Colorado's mountain towns treat us with a wildflower explosion come summertime. Mother Nature takes the wheel and puts on a show, painting our fields and meadows in vibrant reds, yellows, oranges, and purples. Wildflower season is truly enchanting - we don't want you to miss it!
Here are our favorite hikes in Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs and the Vail Valley to enjoy the wildflowers:
Rabbit Ears Pass, the way in/out of Steamboat via Denver, turns into a blanket of wildflowers in the warm months. Head to the trailhead located just past the Dumont Lake Campground. This 6-mile loop hike explodes with Columbines (Colorado's state flower), Indian paintbrush, Geyer's larkspur, orange wild buckwheat, and other beautiful wildflowers. Don't forget to enjoy the iconic rock formations at the top of the hike, our famous 'rabbit ears'!
Head to this trailhead for an adventure. This trek is 11 miles and provides spectacular views of the famous Mount of the Holy Cross and brings an abundance of wildflowers along the way including Old Man of the Mountain.
Head south of Breckenridge to this series of trails. Hike the single-track through the woods or keep driving and hike near Continental Falls to the upper lakes. Enjoy stunning wildflowers along the main route.
This is one of Colorado's best hikes with rushing waterfalls, large lakes, and mountain vistas - enjoy the view!
Head west out of Steamboat, take Elk River Road toward Clark, then a scenic drive down Seedhouse Road to access the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. This leads you to the Slavonia Trailhead, the starting point for hikes to Gold Creek, Gilpin Lake and Mica Lake. Expect to see Colorado Columbines and Red Indian Paintbrush along the way.
These are iconic Steamboat trails, enjoy the Zirkels!
4.3-mile out and back, Shrine Ridge Trail packs a lot of punch. You enjoy peak views throughout the hike that really shine at the summit and the wildflowers simply carpet the ground throughout the hike. Expect to see wildflowers such as Fireweed, Elephant's Head, Bistort, Lupine, and Indian Paintbrush. With sweeping views and meadows painted in vibrant yellows, pinks, blues, and purples, this is a great trail to satisfy your wildflower lust. The trailhead can be found off Shrine Pass Road.
