Foliage map › Destinations › Montana › Bozeman
Bozeman, Montana fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Bozeman area peaks around October 4, with the best viewing from roughly October 3 to October 11.
- Typical peak
- October 4
- Best viewing
- Oct 3 – Oct 11
- Color starts
- Around Sep 22
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Oct 17
- Elevation
- 4,820 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 4. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated status and the five-week outlook.
The season at a glance
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Open Bozeman on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Bozeman
Bozeman sits in the Gallatin Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges. South of town, Hyalite Canyon has a reservoir and trails to waterfalls, including Palisade Falls, with aspen and willow along the creeks. On the edge of town, the trail to the “M” climbs the Bridger Range for a view over the valley.
Scenic drive
US 191 runs south from Bozeman up the Gallatin Canyon, with cottonwoods and aspen along the Gallatin River, toward Big Sky and Yellowstone. Bridger Canyon Road climbs northeast from town into the Bridger Range.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Look for higher ground
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Bozeman typically peaks much earlier. Look for higher ground nearby: in this part of the country, color tends to arrive about 3 to 4 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb.
Too late? Already past peak
Look for lower valleys
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Bozeman typically peaks much later. Lower valleys nearby are your best bet: color tends to hang on about 3 to 4 days longer for every 1,000 feet lower.
Nearby destinations
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Bozeman?
In a typical year, fall color in the Bozeman area peaks around October 4, with the best viewing from roughly October 3 to October 11. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Bozeman?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around September 22, and most leaves are down by about October 17.
Is Bozeman early or late compared with the rest of Montana?
Bozeman peaks close to the middle of the Montana season, about Oct 7 on average across the 3 Montana destinations we track.
What trees color up around Bozeman?
The main fall color in this area comes from quaking aspen, narrowleaf cottonwood, and willow. See the leaf guide to identify them.
Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.