Bear Paw Meanderings

I owe you one last column about fall foliage, that is finding fall foliage where there is usually not much to find or finding it where most people do not think to look.

This fall foliage season has been a very strange season as the leaves just simply refused to fall off the trees for the longest time. Fall foliage until the big storm in early October was really spectacular for weeks on end. Then finally there was a very big snow storm and foliage started falling and turning colors quickly.

I don’t know just how much foliage is left since I have not driven around much looking lately.

But, to discover places that you would not normally find foliage is a simple task. North of the Missouri River and counting the Missouri Breaks as one of the better fall foliage sites, I count around four right in our own back yard. Let’s see what they are.

First there is the Milk River Valley and Fort Peck. Second is the Missouri Breaks, Third is the Cypress Hills and fourth is the Little Rockies.

I love the Cypress Hills in Alberta and Saskatchewan. They are a long ridge of heavily treed hills without definite peaks but filled with lakes and beautiful views looking right down to the Bear Paw Mountains in Montana. You will need a passport to get to the Cypress Hills these days and to get back into Montana as well.

At the west end of the Hills is Elk Water which is a nice lake with boating and the like and even a ski bowl. On the east end of the Hills is a large resort. Both areas are sporting beautiful foliage this time of year.

I love the Missouri Breaks because at any one given point from the north side of them, you can see around five different mountain ranges, many evergreen trees and many beautiful cottonwoods and the like just turning color. Access the Breaks on the Warrick road south east of Big Sandy or just go south of Chinook until you come to the breaks.

In the Little Rockies, sometimes the foliage goes quickly but if it is out, it is spectacular. I like the Bear Gulch area, around Zortman and Alder Gulch itself and the large gulch that Landusky was built in. You will see plenty of foliage there and learn some history along the way.

Or, most simple of all, pack the kids and the duds in the car and head down the Milk River Valley from Havre to Glasgow. The cottonwoods are spectacular this time of year on that road and you can find a great place to have a lunch in Glasgow.

Good hunting for your special fall foliage area. Maybe take me along!