My sister and husband, an avid fisherman, have planned a dream trip to Emmigrant Montana for the end of this September. We have been reading about fires, lake draining and more. They have one week to decide to reroute this dream trip somewhere else and would like some advice. They do NOT travel often, and are getting minimal information from where they will be staying, other than they can smell smoke and the lake has been drained.

Hi Mary,

I live in Utah and took a trip up to Montana from 8/19 - 8/25. I went from Jackson, through Yellowstone, out the northeast entrance to Red Lodge, MT. Then over through Livingstone down the Paradise Valley (very appropriately named!), Gardner, West Yellowstone and back up to Big Sky. Over to Virginia City, MT and home through Dillon to SLC.

Small fires around Jackson and Yellowstone. Other fires started while I was there and the smoke was so bad I came home 2 days early. You couldn't even see the mountains, let alone breath. The smoke didn't start to clear up until I was as far south as Idaho Falls.

I would definitely go elsewhere this year! Unless - we have a major cold front coming through starting today. Temps are supposed to drop by 30 degrees in northern UT and we already had lightening (bad) and rain (good). If it rains enough, it will help the fire situation, if it doesn't (and Montana was absolutely parched when I was there) the wind and lightening will just make things worse.

Hope this helps you! I know it's really a bad thing for the tourist industry in MT, but these things happen everywhere at times.

We have a cold front moving in today. It will knock down all of the fires, and smoke won't be a problem.

The lake may be a concern, however.

Thank you both for your input. I wish things were better, and I know they will go back there sometime if they change plans now. But they both have saved for this trip for years, and deserve a true outdoors vacation. Any suggestions for alternatives? Colorado? Flyfishing is his passion.

news was reporting today that several sections of fly fishing on area rivers in montana have been closed to fishing due to low water - i'm guessing to ensure the safety of the population numbers of the fish - you may want to check out US fish and widlife service website.. regardless of the fires, montana may not be a good idea.