Most Beautiful Places to See Wildflowers in the United States

Most Beautiful Places to See Wildflowers in the United States

The USA’s diversity of climates and terrains come together each spring and summer to create a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers worth every mile it takes to seek them out. From bright orange desert poppies in California to three foot tall purple lupines in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, there are spots all over the country to catch some floral magic. Here are 10 of the best.

1. Bluebonnets – Washington County, Texas

Bluebonnets seem to love Texas as much as Texans love them. The blue flowers can be seen all over the state, but the best place to find them in abundance is Washington County. An 80-mile long trail combines scenic highways and pastures filled with bluebonnets and other wildflowers. One of the best stops on the trail is the town of Brenham. Blooms line the roads and blanket fields during the springtime.

Visiting at peak bloom is easy thanks to Visitbrenhamtexas.com’s Wildflower Watch blog, which frequently updates travelers with the current blooming status.

2. Tulips – Holland, Michigan

In early May, as many as 5 million brightly colored tulips bloom all around the city of Holland, Michigan. The city celebrates with one of the largest flower festivals in the country, Tulip Time, to honor its Dutch Heritage alongside the blooms. One of the best spots for photographs is Windmill Island Gardens, featuring an authentic windmill that was imported from the Netherlands in 1964.

Although Holland may be a small town, it knows how to put on a show. Tulip Time has received recognition as one of the top 20 events in the world by the International Festival and Events Association and Americaʼs Best Small Town Festival by Readerʼs Digest.

If you plan to visit, make hotel accommodations far in advance. A half a million people travel to Holland annually to take part in the festivities.

3. California Poppies – Lancaster, California

When spring arrives at the western tip of the Mojave Desert in California, Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve becomes an ocean of vibrant orange poppies. Eight miles of trails weave through the brightly colored fields for visitors to enjoy.

Each year the color and vibrancy of the poppies is different, giving it a one of a kind look no matter how many times you visit. Wildflower season lasts from mid-February through the end of May, although peak bloom is usually in April.

4. Wildflowers (mixed) – Crested Butte, Colorado

Red Indian paintbrushes, blue columbines, bright yellow sunflowers, and deeply hued purple delphiniums are just a few of the blooms to be found in Crested Butte, the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. Flowers can be seen from June-August by hiking any of the trails in the Gunnison National Forest. For a complete trail guide, check out Travel Crested Butte.

In July the city of Crested Butte holds a Wildflower Festival to coincide with peak bloom. Guided hikes, workshops and photography tours are just a few of the activities that draw visitors every spring.

5. Cherry Blossoms – Washington, D.C

Even though they aren’t wildflowers, this list seems incomplete without mention of one of the nation’s favorite spring blooms. Over 3,000 Japanese Cherry trees adorn the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park in Washington D.C. The trees were a gift from the mayor of Tokyo in 1912, and are celebrated every year during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

Trees bloom anywhere from mid-March to Mid-April, so be prepared to be flexible with travel plans. Keep a close watch on the National Park Service’s Bloom Watch to monitor the progression.

6. Azaleas – Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina/Tennessee

More than 1,500 varieties of wildflowers call the Great Smoky Mountains home, more than any National Park in North America. Nicknamed Wildflower National Park, it’s easy to see why visitors flock from all over the world to experience the beauty of the mountains.

Depending on elevation, flowers can be seen throughout spring and summer. Lady Slipper Orchids, trillium, irises and violets are some of the first to signal that spring is on the way. Black-eyed Susans and lilies love the warmer temps as do the azaleas, which start blooming in June.

The first spring flowers hit peek bloom in late April. During this time the park hosts a yearly wildflower pilgrimage. Spots are limited, so sign up early! Check out Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage to register.

7. Wildflowers (mixed) – Fort Pierre National Grassland, South Dakota

Native prairie flowers pop up all over the 116,000-acre grasslands in central South Dakota during springtime. Purple coneflower, bluebell, and Eastern red columbine dot the Great Plains with vibrant color.

The flatness of the land also allows the opportunity to see some local wildlife, such as burrowing owls, jackrabbits and prairie dogs.

Auto traffic is limited in the grasslands, so bring your hiking boots to find the best views. The extra effort it takes to see these native flowers makes it all the more special. For directions and maps, visit the USDA Forest Service.

8. Lupines – Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Mid-June in the White Mountains of New Hampshire isn’t white at all. It’s purple. It’s the time of year the lupines bloom and blanket the valley. Some will be pink or white, but the majority of these flowers are a varying shade of purple. The stalks grow up to 3 feet tall and bloom for several weeks.

Sugar Hill hosts an annual Lupine Festival in June, the perfect time to catch the flowers in all their glory.

9. Wildflowers (mixed) – Mt. Rainer, Washington State

Wildflower-filled meadows of Mt. Rainer are the highlight of the park each summer. The best place to find them is Paradise Meadow, home of the popular Skyline Trail. This paved trail takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery on the mountain.

Weather on Mt. Rainer is extremely unpredictable, so getting there at peak bloom takes a little extra work. It usually happens mid-July- early August, although sometimes the flowers decide mid-August is the ideal time to bloom.

Time it just right, and you will be rewarded with buttery yellow cinquefoils, bellflowers, and snow-white lilies throughout the meadow.

10. Wildflowers (mixed) – Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California

From February through April, something unexpected happens in the Anza Borrego desert… it blooms. Spend an afternoon walking some of the 110 miles of trails in the park, and you will find colorful patches of yellow sun caps, snow white poppies, purple arrow weed and much more.

Conditions must be just right for the flowers to bloom in a desert landscape but when they do the contrast between the delicate flowers and rough terrain is remarkable. Before you visit, call the Wildflower Hotline at 706-767-4684 to see what’s blooming.