The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

It seems like only yesterday that I was driving over Marias Pass on Highway 2 about this time last year and going up to the top of the pass, from the east, saw the most beautiful fall foliage I had ever seen. Coming back two days later, it was all gone due to a big wind that ripped through the pass.

That is the way when you go seeking fall foliage in Glacier National Park. It is some of the best anywhere but it can be gone in the twinkling of an eye.

This time of year the most beautiful fall foliage is on the east side of Glacier National Park. It trails from Marias Pass north to Chief Mountain and can be seen easily on Highway 2 or Highway 89.

Don’t worry about the west side of Glacier for fall foliage for it is dependent on tamarack season which comes around the late part of October. It is spectacular as well but nothing like the aspens at the east front.

I remember like yesterday the first time I saw the fall foliage around Chief Mountain, which is north of Babb, Montana on the Chief Mountain highway.

I saw thousands and thousands of aspen trees in all colors of gold, and as if to match them the ground cover was as bright a red and orange and green as you could imagine.

I was there with my mother and when she saw that sight she tried to find a green and gold suit all the rest of her life that would match the fall foliage and the Mountain furs that surround Chief Mountain.

In addition to all that foliage that is as glorious as ever seen anywhere you are looking up at Sub Alpine and Alpine sections of our Montana when you look west. Look east and you are looking at grasslands sections and prairie sections of the country. At Chief Mountain itself you are close to the Douglas fir Montane that is seen throughout Montana in so many places.

If you don’t get to Chief Mountain this year plan ahead and go next year. You will never see any more beautiful foliage in the world than right there in Montana!