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.

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Vibrant purple flowers with swept back petals and a white center, resembling comets in mid-flight.

NPS / Filo Merid

Currently Blooming

Last Updated: July 28, 2025
We have nearly reached the peak of wildflowers in the subalpines zones around the mountain, but there are still some modest blooms to see in lower elevations! This week, we're featuring a star that's down to Earth.

Some stars are celestial. Others are terrestrial — like Jeffreys Shooting Star. They appear to be caught mid-gravity, dangling through the wind. You might spot them orbiting the mountain in wet meadows or along cold streams; the trail to Comet Falls makes for an apt spot, too.

But like all stars, Dodecatheon jeffreyi keeps A-list friends. Only VIPs (very important pollinators) are invited to rub elbows (or wings) with it. Namely, bumblebees who can get past security to get their buzz on and enjoy the exclusive star dust (aka pollen).

It’s hard not to be star struck around them. Fortunately, they’re down to Earth. Unfortunately, fame is fleeting: they live fast; they die young. They don’t mind paparazzi so don’t miss a photo opp when you do see them. But remember: don’t tread on the floral carpet.

Please stay on the trails.
As snow continues to melt away, it may be tempting to skirt remaining patches of snow or mud 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 Updated 7/28

Paradise Area Updated 7/28

Pasqueflower seedhead Fan-leaf cinquefoil White Rhododendron Birds-beak Lousewort Coiled-beak Lousewort Magenta & Scarlet Paintbrush Spreading Phlox Showy Jacob’s Ladder Pink & White Mountain Heather Sitka Valerian Broadleaf Lupine Elephanthead (near Shadow Lake) Small-flowered Penstemon Cliff Penstemon Cusicks Speedwell Bracted Lousewort Beargrass (along Sunrise Road and Rim Trail) Smooth Mountain Dandelion Gray's Lovage Broadleaf Arnica American Bistort Sitka Mountain Ash Tall Bluebells (Sourdough Ridge between Sunrise Point and Dege Peak) Subalpine Daisy Cascade Aster Alpine Aster Sandwort Rosy Spirea (near Tipsoo) Tiger Lily (Silver Forest Trail)

Broadleaf Lupine (4th Crossing Trail) Bird's-beak Lousewort Sickletop Lousewort Forest Penstemon False Hellebore (early) Cinquefoil Scarlet Paintbrush Magenta Paintbrush Jeffrey's Shooting Star (Comet Falls) Pasqueflower seedhead (few just starting) Spreading Phlox (Deadhorse Creek Trail) Bluebell (Reflection Lakes) Arnica (Myrtle Falls) Columbine (Comet Falls Trail) Rosy Spirea (Comet Falls Trail) Avalanche Lilies (fading) Glacier Lilies (fading) Sitka Valarian Gray’s Lovage Pink Mountain Heather Tiger Lily (Nisqually Vista Trail)

Longmire Area Updated 7/30	Stevens Canyon Road, East to West Updated 7/28	SR123/410 - Cayuse Pass Updated 7/24
Cooley's hedge-nettle (Trail of the Shadows Fireweed Twinflower Cow parsnip Salal Forest Penstemon Coral Root Foam flower Slender Bog Orchid Tiger Lily Common Speedwell Self-heal Northern Microseris Monkeyflower (Nisqually River)	Beargrass Fireweed Columbine Tiger Lily Harsh paintbrush Lupine Yarrow Narrow-Sepaled Phacelia Oregon sunshine Cascade penstemon Oceanspray Goldenrod Harebell Scarlet Paintbrush Phlox Salmonberry Goat's Beard Sitka valerian Subalpine Daisy Sitka Mountain Ash Red Elderberry Rosy Spirea Broadleaf Lupine	Magenta Paintbrush Red Paintbrush Subalpine Daisy Goat's Beard Columbine Tiger Lily Cow Parsnip Bear Grass Oregon Sunshine

 

Red Columbine Flower

NPS Photo / Filo Merid

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