With summer just around the corner, this means it’s wildflower season. The season is widely regarded as running from March until August, so you can expect to see blooms now and throughout the summer depending on where you go. So why not get out there and smell the flowers? Here are 12 of the best hikes to see wildflowers in Washington this summer.
Sugarloaf
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The Anacortes Community Forest Lands are a great place to spend a day exploring. Because there you’ll be able to summit Sugarloaf Mountain and check out a beautiful array of wildflowers as well as water views. Plus it’s a beautiful drive up north.
Where: Anacortes, Washington
Paradise at Mount Rainier
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There’s a reason this side of Rainier has its name. Paradise is pretty much exactly as its name suggests. Expect to see the mountain up close and personal with amazing views of fields of wildflowers. It’s seriously a bucket list view, don’t sleep on this one, folks.
Where: Mount Rainier National Park
Sunrise at Mount Rainier
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If you’re going to make the trek out to the mountain then it’s well worth your time to head to the other side of the mountain. At Sunrise you’ll be 1000 feet higher and will have the opportunity to see a real alpine ecosystem. Plus if you want to stretch your legs you can check out an easy 2 ½ mile hike full of views. Trust us, it’s well worth your time.
Where: Mount Rainier National Park
Tiffany Mountain
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Walking Freezeout Ridge at Tiffany Mountain is a great way to see some of Washington’s most unique landscapes. You get to walk through summer grazing country and as you work your way up you’ll also pass through the remnants of a fire zone. But the real winner here is the beautiful blooms you’ll see the higher you get.
Where: Tiffany Mountain, Washington
Ancient Lakes
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Just because eastern Washington is a desert climate doesn’t mean that the area is lacking foliage. In fact, these areas are some of the best places to see the unique blooms and plants that grow in the driest parts of the state. So take a hike and play a little game of eye spy to see what blooms you can see.
Where: Quincy, Washington
Mount Sawyer
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You can have your cake and eat it too at Mount Sawyer’s Tonga Ridge. A wander along this beautiful trail will reward you with several miles of huckleberry fields later on in the season. That means you can eat as you walk and also enjoy the wildflower blooms along the trail. Sounds pretty idyllic, doesn’t it?
Where: Stevens Pass
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Kendall Katwalk
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This trail isn’t for the faint of heart. Kendall Katwalk is known for its narrow path which is along a rocky cliffside. But we’re including it because the walk to this part of the trail is full of alpine wildflowers. So go all the way and live a little bit or just meander and check out the flowers before the trail gets too real.
Where: Snoqualmie Pass
Sauk Mountain
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We love this wildflower hike because you get to see blooms as low as the parking lot and as high up as the peak. What’s extra cool is that you can see how the blooms change as you gain a higher elevation. Sauk Mountain is well worth the hike for both the blooms and stunning views.
Where: Sauk Mountain
Hurricane Hill
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If you’re headed to Olympic National Park then this hike should absolutely be on your itinerary. Hurricane Hill is known for its insane views but you’ll stay for the beautiful array of wildflower blooms. The trail is also pretty wide and paved making it easier on the feet than some of the other hikes on this list.
Where: Olympic National Park
Dog Mountain
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Dog Mountain is so popular in spring and summer that a permit is required for all hikers. That being said, the hike is absolutely worth the permit due to the amazing array of blooms and the bird’s eye view of Mount Hood and the Columbia River.
Where: Bingen, Washington
Lower Mad River Valley
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On this hike you’ll find rocky canyons, fragrant ponderosa pine forests and an abundance of wildflowers. If you’re really feeling it you can even do the 17-mile thru-hike on the nearby Chelan Lakeshore Trail.
Where: Central Cascades, Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan
Mima Mounds
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Visiting the Mima Mounds is a bit of a double whammy. The mounds are considered one of Washington’s most unique natural formations and also happen to be a great place to see wildflowers. Visit them for yourself to see what the mysterious mounds are about.
Where: Olympic Penninsula
That’s what we have when it comes to the best places to see wildflowers in Washington. We hope that you get out there and see some blooms.
