Lost Lake WildflowersWhen summer arrives, that means Wildflowers of Colorado are exploding into color. Trees and lawns are green, vegetable and flower gardens are blooming with life, and all around the state, wildflowers are beginning to peek their heads up from the ground. It’s a transformation that takes place at different times of the summer depending on factors like elevation and location, but if gorgeous blooms are what you’re looking for, we’re here to help you find them.
CRESTED BUTTE
Every July, the Wild Flower Festival takes place in Crested Butte, Colorado. The ten-day-long event is all about flowers. There are hikes, tours, gardening, photography and art classes, performances, and lots of entertainment. Thousands of people from across the globe flock to Crested Butte for ten days of pure beauty, food, birding, art workshops, and nature walks. Attendees include artists and photographers who can’t miss an opportunity to capture nature’s beauty in their work.
Crested Butte, located at high elevation and surrounded by mountains, is considered Colorado’s wildflower capital. Since 1986, it has hosted the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, a unique attraction for nature fans.
WHEN TO FIND WILDFLOWERS
You can find wildflowers pretty much anywhere in Colorado, from the flat prairielands near Kansas to the subalpine meadows up in the mountains. The higher your elevation, the longer it might take to see wildflowers, but generally the best time of year for spotting them on the plains is during late spring or early summer, and the best time to see them in the mountains is during the months of July or August.
WHERE TO FIND WILDFLOWERS IN COLORADO
Whether you’re hiking, biking, horseback riding, off-roading, or taking a scenic drive, you’re sure to spot some colorful flowers this summer, but if you’re specifically on the lookout for wildflowers, check out these areas for some truly spectacular natural gardens.
Crested Butte – Crested Butte is known as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, so if you visit the area in late July, when wildflowers are typically at their peak, you’ll find some incredible displays of up to 114 different types of wildflowers.
For a great hike, try Rustler Gulch, an 8 mile out and back trail where you’ll find entire hillsides blanketed with color, or the West Maroon Pass Trail to Aspen, which is so prolifically packed with wildflowers it’s become part of Crested Butte’s annual Wildflower Festival. If hiking’s not your game, take a chairlift up to the top of Mount Crested Butte for a great panoramic view.
Indian Peaks Wilderness Area – Try the 5.5 mile hike from the Hessie Trailhead near Nederland to Devil’s Thumb Lake, which will show off some of the meadows and forestlands of the area, and of course, the wildflowers that grow in abundance there.
Ice Lakes – The hike to Ice Lake and Island lake, near Silverton, is routinely regarded as one of the most gorgeous hikes in a state full of gorgeous hikes. The unbelievably blue water of the lakes will look even prettier in July and August, when it’s surrounded by columbines, lupines, and other colorful blooms.
Alpine Loop – This 63 mile drive near Ouray is one of Colorado’s scenic byways, and a big part of that scenery during the summer are the displays of wildflowers. Find colorful fields near Engineer Pass, or take a detour at Lake City and hike to American Basin for a picture perfect view of a waterfall and stream that runs through a field of wildflowers, with a dramatic backdrop of the San Juan Mountains behind it.
Pawnee Buttes – The two huge rock formations known as the Pawnee Buttes are located in the Eastern Plains of Colorado, east of Fort Collins. Here, you’ll find more desert and prairie wildflowers, which are very different and bloom much earlier than their mountainous cousins, so if you can’t wait until July, check out the Pawnee Buttes in May or June for a glimpse of some colorful prickly pears, lavender-leaf sun drops, and mountain cat’s eye.
LOST LAKE
I’m looking at holding a workshop in mid July and working on details right now. Check back later or reach out to me about it. Wildflowers of Colorado are one of those bucket list items.
Photos by Blair Ball Photography
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