Wildflowers Abound

Published: July 08, 2010

July is a perfect time to delight in the diversity and profusion of wildflowers in the North Cascades. Wildflowers come in an array of colors, shapes and sizes, and can be found in a range of habitats?from dancing in high alpine meadows to growing tucked among the shade of ancient forest giants.

Best hikes* for seeing summer wildflowers include:

  • Yellow Aster Butte (8 miles round trip with 2,200 feet elevation gain) and Chain Lakes Loop (7 to 13 miles round trip with 1,500 feet elevation gain) in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest offer great wildflower viewing from July to mid-August.
  • Maple Pass and Windy Pass in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (both are 7 miles round trip) have fantastic floral shows from mid-July to August.
  • On the eastern flank of the Cascades, Hart?s Pass is the highest point in Washington State accessible by car. From this road, you can amble along the Pacific Crest Trail as well as other trails to see abundant wildflowers. Best viewing is typically July. On the third Saturday, the District hosts a wildflower walk; call 509-996-4000 for details.
  • High Pass, Winchester Mountain, the Skyline Divide and Heliotrope Ridge within the Mt. Baker Wilderness are lovely wildflower hikes from late July through August.

A great opportunity for photographers is the North Cascades Institute?s Pocket Camera Wildflower Photography course on July 19-21.

Best Wildflower Hikes Washington and Washington?s Best Wildflower Hikes are excellent resources for where and when to go to see spectacular wildflowers. To help identify what you see, you may want to pick up Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest, a comprehensive field guide covering over 1,200 species, or ?Mac?s Field Guide to Pacific Northwest Wildflowers,? a simple, double-sided, laminated card with 90 common species. The U.S. Forest Service also has a great website, ?Celebrating Wildflowers.?

Remember to refrain from picking any wildflowers; take only memories and photos so that future generations may enjoy our precious natural heritage.

*Make sure to check trail conditions for hikes before heading out. With the cool spring we've had, snow melt is a few weeks behind schedule.