When the snow melts and the sun shines, Montana’s wildflowers blossom, providing an added bonus when spending time outside. We reached out to U.S. Forest Service leaders to get their recommendations on the best locations and viewing times:
- The Gravelly Mountain Range, near Ennis, is a great place to see wildflowers, and the area features large displays of Old-Man-of-the-Mountain, sky pilot, low larkspur and shooting star. The Gravelly Range Road opens on July 1, and blooming wildflowers can generally be seen around that time. This road is a great choice for those seeking the beauty of wildflowers without getting too far off the beaten path.
- Goat Flat in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, and many of the high alpine lakes nearby, often have incredible displays of wildflowers that can generally be seen in late July and early August.
- The Highwood Mountains, near Great Falls, are a great spot to visit in late May through early July for wildflowers and incredible hiking.
- The Willow Creek Trail, near Augusta, offers wonderful views of wildflowers against a backdrop of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Plan a visit in July for the best chances to see peak blooms.
- Mount Aeneas and the surrounding lakes typically have wildflowers blooming from mid-June through early August.
- Try hiking to Finger Lake to see a variety of habitats and bench-like areas, which are excellent for flowers. It’s a short hike with just a few small grunts of exertion, ending at the scenic lake as a reward for the effort.
As always, be aware of grizzly bears. Once bears emerge from their dens, they are often drawn to the spring wildflowers. Always bring bear spray, hike in groups, make noise and review bear safety practices before starting your hike.
To learn how to identify wildflowers, use this free guide.
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