“Wildflower season usually starts in the Mount Rainier, Washington, area in mid-July as the snow melt disappears,” said Mary Kay Nelson, Executive Director of Visit Rainier.

“Part of what makes wildflower season so exciting is different flowers bloom at different elevations around the mountain at different times. Because of the high elevation and the resulting short growing season, wildflowers are on the fast track, quickly emerging from the ground, blooming and then go to seed, all in just a few short weeks. A person could make several trips throughout the season from July till snow falls again October and see something new every time.”

To maximize visitor’s experience the Wildflower and Wildlife section on Visit Rainier’s website provides links to wildflower status reports, telling folks what is blooming and where; it provides a list of the top 10 wildflower hikes around the mountain; it offers an online wildflower identification guide, and it links to 12 webcams around the mountain.

Visit Rainier is a not-for-profit, non-membership destination marketing organization that promotes tourism in the gateway communities around Mount Rainier and reports that this area of Washington was voted Best Wildflower Spot in The United States.

(Photo courtesy of National Park Service)