The U.S. has such a broad array of climate types that you can see wildflowers somewhere at any time of the year. If you love wildflowers, though, there are certain places that are exceptional at certain times of the year. If you haven’t been to the places listed here yet, add them to your list!
Hawaii
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Due to the tropical climate, Hawaii has something blooming just about everywhere every day of the year. Many of the blooms are species you’ll find nowhere else in the country.
Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
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When the snows melt away in the summer, the meadows here come alive with color, with Mt. Rainier as a stunning backdrop on clear days. Lupines and glacier lilies are among the many wildflowers that delight visitors to these meadows.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
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Spring is the prime time to visit this huge national park. You’ll see cactuses, yuccas, agaves, and many other species blooming. Time your visit for when poppies turn the region’s hillsides into intense yellows and oranges.
Death Valley National Park, California
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The world’s hottest place and one of its driest, Death Valley isn’t normally known for its abundant wildflower displays. There’s an exception to that after a “wet” winter or a heavy spring rain, when desert slopes and flats are awash in vibrant colors.
Logan Pass, Montana
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Logan Pass is at timberline on the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park. In the summer, which along with early fall is the only time Logan Pass is accessible by automobile, you can hike trails and boardwalks through fragile alpine tundra and admire delicate blooms along with the spectacular peaks all around.
Snowy Range, Wyoming
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Although named for the white quartzite comprising its peaks, the Snowy Range near Laramie actually does get heavy amounts of snow in the winter, setting the stage for great summer wildflowers. Libby Flats is a popular roadside destination for seeing the blooms, but several trails into the peaks provide a more intimate experience.
Yankee Boy Basin, Colorado
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The beautiful blue columbine is Colorado’s state flower, and the San Juan Mountains in the southwestern part of the state are the unofficial columbine capital of Colorado. Yankee Boy Basin near Ouray is an especially exceptional place to view these and other alpine wildflowers.
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
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Spring offers a progression of different blooming desert wildflowers. May is the peak time, though, because that’s when the iconic saguaro cactuses show off their huge white blooms, which nectar-loving bats visit at night.
Texas Hill Country
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The Hill Country sprawls west of Interstate 35 for some distance roughly between Austin and San Antonio. Flowers bloom all year in the mild climate here, but March and April are renowned for their vivid blooms, and that’s when the state’s beloved Texas bluebonnets show their faces.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
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Big Bend is another great place to see desert wildflowers, especially blooming cactuses, in the spring. Early spring is when the show starts at lower elevations. Later in the spring, head up into the Chisos Mountains for the best wildflower scenery.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
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Spring through fall, there are always wildflowers blooming here. Early spring at lower elevations is one of the most delightful times because the forests are filled with large trillium blooms, dogwood blooms, and red columbines.
Blue-Ridge Parkway, North Carolina-Virginia
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The wildflowers are great all spring and summer here, depending on the elevation and precise time. Perhaps the best time and place, though, is late May around the Craggy Gardens area when the rhododendrons and azaleas are at their peak.
Everglades National Park, Florida
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If you want to enjoy wildflowers in the winter without the time and expense involved with going to Hawaii, try southern Florida. The Everglades are in particular great because of the wild, undeveloped backdrop and all the wildlife.
The 30 Most Beautiful Places in the World That Everyone Must See
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There’s no way you could ever come up with a definitive list of the world’s most beautiful places. However, if you ask around, some places come up a lot more frequently than others do.
The following are some of the places that people mention over and over again, not in any particular order.
30 Breathtaking Places You Must See Before You Die
The Two Best Scenic Wonders in Each of the Mountain States
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The Mountain States– Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico– have some of the wildest and most rugged landscapes in the United States. Because they’re so big, it can take a lot of time to visit them, so it helps to be able to plan for some specific destinations.
Following are our choices for the top two must-see outdoor locations in each of these seven states.
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