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Crater Lake National Park, Glacier National Park, Great Basin National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Park Wildflowers, Pinnacles National Park, RV travel, Sequoia National Park, Travel
From rare California poppies to sweet-scented phlox, wildflowers begin to bloom this month across much of the country. Filling green meadows, desert basins, and forest floors, wildflowers bring a special beauty that usually can only be seen for a few weeks.
Our national parks rank among the best places to enjoy wildflowers. As those parks cover wide swaths of protected land, they offer ample area for massive blooms, enhancing the already beautiful scenery.
Here are six not-to-miss spots at our national parks for spotting wildflowers from now through summer.
Pinnacles National Park
Each spring, brilliant orange California poppies, lavender-colored bush lupine, and white mariposa lilies blossom across the nation’s newest national park. To see a variety of them at different elevations and from a number of vistas, take the High Peaks and Bear Gulch trails.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
About the same time on the other side of the continent, the forest floor on the Mingus Creek Trail turns fragrant with the pleasant sent of blue phlox. Several other shade-loving flowers also can be found along the creek, including violets, Virginia bluebells and white trillium.
During late April, expect to see flame azalea in bloom on the Deep Creek/Indian Falls trails. In May, look for mountain laurel, and in June keep an eye out for rhododendron.
Glacier National Park
From late June through early August, summer wildflower blooms are at their peak. Check out the Swiftcurrent Lake Loop Trail for meadows strewn with purple asters, white torch-shaped clusters of beargrass, and sun yellow glacier lilies, all with majestic mountains as a backdrop.
Sequoia National Park
Next to the world’s largest trees are blossoms that somehow manage to stand out despite their size. On the Crescent Meadow Trail in early July, lavender Mustang clover with yellow centers look like little pins of brilliant light against the immense pine cones that have fallen into the grass.
Crater Lake National Park
Wildflowers usually bloom along the stream next to the Annie Creek Trail and across the meadows from mid-July through August. Among those that might be spotted are Macloskey’s violet, big huckleberry, sulphur flower, Crater Lake currant, western mountain ash, and wax currant.
Great Basin National Park
Amid the high desert is an oasis of summer wildflowers on the Alpine Lakes Trail. Spring-fed Lehman Creek flows into a lake and supports Parry’s primrose, penstemon, and phlox, all set against vibrant green grass. Butterflies are abundant here as well.
Rob Bignell is the author of several hiking books, including the bestselling “Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks.”
BOOK LINK: Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks
Located in southern Sierra Nevada, east of the San Joaquin Valley, Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park lie side by side to form “The Land of the Giants”. These two majestic national parks received this very-appropriate nickname due to the significant giant sequoias found there. They are two of the nation’s oldest national parks and include a spectacular range in elevation from warm foothills to cold alpine peaks. Be sure to stay long enough to explore both parks as you don’t want to miss the natural beauty they offer. Take some time to hike a trail, take a wilderness trip, visit a cave, explore the ski and snowshoe trails during the winter, go horseback riding or just take in the scenery. There is plenty to do and see.
The centerpiece of this national treasure is the Giant Forest. The largest trees on earth are found here, including General Sherman, which is the world-record holder for the most massive living thing. Dozens of magnificent groves of sequoias can be seen in just 3 square miles.
Moro Rock
Kings Canyon National Park was established in 1940 and covers 461,901 acres and consists of 2 sections. The smaller, General Grant section includes the famous General Grant Tree, and the Redwood Mountain Grove. This Mountain Grove is the largest remaining natural grove of giant sequoias in the world with 15,800 sequoia trees. This section is accessible by way of paved highways.
Zumwalt Meadow