Autumn in the Park

Glacier National Park is about thirty minutes from Whitefish, Montana. Today, we drove up for a short visit. Although the park is open year round, it goes into "winter mode" the end of September. The lodges close, and less facilities in general are open. I was surprised by the lack of people there...I've visited in summer and winter, but this was the first time I'd experienced autumn in the park. It was amazing. It was warm in the sun, and chilly in the shade. Leaves skittered over empty picnic tables, and across the roads. It was like one big showcase of colors before the snow comes. We saw a lone runner making his way through the golds and yellows, and two people sitting on a bench. The Going to the Sun Road is open until mid-October, but there were few vehicles on it. Here's some autumn color for you...and, yes, the water was cold!