Lupine, trillium, balsamroot, oh my! 13 Washington trails to find iconic wildflowers
A sea of lupine at Mount St. Helens. Photo by Danielle Nelson
Washington has a wealth of iconic flowers: beargrass, lupine, paintbrush, trillium, phlox and more!
They bloom at different elevations and different parts of the state, so you can really explore Washington while trying to see them all.
This spring and summer, check out some of the trails where these flowers may pop.
Lupine
Columbia Hills State PArk
Location: Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge
Length: varies
Elevation gain: varies
Photo by The Iz.
Bright purple lupine is a striking sight against Mount Hood in the background at Columbia Hill State Park, and you'll be able to see plenty of balsamroot here as well.
> Plan your hike to Columbia Hill State Park - Crawford Ranch Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide
> Plan your visit to Columbia Hill State Park - Crawford Oaks using WTA's Hiking Guide
Balsamroot
Lower Mad River Valley
Location: Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains / Lake Chelan
Length: 14.9 miles, one-way
Elevation gain: 2,500 feet
Photo by AdrianneH.
Many Washingtonians consider balsamroot the quintessential spring wildflower. Make your way to the Entiat River Valley to find plenty of balsamroot, as well as other wildflowers, to start your spring and summer of hiking.
> Plan your visit to the Lower Mad River Valley using WTA's Hiking Guide
Pacific rhododendron
Guillemot Cove
Location: Olympic Peninsula > Kitsap Peninsula
Length: 2.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 360 feet
Photo by iamsarahshu.
The Pacific rhododendron is Washington's state flower, and when you see it on trail, it's no wonder — it really captures the attention! The Olympic Peninsula is a great place to see it on a hike, and Guillemot Cove is hikable year-round.
> Plan your visit to Guillemot Cove using WTA's Hiking Guide
Bitterroot
Spokane Gulch
Location: North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth
Length: 5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1,100 feet
Photo by austineats.
Spokane Gulch is a great early-season hike in the Methow Valley. It offers chances to see bitterroot, as well as many other wildflowers, including balsamroot and lilies.
> Plan your visit to Spokane Gulch using WTA's Hiking Guide
Sagebrush violet
Cowiche Canyon Preserve
Location: Central Washington > Yakima
Length: 20 miles of trails
Elevation gain: varies
Photo by AlpsDayTripper.
These small two-toned flowers are an earlier-season flower, and certainly not lacking at the Cowiche Canyon Preserve. You'll also likely see plenty of phlox and grass widows at peak wildflower time here.
> Plan your visit to Cowiche Canyon Preserve using WTA's Hiking Guide
Trillium
Snoquera Falls Loop
Location: Mount Rainier area > Chinook Pass - Highway 410
Length: 3.9 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 975 feet
Photo by M.Anderson.
Trillium is the first sign of spring for many people. Many trillium are white, but you can also find purple ones. The Snoquera Falls Loop is a perfect shoulder-season hike, lovely in spring, with a easily accessible trailhead right off of Highway 410.
> Plan your hike along the Snoquera Falls Loop using WTA's Hiking Guide
Phlox
Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area
Location: Central Washington > Yakima
Length: 8 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1,750 feet
Photo by dxcharles.
There are several different trails for hikers to explore around the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area, and no matter which one you take, you can be sure to encounter pops of color during wildflower season. Phlox is just one of many you can see on your hike in the wildlife area.
> Plan your visit to Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area using WTA's Hiking Guide
Skunk cabbage
Anacortes Community Forest Lands - Little Cranberry lake
Location: Puget Sound and Islands > Whidbey Island
Length: 1.5 miles, roundtrip; plenty of options to extend your hike
Elevation gain: 125 feet
Photo by Muledeer.
It's admittedly not the prettiest name, but skunk cabbage is quite a lovely flower (and distinct in odor if you get close, which is where its name comes from). You'll find plenty in the swampy area of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands, but wander the rest of the forest lands to see even more wildflowers.
> Plan your hike at the Anacortes Community Forest Lands - Little Cranberry Lake using WTA's Hiking Guide
> Plan your visit to the rest of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands using WTA's Hiking Guide
Monkshood
Mount Spokane State Park - Trail 130
Location: Eastern Washington > Spokane area
Length: 12 miles, roundtrip; plenty of options to extend your hike
Elevation gain: 660 feet
Photo by TrailKat.
Trail 130 (the longest single trail in the park) is just one option to see Eastern Washington wildflowers like monkshood at Mount Spokane State Park. The trail allows easy access to the trail network so you can craft your own hike. You might see even more wildflowers, like glacier lilies and beargrass.
> Plan your hike on Mount Spokane State Park - Trail 130 using WTA's Hiking Guide
> Plan your visit to the rest of Mount Spokane State Park using WTA's Hiking Guide
Grass widow
Panjab Trail
Location: Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains
Length: 5.6 miles, one-way
Elevation gain: 2,500 feet
Photo by chelshikes.
This later-spring, early-summer hike offers more than just bright grass widows; you also might peep glacier lilies, spring beauties, balsamroot, larkspur and lupine. To extend your hike, it's easy to connect this trail to the Turkey Creek, Rattlesnake and Mount Misery trails.
> Plan your hike on the Panjab Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide
Foxglove
Pacific Crest Trail - Snoqualmie pass to Olallie Meadow
Location: Snoqualmie region > Snoqualmie Pass
Length: 9.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 2,500 feet
Photo by Joe King.
Make your plans to hike to Olallie Meadow from Snoqualmie Pass along the Pacific Crest Trail once the snow melts out to catch all of the beautiful foxglove on the way. You'll also be able to see plenty of paintbrush and other wildflowers!
> Plan your hike to Pacific Crest Trail - Snoqualmie Pass to Olallie Meadow using WTA's Hiking Guide
Paintbrush
Monte Cristo
Location: South Cascades > Mount Adams area
Length: 4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1,000 feet
Photo by Sunrise Creek.
Though spring is a bit early for paintbrush, you can start planning for a South Cascades adventure now — a true wildflower wonderland! — for as soon as the snow melts out. You won't only get paintbrush; you'll get other colorful wildflowers, as well as huge (we're talking huge) mountain views.
> Plan your hike to Monte Cristo using WTA's Hiking Guide
Beargrass
Silver Star Mountain - Ed's Trail
Location: Southwest Washington > Lewis River region
Length: 5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1,240 feet
Photo by KatieJM.
Another trail for which spring is a bit early, but start daydreaming about a hike for mid- to late-May to see the beargrass in its peak bloom. You'll also have a better chance of clear skies, so you'll get perfect views of peaks like Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier. (And you can count on many other wildflowers like paintbrush to dot the mountains as well!)
> Plan your hike on Silver Star Mountain - Ed's Trail using WTA's Hiking Guide
