Fall in Montana is something to be savored. It’s a long exhale after a busy summer, and we soak up every second of its golden days. To celebrate the season, there are autumnal get-togethers and activities all over the state, from picking pumpkins to cheering on a local football team with the hometown crowd. If you’re ready to get into the autumn spirit, here are some of Montana’s fall must-do’s:
On the hunt for the best pumpkin of the season? Spend a day looking for the perfect gourd right in the patch where it grew! At Applestem Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Craig, take your pick of the plentiful locally grown pumpkins that are available from mid-September through the end of October. After you’ve carefully selected your pumpkins, head to the corn maze to navigate the 10 acres of paths. For a day of fall fun on the eastern side of the state, visit T&C Farms in Laurel. This pumpkin patch offers hayrides, a corn maze and a pumpkin slingshot, as well as a full-service coffee shop that is ready to warm you up with a festive fall beverage.
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There’s no better way to experience a Montana autumn than getting outside and seeing the seasons change firsthand. When the air turns crisp, head to the Seeley-Swan Valley, where the hikes turn from vibrant green to brilliant shades of orange and red during the fall months. Morrell Falls is a popular hike in the area, with a 5.4-mile out-and-back route to see the stunning waterfall. While you’re nearby, this is the perfect time to visit Gus — the world’s largest larch tree — in all his golden glory. Find him, and other colorful larches, in the James Girard Memorial Tamarack Grove just outside the town of Seeley Lake.
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Looking for a way to use up some apples you’ve picked this fall? Try a cider pressing! At Jackson’s Garden in Sheridan, spend a September afternoon pressing your own apples into cider or join in the community festivities and watch the annual cider pressing with fresh doughnuts and warm cider.
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There are plenty of small-town festivities across the state to help celebrate the season, and you can generally count on them having fall-favorite foods or beverages and fun for adults and kids alike. In Nashua, the Northeast Montana Harvest Festival offers a weekend of autumn activities including a corn maze and haunted graveyard, barbecue cook-off, train rides and decorating competitions. In Belgrade, kick off the fall season with their Fall Festival, which coincides with Belgrade High School’s homecoming weekend. Festival weekend features a pancake breakfast, homecoming parade, fun run, raffle and more to help inspire some school spirit before the big game.
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Football is more than a pastime in Montana, it’s in our blood. From supporting local high school teams under the Friday night lights to tailgating in the parking lot before a college face-off, Montanans live for football season. We’re home to two Division 1 football teams in Montana State University and the University of Montana, and pride runs deep for both the Bobcats and the Griz. Helena’s Carroll College, Butte’s Montana Tech and MSU-Billings also draw substantial hometown crowds, with alumni and local football fans alike showing up to cheer on their teams. If you’re within driving distance of a football game anywhere in the state, a stop is well worth it to get in on the fun.
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