Even though Fall isn’t officially here yet, the south-facing hillsides of Baldy Mountain are beginning to show off the new season’s colors, making a hike on one of my favorite trails (USFS trail 340 in the Baldy Mountain Roadless Area) an especially pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
A few drops of sap from a Fir next to the trail.
Montana Outdoors 
Wow! Looking good….
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Comment by Mother Hen — September 16, 2016 @ 9:34 pm
I always look forward to the arrival of those first red leaves as the morning air turns cool.
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Comment by montucky — September 16, 2016 @ 9:39 pm
Nature’s beauty par excellent-your presentation wonderful. Congrats and thanks.
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Comment by nvsubbaraman — September 16, 2016 @ 10:13 pm
Thanks! We live in a beautiful world!
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 9:04 am
Nice. Are people allowed to gather wood there?
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Comment by Malcolm R. Campbell — September 16, 2016 @ 10:21 pm
With a USFS firewood permit it is legal to cut dead trees for firewood in nearly all of the forest (excluding, of course, wilderness areas and parks). This trail though is within a roadless area and so any wood harvested would have to be carried out on foot. There are huge amounts of firewood in the old growth forest, but Nature takes its usual course there.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 9:09 am
I figured it would be too much trouble to haul out.
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Comment by Malcolm R. Campbell — September 17, 2016 @ 10:21 am
My hiking companion and I were talking about that on the trip too. I’d love to have some of that down lodge pole cut and split and in my wood pile! Next week though I’ll go to an area about 20 miles from there and cut a load.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 10:24 am
Fall colours – a photographer’s dream.
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — September 17, 2016 @ 12:03 am
Yes. The colors are incredible, especially when the light conditions are just right, and they were pretty good that day.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 9:11 am
Spectacular! I just love the colours .. Heaven. A photographer’s dream is so appropriate. Thanks for sharing
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Comment by Julie@frogpondfarm — September 17, 2016 @ 12:27 am
This is one of my favorite trails. It is very photogenic in all seasons and no two days highlight exactly the same scenes.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 9:13 am
The color is splendid, and the well-maintained trail is so inviting. I enjoyed the view of the rock, too, and especially enjoyed the sap. Who needs a gazing ball from the garden shop when you have that sort of crystal-clear droplet around?
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Comment by shoreacres — September 17, 2016 @ 5:25 am
There is always something very pretty along that trail, even in mid-summer when it is best to travel in the early morning. At the upper end of the trail there is a 360º view. I spend many hours on it every year.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 9:18 am
Do you know the approximate altitude along this trail?
Those low reds make the area appealing at this time of year.
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Comment by Steve Schwartzman — September 17, 2016 @ 5:29 am
I access this trail from the higher of two trail heads, at an altitude of 6,000 feet. These photos were taken along the first mile and a half, from 6,000 about 6,900 feet.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 9:23 am
Looking good! The maple trees in our front yard are slowing changing color from green to red. Fall’s coming and I am more than ready for it!
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Comment by Mama's Empty Nest — September 17, 2016 @ 9:04 am
The maples haven’t started to change yet here, but some of the bushes are turning yellow at the valley level. Higher up the huckleberry bushes are red as are Oregon Grapes. The Aspens haven’t begun to change yet, nor has the Larch.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 9:25 am
We’re having some nice cool nights which may be triggering those leaves. Not a lot of changing but it’s a start. 🙂
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Comment by Mama's Empty Nest — September 17, 2016 @ 9:45 am
Our nights have cooled off too, with a couple that were in the 20’s. Of course, there have been freezing overnight temps at the higher elevations for some time now.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 10:21 am
So I guess today’s low of 76° in Austin doesn’t count as cool.
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Comment by Steve Schwartzman — September 17, 2016 @ 12:12 pm
Just a month ago, 76 would have been refreshingly cool. Here we won’t see anything that warm again until late May.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 7:12 pm
Your photos are lovely, the reds are autumn-splashing! I so wish we could have meandered up to Western Montana this summer. It is on our destination list and I’d love to visit either late spring or early fall!
