Flowers are a symbol of life and renewal, so it’s not surprising that people love to see them blooming from spring through fall and, in some places, in winter.
Many people have their gardens as their favorite places to see flowers, which is great, but some people prefer to see them in the wild. If you’re in the latter category, you shouldn’t miss the places on this list.
Hawaii
You’re in the tropics here, so you’re going to see beautiful blooms all year long. If you want to make it feel more secluded but you don’t know the local secret spots, go to a national or state park and just hike a mile or so along a trail.
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
As the winter snows melt, the meadows below this iconic mountain erupt with color. Summer can arrive late, so plan your trip for mid-July or later.
Onion Valley, California
The road west from Independence starts in semi-desert and ends in the montane zone. This means that from late spring into summer, you’ll see a wide variety of flowers as you climb through different climate zones. At the end of the road, you have the opportunity to hike up into the alpine and see blooms more typical of the Arctic.
Death Valley National Park, California
After a wet winter and early spring, which is what happened this year, this place defies its name and comes alive with color and life. Even a short rain can produce a quick burst of life eager to sustain and propagate itself.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
The peak bloom varies by the year, but if you hit it right, you won’t want to leave this place. Flowers are everywhere, and if you come at the right time, you’ll see the amazing poppies that decorate the hillsides.
Superstition Mountains, Arizona
The Superstitions are tall, dark, and foreboding. That makes them even better when a field of spring wildflowers frames them and casts them in a different light.
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Any time of year is a good time to visit this national park dedicated to the world’s most iconic cactus. If you can, though, visit in May when the saguaros bloom at night and you can see their beautiful white flowers that start wilting in the morning.
Yankee Boy Basin, Colorado
For this journey, you’ll need to own or rent a 4WD vehicle that can handle steep grades and tight curves. Your reward will be the most amazing display of summer wildflowers in Colorado that you can see by road, including postcard-perfect pics of the state flower, the Colorado columbine.
Trail Ridge Road, Colorado
Yankee Boy Basin requires a lot of effort to get to; Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park doesn’t. All you have to do is drive up this paved road open late spring through early fall. You’ll head out into the alpine and see all the tiny, delicate flowers up there. Please don’t pick them or step on them!
Snowy Range, Wyoming
This alpine island southwest of Laramie is an easy way to access the alpine and all its color and fragility. If you want to park and hike higher on one of the trails, you’ll love this place even more, but if a car tour works better for you, just check out Libby Flats in the middle of summer.
Beartooth Highway, Montana-Wyoming
Take the road over the Snowy Range and put it at the northern end of the state; now add many more scenic miles; you’ve got the Beartooth Highway. The road is only open in the summer, and it’s easy to miss the minutiae with the big mountains all around, but take a little time to smell the roses, so to speak. They’re worth it.
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
No, this isn’t one of those places where you gawk at flowers all year. All the same, though, if you catch a sunflower or blooming cactus framing a wildly eroded formation with storm clouds behind it, you’ve found solid gold.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Spring in the Blue Ridge starts in early March, and the blooms don’t quit until late fall. Late March through May are the best times to see flowers, and if you hike one of the longer, steeper trails, you’ll see a wide variety of blooms given the elevation and the time of year.
Craggy Gardens, North Carolina
This is a spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway. In May, rhododendrons bloom away and turn this normally impressive spot into something truly spectacular.
Everglades National Park, Florida
The Everglades, mostly a wide, slow-moving river, are not actually in the tropics. However, the area is close enough to stay as one of the warmest year-round places in the country. As such, you can see blooming flowers every season of the year.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border makes a lot of lists of the most beautiful places in America. There’s also a lot to do there, with a wide range of outdoor recreation, great dining, resorts, nightlife, and more. If it’s your first time going or if you’re going back, consider adding some of the following places to your itinerary.
Leave a Reply