The River in Autumn was prompted by a trip to Big Sky, Montana in the fall of 2006.
It's the Gallatin River of southwestern Montana, whose source is in the wild highlands of Yellowstone National Park. From there it flows down the Gallatin canyon – a beautiful place for fall colors, along with rainbow trout.
The Gallatin flows north, finally
joining the Jefferson and Madison Rivers; all three forming the headwaters of the Missouri.