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Comment by bayphotosbydonna — September 17, 2016 @ 2:18 pm
Those would be the best times to visit! Unless you are very fond of snow!
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 7:13 pm
We’re coming into a beautiful time of year and these photos prove it!
I love the fir sap. It looks to be clear like water, not cloudy like spruce or amber like pine sap.
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — September 17, 2016 @ 2:49 pm
I love the varied colors of Spring, but the big swaths of color in Fall give Spring a lot of competition!
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 7:14 pm
I agree!
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — September 17, 2016 @ 7:19 pm
Amazing photos ! What kind of camera do you use ?
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Comment by Bourn Belle — September 17, 2016 @ 3:29 pm
Thank you! These photos were taken with a Nikon 1 J5, which I use while hiking in the high country.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 7:19 pm
How pretty it is with the red on the forest floor. I can well appreciate the beauty of the area through your images.
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Comment by Vicki — September 17, 2016 @ 7:33 pm
Vicki, I wish you could hike that trail, just once! I know you would love it.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 8:26 pm
Great pictures from your hike. What is all of the red along the trail?
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Comment by Ron Mangels — September 17, 2016 @ 8:06 pm
Hi Ron! Nearly all of the red is from the leaves of the huckleberry plants. They are among the first to turn color. We did get to see some Clark’s Nutcrackers too, which was nice.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 8:28 pm
Did Buster like the hike?
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Comment by Chad — September 17, 2016 @ 9:15 pm
He loved it, and his behavior was excellent.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2016 @ 9:25 pm
Glorious colours! This is my favourite time of year.
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Comment by Jo Woolf — September 18, 2016 @ 12:47 am
There is an excitement and a celebration about Autumn that makes it always fresh and always special!
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Comment by montucky — September 18, 2016 @ 8:10 am
What gorgeous color! I’m glad to have the red-leaved plants IDed because I saw a lot of them, and had no idea what they were.
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Comment by Sue — September 18, 2016 @ 8:09 pm
Huckleberry is the most widespread here and turns color the earliest, but there are quite a few plants that show red in the Fall. Huckleberry is prevalent above about 5000 feet.
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Comment by montucky — September 19, 2016 @ 8:43 am
Those first hints of all area always exciting. It seems to me that fall is the most anticipated season of all.
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Comment by Candace — September 19, 2016 @ 8:53 am
It can be the most colorful and I love it, but still, Spring brings the hope of new life…
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Comment by montucky — September 19, 2016 @ 8:08 pm
What a beautiful trail. The light is so inviting …
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Comment by Teresa Evangeline — September 19, 2016 @ 2:54 pm
That trail is always wonderful. Soon there will be white on the evergreens, and that will be beautiful too.
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Comment by montucky — September 19, 2016 @ 8:10 pm
so much beauty
sure looks like autumn
here too ~
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Comment by Tammie — September 21, 2016 @ 6:13 pm
The colors have come very quickly: I hope they will last!
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Comment by montucky — September 21, 2016 @ 7:06 pm
Gorgeous photos, it is a hike I’d love to take.
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Comment by Charlie@Seattle Trekker — September 22, 2016 @ 11:45 pm
I know you would enjoy it, Charlie. One could hike it every day and each time it would be different.
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Comment by montucky — September 23, 2016 @ 8:15 am
Hi Montucky, I so enjoy seeing your photographs. Today’s are no exception. The forest is lovely. Glad you are cooling off somewhat. It is really hot here 91+ high humidity. Have a great coming week!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — September 25, 2016 @ 7:09 pm
Thanks. Our cooler weather fells wonderful: it was a long, hot summer.
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Comment by montucky — September 25, 2016 @ 9:10 pm
What a delightful moment of the year when we can appreciate the changing of colors in the woods ! I never tire of it and I particularly like your colorful pictures. We are not so far yet over here but sooooon 😉
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Comment by isathreadsoflife — October 6, 2016 @ 5:57 am
I love the fall colors too. Such a beautiful end to summer and a good memory going into winter.
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Comment by montucky — October 6, 2016 @ 7:54 am