Discover Wildflowers

Penstemon wildflowers growing along the road to Sunrise. NPS Photo   Mount Rainer's renowned wildflowers bloom for a limited amount of time every year. The "peak" bloom for wildflowers is heavily dependent on weather and precipitation patterns, so accurate predictions are difficult. In most years, many flowers will be blooming by mid-July, and by the first of August the meadows should be very impressive. Frost can occur by late August, but even after light frosts the meadows continue to be very beautiful, thanks to changing leaf colors and seed pod development that take the place of colorful blossoms. For a better idea of what the wildflowers are doing this year, please see the Currently Blooming section below, which summarizes what's blooming where. Explore further: Wildflower Guide - Unfamiliar with Mount Rainier's wildflowers? Photos and brief descriptions of some of the common wildflower species can be found in the park's online wildflower guide. Wildflower photo galleries - Collections of subalpine and forest wildflowers. Wildflower video gallery - Preview Mount Rainier's blooming wildflower meadows by watching these short videos. The Seasons of Mount Rainier - View short videos of different plants found in various parts of the park. Ecological Restoration - Watch short videos about the Ecological Restoration program's work in the park.
Broadleaf arnica along the Comet Falls Trail, 8/7/23. NPS/A. Wotton Photo Currently Blooming Last Updated: August 10, 2023 Wildflowers in subalpine meadows are winding down, but late blooming wildflowers are still abundant. Look for plenty of Cascade aster, pearly everlasting, and fireweed around Paradise and other locations. Along trails, even one patch of wildflowers can make an impression, like this photo of broadleaf arnica (Arnica latifolia) in front of Comet Falls. NOTE: Always check current trail conditions before heading out! Please stay on the trails. As snow melts away, it may be tempting to skirt remaining patches of snow that are covering trails. However, by going off trail you are walking on and damaging the wildflowers that you may be coming to see! It is better to stay on the trail even if that means crossing snow, particularly in the high-visitation meadows around Paradise and Sunrise. Also, there are plenty of opportunities for the perfect mountain + wildflower photo from the trails! No need to step off trail and crush other flowers in your quest for the perfect shot.   Wildflower Reports Sunrise Area (8/10) - pasqueflower seedheads, rosy spirea (Tipoo Lake), pearly everlasting, lupine, subalpine daisy, Cascade aster, Lewis monkeyflower (Tipsoo Lake), false hellebore, lousework (especially near Shadow Lake), Sitka valerian, bistort, arnica, magenta paintbrush, scarlet paintbrush, mountain bog gentian (Berkeley Park), arrowleaf groundsel (Berkeley Park); best wildflowers at Shadow Lake Trail at Sunrise, Naches Peak Look at Tipsoo Lake. Paradise Area (8/10) - Cascade aster, bistort, pearly everlasting, sickletop lousewort, Lewis' monkeyflower, mountain bog gentian, Sitka valerian, pasquesflower seedheads, arrowleaf groundsel, false hellebore, partridgefoot, bracted lousewort, magenta/scarlet paintbrush, fireweed, lupine, rosy spirea, bear grass; best wildflowers at Nisqually Vista (for lupine), lower Deadhorse Creek to Waterfall Trails (Cascade asters). Owyhigh Lakes Trail (8/10) - lupine, columbine, paintbrush, aster, Sitka valerian, arnica, pasqueflower seedheads; strong showing south of the lakes. Paradise Valley Road (8/8) - Cascade aster (lots towards the top of road), scarlet paintbrush, pearly everlasting, fireweed, false hellebore, rosy spirea (late), arrowleaf groundsel, slender bog orchid, Sitka valerian (late), wild rhododendron, lupine, mountain bog gentian, subalpine daisy. Comet Falls Trail (8/7) - small-flowered penstemon, pearly everlasting, tall bluebells, pink monkeyflower, Sitka valerian, broadleaf arnica, yellow willowherb, mountain monkeyflower, rosy spirea, twin flower. Mowich Lake Area (8/3) - Spray Park with arrowleaf groundsel, mountain bog gentian, Lewis monkeyflower, but moving past peak; Ipsut Pass at peak!
Mountain Bog Gentian NPS Photo Wildflower Photos The photos featured here are usually taken by park staff and volunteers from all over the park. Share your own wildflower photos in the Mount Rainier Flickr group! Higher resolution versions of wildflower photos are available on Mount Rainier's Flickr page. Plan Your Visit Paradise and Sunrise are two of the main visitor center areas at Mount Rainier National Park. Both areas are well known for their impressive wildflower meadows. The park also maintains dozens of trails perfect for wildflower viewing.     Meadow Preservation Enjoy wildflowers? Stay on trails