Experts Say This Summer Will Be One of the Best Wildflower Seasons on Record — Here Are 6 Places to See the Blooms

The wildflowers don't go away when spring turns to summer — you just have to hit the mountains.

One of the perks of long winters is the fields of wildflowers that usher in spring. And in the West, the past winter was a particularly wet one, with unusually heavy snowfall and rain. All that moisture led to a wildflower-filled spring, especially in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert and southern and central California.

But the fun doesn’t stop once spring gives way to summer. When the low-elevation blooms die out, the color spreads to higher elevations, where the wildflower season tends to start in June and run through August.

“The best flower viewing depends on when and where the snow melts,” Taylore Lowry, a spokesperson for the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, told The Colorado Sun. “Normally, the peak bloom begins in mid-July but with all the snow this year, we think the peak will come later in the month into early August.”

Crested Butte, Colorado, where the wildflower festival takes place, has long been known as the state’s “wildflower capital” and is one of our top picks for where to catch the summer wildflowers this year. In addition to Crested Butte, here are a few other spots where the summer blooms are supposed to be extra vibrant this year.

Albion Basin, Utah

Albion Basin sits at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon near the ski resorts of Alta and Snowbird. Its high elevation and unique wetland make it one of the best places to see wildflowers in the West — especially since Alta Ski Resort saw a 61 percent increase in its average annual snowfall this winter. In July, the Wasatch Wildflower Festival takes place at Snowbird Ski Resort (July 15) and Alta (July 16).

Expected wildflower peak: mid-July to early August

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Skiers and snowboarders in northwestern Wyoming enjoyed a long and powdery winter, with Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s Rendezvous Bowl reporting the "snowiest winter ever." Now, wildflower lovers are reaping the rewards. In Grand Teton National Park, the wildflowers start to bloom in May and continue through September, with the national park site noting that “the dominant blooming flowers change quickly from week to week.” That said, up high, early to mid-July is considered to be peak wildflower season.

Expected wildflower peak: early to mid-July

Crested Butte, Colorado

The famed “wildflower capital” is an easy addition to any anthophile’s dream list. This year, the annual Crested Butte Wildflower Festival takes runs July 7-16, a little before Lowry expects the blooms to peak. But as he noted in a May The Colorado Sun article, “There are hundreds of species of flowers that all bloom at different times and for different durations, so you can almost always see something!”

Expected wildflower peak: late July to early August

Beehive Basin, Montana

Just north of Big Sky Resort is a wildflower site that’s considered by some to be “the crown jewel of wildflowers.” The basin, which can be accessed via a moderate three-mile trail, has a subalpine lake and its fair share of summertime blooms. In fact, according to Montana State University botanist Matt Lavin, nearly 300 species of wildflowers grow in the basin from June through August.

Expected wildflower peak: July

Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra, California

When it comes to wildflowers, most people reference the desert superblooms that take place in southern and Central California, but the Eastern Sierras put on their own display come summer. And thanks to record snowfall this winter, the wildflowers in the mountains surrounding Mammoth Lakes are expected to be extra vibrant. In fact, the area’s Inyo National Forest botanists are hosting “Wildflower Walks” on June 24, July 29, and Aug. 19 at various wildflower hotspots around the area.

Expected wildflower peak: late June to July

San Juan National Forest, Colorado

The San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado encompasses around 1.8 million acres, including the San Juan Mountains near Telluride and Durango and various high alpine lakes. In late July, you’ll find fields of columbine, Jacob's ladder, paintbrush, and bluebells along most high-elevation trails.

Expected wildflower peak: late July

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.