeman, and Bigfork for even more gorgeous fall sights. Then, head east to check out some underrated mountain towns where the colors come alive later in the season, like Zortman, Lewistown, Ekalaka, Ashland, and Whitetail. While it’s true that central and eastern Montana may not boast the same grandiose ranges as the west, there are still plenty of island ranges and foothills to explore with their own spectacular autumn beauty. Big Sky Country has a lot to offer in every corner of the state, so be sure to explore as many of them as you can this season!

Need help finalizing your epic autumn adventure? Check out Only In Your State’s AI Travel Planner.