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Colorado is home to some of the best wildflower hikes in the country! From mountain summits to hiking the foothills, there are so many options for enjoying the time when flowers begin to bloom. Here is everything you need to know about wildflowers in Colorado and the five best hikes to see them.
When Do Wildflowers Bloom In Colorado?
This will depend on what part of Colorado you are visiting. If you plan a hike in the Rocky Mountains, you must wait until July or August. The snow needs to melt before any flowers can grow. While many think Spring is wildflower season in Colorado’s mountains, that is not true; summer is the best time to see them.
If you visit the Eastern Plains, away from the mountains, you can expect flowers to bloom between April and May.
What Types Of Wildflowers Does Colorado Have?
Here are ten of the most common wildflowers in Colorado and their colors!
Columbine (Aquilegia Coerulea): Colorado’s state flower, known for its distinctive blue and white petals.
Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja spp.): Vibrant red or orange flowers often seen in mountain meadows.
Alpine Forget-Me-Not (Eritrichium nanum): Tiny blue flowers found in alpine regions.
Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium): Tall pink or purple flowers often seen after wildfires or in disturbed areas.
Rocky Mountain Iris (Iris missouriensis): Delicate purple flowers in moist meadows.
Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata): Bright red and yellow flowers common in meadows and along roadsides.
Colorado Blue Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea): Similar to the state flower but with slightly different coloring.
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.): Yellow flowers are often seen in late summer and fall.
Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata): Bright red tubular flowers attracting hummingbirds.
Mountain Bluebell (Mertensia spp.): Clusters of blue bell-shaped flowers found in montane and subalpine zones.
The 5 Best Wildflower Hikes In Colorful Colorado
Here are Colorado’s five best wildflower hikes, ranging from easy to hard.
1. Easy – Forest Canyon Overlook – Rocky Mountain National Park
Trail Ridge Road is Rocky Mountain National Park’s heavily traveled highway to the sky, and it is home to one of Colorado’s highest wildflower hikes.
Driving Trail Ridge Road is terrifying, but many can handle it. There are plenty of stop-offs on the top, and Forest Canyon Overlook Trail is one of them! This trail is very short and sweet, at 0.3 miles total. It takes only 15 minutes to complete with stop-offs.
The Forest Canyon Overlook is one of the scenic stops along Trail Ridge Road. At the parking area, a paved walkway leads to an observation platform offering a view of the vast Forest Canyon.
In this deep canyon, you can see the work of glaciers and the peaks along the Continental Divide. Near the overlook, watch for pikas, marmots, chipmunks, and other small mammals that live in the alpine environment.
Trail Ridge Road is only open to cars during the summer months. If you visit during winter, you can Cross-Country Ski Trail Ridge Road instead, which is one of my favorite underrated winter activities in Colorado.
2. Easy – Gold Hill Trail – Frisco
Another easy wildflower hike with stunning views is right off of 70 near Frisco, which is close to Breckenridge. The Gold Hill Hike is a 2.9-mile out-and-back trail that is generally considered an easy route; it takes an average of 1 hour 22 min to complete.
Gold Hill Trail is a stunning hike that showcases some of Colorado’s best wildflowers. It is fairly short and has no steep sections like those on some other nearby trails.
Enjoy the views of the Upper Blue River Valley and the surrounding areas, and, of course, wildflowers!
3. Moderate – Lupine Trail – Crested Butte
The Crested Butte area is often called the “Wildflower Capital of Colorado”. The Lupine Trail is known for spectacular wildflower displays.
The trail is rated as moderate and is 7 miles long, with an elevation gain of 888 feet. You can do the entire trail or turn around when you have seen enough. This trail is shared with mountain bikers so that you can enjoy either activity.
Crested Butte is one of my favorite places for wildflowers.
4. Moderate- Diamond Lake – Ward
Hike to Diamond Lake, a 5.4-mile out-and-back trail near Nederland, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 49 min to complete.
The hike is located in Ward, Colorado, at the end of Fourth of July Road. Please be aware that the road to the parking lot is bumpy and may require a high-clearance vehicle. The hike was one of my favorite places to see Colorado wildflowers in the summer.
Departing from the Fourth of July Trailhead, you’ll spend about 1.2 miles along the Arapaho Pass Trail before turning left at the trail junction for the Diamond Lake Trail. After a short distance, you’ll descend to the Middle Boulder Creek and cross to the other side, beginning the final ascent to Diamond Lake.
5. Hard -Mount Flora – Berthoud Pass
Mount Flora, one of Colorado’s 13ers, is the most challenging wildflower hike I have done. 13ers are mountain peaks at 13,000 feet that you hike to the top of.
This scenic trail will bring you 6.3 miles to the top of Mount Flora, with an elevation gain of 1,788 Feet. Make sure to start early if you plan to hike this to avoid any afternoon thunder storms. Always check the weather and ensure you are protected from the sun, as no trees are at the top.
This trail is challenging, but it is one of the prettiest places I have ever seen. It offers views of the surrounding rocky mountains and the Wildflowers.
I recommend renting a cabin in one of these areas or Camping!
Visiting Colorado in Winter? Read my Winter Hiking Guide To Mount Sniktau: One Of Colorado’s 13ers.
For leaf peeping in the fall, Hike The Raccoon Trail in Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
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