Wild Red Lodge: Your Guide to Fall Wildlife Watching

Your Guide to Wildlife Watching Around Red Lodge

Fall in Red Lodge brings more than golden leaves, crisp mornings and the first dusting of snow in the Beartooths. It's also one of the most interesting times of year to watch the wildlife that shares this corner of Montana with us.

As temperatures cool and the seasons change, wildlife moves between the mountains, foothills, open ranchland and the edges of town in search of food and winter habitat. You don't necessarily have to venture deep into the wilderness to see it.

Pack your binoculars, grab a coffee and take your own Red Lodge Fall Wildlife Safari.

Wildlife is just that—wild—so sightings are never guaranteed. That's part of the fun.

Around Town: Moose, Deer & Wild Turkeys

Keep your eyes open even before you leave Red Lodge.

Moose are sometimes spotted around town feeding on trees and vegetation. Seeing one wandering through a neighborhood can be an extraordinary Montana moment, but give it plenty of room. Moose are large, powerful wild animals and shouldn't be approached.

Deer are regular Red Lodge neighbors and can often be seen around town and along the edges of open spaces.

You may also encounter groups of wild turkeys, another familiar sight around the area.

The best safari rule? Slow down and look around. Sometimes the wildlife comes to you.

South of Red Lodge: Pronghorn Country

Drive south from town and the landscape begins to open.

Watch the fields, benches and open ranch country for pronghorn. Their tan-and-white coloring can blend surprisingly well into the autumn grass, so scan the open landscape rather than looking along the roadside.

Binoculars make the experience much better—and allow you to watch without getting close.

Silver Run: Look for Elk

The Silver Run elk viewing area on Ski Run Road was created specifically for viewing the winter range of the Silver Run elk herd and includes interpretive information and a viewing telescope. It's an excellent place to look across the landscape rather than approaching wildlife.

Fall is a wonderful time to keep an eye out for elk as animals move through their seasonal ranges.

Luther & the Surrounding Countryside

The open country around Luther offers another beautiful fall drive.

Watch the fields and hillsides for elk and deer, and keep an eye out for wild turkeys along the way. This is as much about enjoying the landscape as checking animals off a list—rolling ranchland, changing foliage and the Beartooths in the distance make the drive worthwhile on its own.

Please respect private property and enjoy wildlife from public roads and designated viewing areas.

Don't Forget to Look Up

Some of Red Lodge's most impressive wildlife is overhead.

Watch fence posts, tall trees and open skies for hawks and eagles, including the magnificent golden eagle.

Bring binoculars and give perched or nesting raptors plenty of space. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recommends observing wildlife from a distance and allowing animals to continue their natural behavior undisturbed.

Bears & Mountain Lions: Wildlife to Respect From a Distance

Red Lodge sits in wild country, and both black and grizzly bears occur in the surrounding region. Bears can remain active well into fall as they prepare for winter. Montana FWP notes that grizzlies can remain active at lower elevations into December.

Mountain lions also live throughout this landscape. They are most active around dusk and dawn, although they can travel at any time. Seeing one is uncommon, and a mountain lion should never be approached or followed.

These are animals to be aware of rather than animals to seek out. If you happen to see one from the safety of your vehicle or at a considerable distance, enjoy an incredible Montana sighting and give it plenty of room.

Safari Safely

The best wildlife encounter is one where both you and the animal can continue on your way safely.

Give wildlife plenty of space. Use binoculars or a zoom lens rather than approaching for a better photo.

Stay in your vehicle when appropriate. A car makes a wonderful wildlife blind.

Never feed wildlife. Feeding animals can change their natural behavior and increase the risk of conflicts with people.

Carry bear spray when hiking. Keep it accessible and know how to use it. Montana FWP recommends carrying bear spray when recreating in bear country.

Give moose plenty of room. Never position yourself between an animal and its escape route.

Keep dogs close and secure. Pets can provoke wildlife encounters, and FWP recommends bringing pets inside or otherwise securing them in areas where mountain lions may be present.

Be especially wildlife-aware around dusk and dawn. These can be active periods for many animals. For hiking and other recreation in bear country, FWP recommends avoiding night, dawn and dusk.

If you encounter a bear, never run. Give it space and follow Montana FWP's bear-encounter guidance.

A Different Side of Fall in Red Lodge

A fall wildlife safari doesn't need a schedule.

Take a slow drive. Bring binoculars. Stop at designated viewing areas. Scan the hillsides. Look up occasionally.

You might see a moose browsing among the trees, a herd of elk in the distance, pronghorn standing in an open field or a golden eagle circling overhead.

And sometimes the best sighting happens when you aren't looking for it at all.

That's part of staying in Red Lodge: the wild is never very far away.

Stay Like a Local

Make Garvey House Collective your home base for exploring fall in Red Lodge. Spend the day watching wildlife, hiking through changing leaves and exploring the surrounding countryside—then come home to a comfortable place of your own in town.

Bring your binoculars. We'll provide the home base.