As snow melts from higher elevations and the days get warmer, Boulder’s delicate wildflowers lift their faces to the spring sunshine. Then all through summer and even into early fall, wildflowers continue to bloom in seasonal waves across Boulder’s hillsides, valleys and forest floors.
In an average year in Boulder, the very first flowers start to appear in late March, swell to a tidal wave in April and May, and last through the end of October.
You can admire a sprinkling of flowers on most of Boulder hiking trails. To help you find the best ones, we have put together a list of the top wildflower hikes in Boulder, plus a Boulder wildflower identification guide for common flowers you may see along the way.
Protect wildflowers for all to enjoy by staying on the trail. Spring conditions mean trudging right through the mud — yes, go ahead and get muddy — rather than eroding the trail by going around. Remember, “wildflowers grow by the inch and die by the foot,” so please travel with care. Flowers are a precious food source for pollinators, and picking flowers is prohibited on open space. Remember your Mountain Manners, and check in advance for trail closures.
The Mesa Trail runs along the base of Boulder’s foothills and mountains (with views all along the way) and connects several of Boulder’s major trail systems. That means there are several spots to pick up the trail, and lots of options for getting sidetracked if you spot a trail of blooms. We suggest you start at the South Mesa Trailhead, where a dusting of wildflowers are available right from the start. You’ll have a chance to see Western spring beauty (early spring), wild iris (spring), mariposa lily, perennial sweetpea and wild geranium (summer), and crested prickly poppy (spring and summer) and many more.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6.7 miles one way
Dogs allowed: Yes, leashed or under voice or sight control (see regulations)
Trail Map
Where to Park (Fee for non-residents)
From the access point at Lehigh and Lafayette streets, take the North Fork Shanahan Ridge Trail. Once you’ve done a bit of climbing, you’ll find yourself under the cover of towering ponderosa pines and will start to see lots of bright purple-blue penstemon (summer), as well as harebells (summer and late summer) and golden banner (spring and summer). This delightfully shady hike connects with the Mesa Trail. From here, you can take it south to the South Fork Shanahan Ridge which eventually ends with more open, prairie-like terrain, with Oregon grape (spring), pasque flower (spring) and more.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 3.4 miles round trip
Dogs allowed: Yes, leashed or under voice or sight control (see regulations)
Trail Map
Where to Park (No fee)
Goshawk Ridge is a little-known gem that is extraordinary for its constant variety of blooms through the seasons. It will take some mileage to get to this trail (start at Dowdy Draw and then Spring Brook Loop North or South to get there), but it’s well worth it, and the entire journey is delightful. We recommend hiking this once every two weeks starting in mid-April all the way through early July to watch the constantly changing mix of flowers. Much of the hike is in a pristine Habitat Conservation Area, and there are a couple of meadows bursting with bee balm (wild bergamot) that bloom in late June and early July. You’ll also have a chance to spot the rare, upside-down vase-shaped sugar bowls (summer), pasque flowers (spring) and wild irises (spring).
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 4.4 miles one way (this includes Dowdy Draw and Spring Brook North)
Dogs allowed: No
Trail Map
Where to Park (Fee for non-residents)
With tall pines above and rust-red earth beneath your feet, this fragrant trail is easy to get to but feels like you’ve escape deep into the woods. After only five minutes or so of hiking, you’ll come upon a clearing just before you reach the historic Green Mountain Lodge. Here dozens of butterflies drink the nectar of wild bergamot (summer) among a pair of picnic tables for resting. Continue on and you’ll head back into the cool forest, where Canada violet (spring, summer), Colorado columbine (summer), larkspur (summer and late summer), wood rose (summer) and more blossom. This trail gets quite steep after about a half mile, with dramatic views rising behind you. Eventually, you can intersect with Green Mountain West Ridge Trail, which leads you to summit Green Mountain — no small feat, to be sure.
Difficulty: Difficult (but the first quarter mile is very easy and filled with flowers)
Distance: 1.2 miles one way
Dogs allowed: Yes, leashed or under voice or sight control (see regulations)
Trail Map
Where to Park (Fee for non-residents)
Begin in the shady canyon beside Gregory Canyon Creek before hitting a steeper, rockier climb with several switchbacks and crossing a ridge with beautiful panoramas (yes, this trail is relatively short, but has 900 feet in elevation gain). The varied landscape is habitat for a huge range of flowers including Oregon grape (spring), pasque flowers (spring), tiny blue-eyed Mary (spring, summer), evening primrose (summer and late summer), lance-leaved chiming bells (spring) and many more. You’ll end at Realization Point at the summit of Flagstaff Mountain. From here, you can connect with another network of trails (including Ranger Trail, above) if you’re not ready to head back down.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1.1 miles one way
Dogs allowed: Yes, leashed or under voice or sight control (see regulations)
Trail Map
Where to Park (Fee for non-residents)
Rather than appearing in dense fields of blooms, Boulder’s wildflowers are often scattered here and there across the landscape. This makes finding them and identifying them part of the fun. Here are a few photos to help.
Arnica
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Blanketflower
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Blazing Star
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Blue Flax
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Canada Violet
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Colorado Columbine
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Common Bugloss
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Crested Prickly Poppy
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Evening Primrose
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Field Mouse-ear
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Golden Banner
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Harebell
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Lance-Leaved Chiming Bells
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Larkspur
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Leafy Cinquefoil
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Lupine
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Mariposa Lily
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Milkweed
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Paintbrush
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Pasque Flower
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Penstemon
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Prickly Pear
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Sand Lily
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Spring beauty
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Stonecrop
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Sugar Bowls
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Sweet Pea
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Western Wallflower
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Wild Bergamot
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Wild Geranium
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Wild Iris
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Wood Rose
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Yarrow
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