Autumn hikes in Montana's Yellowstone Country

Pine Creek Falls, Photo Montana's Yellowstone Country

Montana's Yellowstone Country has so much hiking that you could spend a lifetime on the trails, never covering it all. From short hikes close to town to longer adventures plunging into the backcountry, there truly is something for every ability. Autumn is one of our favorite times of year, with cooler temperatures, striking colors, and dramatic landscapes that often include a dusting of snow on the peaks.

Livingston and Paradise Valley

For those who want a gentle hike, it's a two-and-a-half-mile round trip to Pine Creek Falls, just outside Livingston in Paradise Valley. If you want a more adventuresome experience, continue to Pine Creek Lake. You'll likely want to camp overnight; it's a steep and strenuous hike, gaining 3,400 feet in elevation. Once you've hiked, the campground there is a lovely spot to soak up the night sky. The lake sits at the base of Black Mountain, and if you hike another two miles and 1,800 feet to the top of it, you'll be treated to stunning views of the valley and the Beartooth Plateau.

Bozeman

Another gentle but beautiful hike is Grotto Falls in Hyalite Canyon. The drive is lovely in the fall, with striking foliage engulfing you on both sides and Hyalite Creek running alongside. The falls aren't tall, but the gushing water pools below create great swimming holes. Plus, a portion of the trail is accessible. While you're there, Palisade Falls is worth the 1.2-mile round-trip jaunt.

Big Sky, Photo by Audrey Hall

Big Sky

Big Sky is full of hiking, and in the fall, Reflector Loop is particularly colorful, with loads of aspen trees that turn multiple hues of gold. It's a moderate 4.1-mile loop, great for an afternoon or evening hike.

Yellowstone National Park

Of course, Yellowstone National Park is a whole other playground. Autumn is great for wildlife watching, and the Lamar Valley is one of the best places. Slough Creek Trail, on the northeast end of the Park, follows a historic wagon trail and boasts spectacular fishing. Keep an eye out for moose and bears!

Red Lodge, Cooke City, Silver Gate

Weather permitting, the Beartooth Highway stays open until October 15, and if you have yet to make the drive, it's well worth a trip. You can stay in Red Lodge, Cooke City, or Silver Gate and make time to stop and explore Becker and Albino Lakes. It's a gentle trail passing a succession of lakes and meadows, with stunning views of the rugged peaks and landscapes of the Beartooth Mountains. Or, from the highway, hike down to Twin Lakes, which is 2 miles round trip to the first lake, and about four miles round trip to the end of the second lake.

No matter where you go, my favorite way to end a good hike is with a cold beer and a tasty meal, which you'll find in any of our Montana Yellowstone Country towns.

Enjoy the start to autumn!