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.
Blooming subalpine wildflowers along the Wonderland Trail near Berkeley Park, 8/1/20. See the "Wildflower Highlights" album below for additional photos of current conditions. NPS/M. Schmitt Photo Currently Blooming Last Updated: August 7, 2020. NOTE: Due to COVID-19 constraints, regular wildflower reporting is limited, but reports will be posted below when possible. Wildflowers in subalpine meadows on the east side of the park are reaching peak bloom. Wildflowers in the Paradise area are progressing as well, despite a late start due to lingering snow. Lower elevation forested areas are past peak wildflower season. 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 Paradise Area Trails (8/7) Pinnacle Peak Saddle: trail is finally melted out and currently sports Sitka Valerian, Cliff Penstemon, white Mountain Heather, pink Mountain Heather, Cusick's Speedwell, Rosy Spirea, and Bracted Lousewart. Golden Gate Trail: Pink Mountain Heather, some lingering Avalanche Lilies, Sitka Valerian, Pasqueflower blooms and seedheads. Lower slope loops in Paradise including Alta Vista Trail and lower Deadhorse Creek: Arnica, Sitka Valerian, Rosy Spirea, and Lupine abound. Naches Peak (8/7): Pasqueflower seedhead, Paintbrush, Lupine, and more! Summerland via Wonderland Trail (8/7): Likely at peak bloom right now! Look for Lupine, Bistort, Sitka Valerian, Western Columbine, Cascade Aster, Thimbleberry, Salmonberry, Pearly Everlasting, Partridgefoot, and Fringecup. Indian Henry's Hunting Ground via Kautz Creek Trail (8/7): Nuttall's flaxflower, Rainieria, Arnica, Jeffery Shooting Star, Phlox, Columbine, Bear grass and Tiger Lily, just to name a few. Eastside Roadsides (8/6): In general, Sunrise just past peak bloom. Cayuse Pass Area: Arnica, Harsh paintbrush, Pearly everlasting, Ox-eye daisies (invasive), Cow parsnip, Few lupine, Few asters, Fireweed Near Sunrise: Rainiera, False hellebore, Gray’s lovage, Sitka valerian, American bistort , Asters, Broadleaf arnica, Paintbrush , Lupines, Pasqueflower seed heads, Few beargrass Ohanapecosh Area (8/5): salal, foam flower, fleabane (along Nature Trail), indian pipe, berries; at Silver Falls a few salmonberries, twin flower, pearly everlasting, tigerlily Stevens Canyon Entrance to Box Canyon Roadsides (8/4): past peak; oxe-eye daisies (invasive), fireweed, yarrow, arrowleaf groundsel, broadleaf arnica Sunrise to Berkeley & Grand Park via Wonderland Trail (8/1): lupine, Sitka valerian, louseworts, bistort, littleflower penstemons and sandwort, with smaller amounts of subalpine purple asters and daisies, yarrow, pink mountain heather, and magenta paintbrush. Peak bloom! Eagle Peak Trail (8/1) (from low to high elevations): pink wintergreen, pine drop, coral root, bunchberry, beargrass, wild strawberry, boradleaf arnica, lupine, sitka valerian, pink and white mountain heather, stonecrop, coiled beak lousewort, phlox, rock penstemon, tiger lily, paintbrush, subalpine daisy, bracted lousewort, bistort, columbine, thistle, false hellebore. Peak bloom at the higher elevations near the saddle!
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.