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America's Top 6 Wildflower Blooms
There is just a small window to view wildflowers, with most only popping up for a couple of months at a time. This year, we're bringing these stunning blooms to you.
As Spring draws closer and the best of the blooms start to emerge around the US. While we wait to travel again, here are six places to bookmark that are very colorful during the spring months and a snapshot of the beauty to behold.
Washington County, Texas
Darrell Gulin
A true Texas tradition is getting out to see the best of the bluebonnets. There’s nothing quite like walking into a huge field of blue as far as the eye can see, adorning the plains of the Lone Star state. Old Baylor Park in Independence features centuries-old oak trees providing the perfect picnic spot.
Lancaster, California
Ed Bannister
In Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, fiddlenecks, red maids, forget-me-nots, and the infamous poppies can be spotted. If you fancy stretching your legs, there’s a Poppy Trail North Loop so you can wind through the stunning fields of red. For the best experience, head there for mid-morning; poppies open up at that time and curl up in the late afternoon to early evening, or if it’s cold, so check the weather forecast and make sure it’s warm enough for them to open up.
Crested Butte, Colorado
Brad McGinley Photography
The wildflowers are so well known in Colorado that there’s even a festival: from July 5th through the 14th. Thanks to the wintry storms, wet springs, and sun soaked summers, the flowers bloom in the summer and cover the hills of Crested Butte like a carpet. There are a variety of trails from easy to difficult, including six that are close to town if you don’t want to venture too far.
Mt Rainier, Washington
Rene Frederick
The lush subalpine meadows that surround the majestic Mt Rainier are transformed from a deep green to brilliant purples, yellows, oranges, and pinks. Each July and August, the area explodes in vivacious color, and a stroll among the endless sea of flowers – everything from avalanche lilies, paintbrush, daises, and fireweed - is a must. The best places to view the flowers are Paradise, Sunrise and Chinook Pass. Sunrise in particular provides the opportunity for witness a true alpine ecosystem, with the Sourdough Ridge Trail offering 2.5 miles of rambling.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Matt Anderson
Some 862 species of wildflowers blanket the park, which unusually provides a display almost year-round, beginning in late March and sticking around until fall. The best time to visit is spring where the rich diversity of wildflowers is at its best. Lower elevations along streams such as South River, Rose River, and Milly Prong offer beautiful trails and nature at her finest.
Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah
Maria Jeffs
A breathtaking contrast to the red Mars-like rock formations of Utah, Cedar Breaks’ wildflowers are so stunning that there’s usually a festival dedicated just to them. Cushion phlox, aspen bluebells, kittentails, and more can be spotted on the wildlife trails that lie high atop the Markagunt Plateau, which is more than three miles across and 2,500ft deep.
