Wildflowers give Colorado a new boost of vibrant colors from May to August, with wildflower blooms starting at lower elevations in early May and higher elevations as early as mid-June. Here’s a quick guide to discovering Colorado’s best wildflowers.
Buena Vista Wildflowers
Buena Vista is the home of the Arkansas Valley which boasts the vast, unique landscape of a high mountain desert. Some of the most rewarding yet shortest wildflower seasons throughout Colorado can be found in Buena Vista. Browns Canyon National Monument has some sensational blooms found on the prickly pear cactus with beautiful colors ranging from vibrant yellows to extravagant magentas and is home to soft, loamy soil, that allows incredible wildflowers to prospect to their full glory.
These flowers bloom from April through June in the rugged terrain of the Arkansas River Valley and benefit from snowmelt that brings down much-needed nutrients to the soil.
Join us on our Brown’s Canyon half-day rafting trip or another exciting adventure experience in Buena Vista and take the opportunity to view the area’s wildflowers. If you’re near Buena Vista and have time for an extended trip, read more about our tips for your Buena Vista vacation, as well as our top 5 places to eat around Leadville and Buena Vista.
We also recommend visiting one of Colorado’s well-known ghost towns, St. Elmo. This abandoned, historic mining town is located twenty miles southwest of Buena Vista and offers even more Colorado wildflower viewing opportunities.
Idaho Springs Wildflowers
The historic, former gold mining community of Idaho Springs, Colorado, shares a unique connection between the world’s Industrial Revolution and the natural flora found near the base of Mount Blue Sky. The best places to see wildflowers near Idaho Springs are Saint Mary’s Glacier or The Herman Gulch Trail. This stretch of high mountain gulches produces beautiful wildflowers such as the ever-elusive Columbine and the perennial bluebells.
Columbine blooming occurs only when the stars align and perfect conditions are met, and their awe-inspiring tones of red, blue, and white make them a perfect candidate for the Colorado state wildflower. These Colorado wildflowers near Denver tend to bloom from May through mid-July.
While you are wildflower hunting Idaho Springs, be sure to join us on a whitewater rafting, zipline, or Via Ferrata adventure! Our 1/3 day Gold Rush trip provides a mellow introduction to whitewater, while our full day Phoenix trip sends you into the Clear Creek’s most thrilling rapids. Alternatively, choose our half-day trips on Upper Clear Creek or the Lower Canyon portions of the Clear Creek for two more intense whitewater experiences. Be sure to check out our favorite Idaho Springs’ restaurants to refuel after your adventure.
Kremmling Wildflowers
The Gore Range near Kremmling, Colorado, is filled with meadows that make this area an ideal home for a variety of wildflowers such as the Indian Paintbrush, Columbine, Fireweed, and the one-of-a-kind Elephant’s Head. Fireweed is not a weed at all; it gets its name from how quickly it can sprout from scarred lands right after wildfires.
The Fireweed will bloom in a warm magenta hue from June until September in Colorado. Elephant’s Head embodies an elephant when seen from the right angle. They bloom from June into August and they are certainly worth an extended hike to see.
While in Kremmling, explore the Upper Colorado River with a full day or half day scenic float trip. This area offers the opportunity to view stunning scenery from May through October, as you float down this majestic waterway. While you’re in the area, visit Kremmling’s hot springs.
However tempting, please avoid picking any wildflower you see on your hikes through Colorado. Admire wildflowers from a distance or take a photo that will surely last a lifetime. Rafting and ziplining adventures are an excellent way to get a bird’s eye view of wildflowers in spring and summer. Book a trip with AVA Rafting & Zipline in Buena Vista, Idaho Springs, or Kremmling and get ready to experience blooms of color alongside an exhilarating adventure experience.
