When is the Best Time to See Wildflowers on Mount Rainier?

Mount Rainier Wildflowers

You can picture it - the perfect day hiking. The skies above are a rich summer blue and the trail before you stretches off into the distance as a carpet of wildflowers spreads out on either side. Bird calls break the tranquil silence and a gentle breeze dries the sweat on your brow.

But how do you know when to visit Mount Rainier to make your hiking dreams come true? The answer, unfortunately, is…it depends.

Because of Mount Rainier’s high elevation in the Cascade Mountains, the wildflower bloom is directly dependent upon the retreating snows. If there was a large snowpack on the mountain over the winter, then it takes longer to melt, and the wildflowers are a bit delayed in making their appearance. Particularly in those high mountain meadows we all dream of.

If it was a light snowpack with a warm spring then the flowers are quick to get busy. Wildflowers at Mount Rainier have an incredibly short growing season. They must grow, bloom, and seed all in between the time of the snows melting in late June, to the snows returning in late September. Leaving just three months to do their business.

When is the best time to visit Mt. Rainier for best wildflower viewing?

Ideally, the best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park for wildflowers is in July and August. Although you will see wildflowers throughout the summer months of late June, July, August and early September depending on the type of flower and on the elevations you visit.

Our hikes take place at 6,400’ and above so what we’ll see as the snow first retreats is the explosion of lupine first (those tall purple flowers), and then quickly followed by the stunning mountain heather in pink, white and yellows. Bear grass also is quick to make an appearance before it’s seed heads and the plant become almost unnoticeable.

The stunning red Indian Paintbrush and Magenta Paintbrush tends to hang around most of the summer, accompanied by purple aster. Phlox and purple rock penstemon blanket the ground. These are the hardy wildflowers that cling to rocks on the windswept high subalpine tundra.

Late in the summer in September pearly everlasting attracts a plethora of butterflies to it’s delicate white flowers.

Lower elevations that hold more moisture from melting snows is where you’ll find the more delicate flowers. Trillium, avalanche lilies and tiger lilies enjoy the moist ground the retreating snows leave behind. Look for avalanche lilies in - you guessed it - avalanche chutes. Comet Falls is at a lower elevation and in June we’ll find loads of avalanche lilies. Their white pedals chasing the dirty, old snow away. Their bloom is short and they usually don’t last into July.

Where is the best location at Mt. Rainier for wildflowers?

Ideally you are looking for meadows and areas where the trees have not choked out all the vegetation. These beautiful flowers need sunlight and pollinators such as flies, butterflies and bees to help them in their journey. Meadows abound at Mount Rainier and those with the easiest access are as follows:

Sunrise: Burroughs Mountain and Sunrise Loop through Shadow Lake. Can also head to Berkley Park from Sunrise for a longer hike.

Paradise: Skyline Trail, Glacier Vista Trail, High Lakes Trail

Mowich Lake: Spray Park (usually accessible in July)

Others worth mentioning: Van Trump Park accessible above Comet Falls.

Now you certainly can see flowers in other locations as well but these are the most accessible and highly concentrated areas of wildflowers for most of us that are just doing day hikes on the mountain.

Best Time of the Year to Visit Mount Rainier

Have you begun to plan your next visit to Washington State or Seattle and you are trying to figure out the best time to visit Mount Rainier? We hope what follows helps you in your planning!

To start, nothing beats summer in the Pacific Northwest. Nothing. And I’ll fight you on that one. The temperatures are usually between 70 - 80 degrees with no humidity. Which makes it pleasantly warm but not melty. The rain that Seattle is notorious for usually keeps itself to the winter and spring months, November - April. But beyond that, you start to get into some truly delightful weather.

Summer Paradise

Mount Rainier wildflowers are abundant in the meadows. Indian Paintbrush and Magenta Paintbrush add a splash of vibrant color.

A visit to Mount Rainier National Park can be beautiful at any time of year but summer is really when she starts to show her beautiful colors. And summer on the mountain starts late. You can expect there to continue to be snow into July at the higher elevations. This means if you are looking for a plethora of wildflowers at Mount Rainier you’ll be able to see them in June at lower elevations, and July and August up in those high meadows. The plants have such a short window of time to emerge from the snow, flower, and then seed.

If you have lots of flexibility in your travel I would shoot for the last two weeks in July or first two weeks in August for the best wildflowers. My personal favorite hike for Wildflowers is the Burroughs Mountain Trail. It starts at Sunrise through mountain meadows and then climbs quickly to the subalpine tundra, a rare ecosystem that is only found in a handful of places in the Unites States. There, the delicate wildflowers cling to the metamorphic and volcanic rock along the wind swept ridges. Their only threat the hooves of mountain goats, the step of humans, and the elements. Adventures In Seattle offers guided hiking tours on Mount Rainier on this trail and its no surprise it’s our most popular hike.

The more popular Skyline Trail departs on the South side of the mountain from Paradise. Also a great location to see wildflowers, you’ll also be delighted by lots of marmots busy collecting their stash of food for the winter. That being said if you want a high chance of seeing mountain goats at Mount Rainier, opt for Burroughs Mountain out of Sunrise (North side) instead.

Fall colors

Mushrooms at Mount Rainier become the fall/winter “wildflowers” with spooky shapes and wild colors.

To be fair, Fall probably is in a tie for spring on the best time to visit and while spring will have a gentle transition to summer on the mountain, Fall is often short with winter coming on abruptly and unexpectedly. Yet Fall on Mount Rainier can be a surprising delight. The months of September and October are where we quickly see the effects of colder nights and shorter days. The wildflowers will continue to try their best but at this point most have gone to seed and their unique seed heads are definitely different than their vibrant flowers. While the upper levels of the mountain are covered in evergreens up until tree line, the lower shrubs and bushes take on the task of showcasing the vibrant fall colors and do a respectable job. Early snowfalls leave a dusting of white along the slopes to add to the magical landscape.

SPRING waters

Avalanche Lilies line the trail to Comet Falls at Mount Rainier National Park

Avalanche lilies and trillium abound in the steep slopes and the first wildflowers to emerge on the wet lower trails. Comet Falls is one particularly stunning hike that showcase these delicate flowers. And as the snow retreats, the parade of flowers chases it back up the mountain. Spring can be a long process depending on how quickly the snow melts. Creeks are high with spring runoff and the falls along the route to Paradise dazzle with Narada Falls and Christine Falls being easily viewable from pull-offs along the road. The aforementioned Comet Falls takes a bit more effort but rewards its visitors with a breathtaking plunge to the pool below. Spring encompasses April, May and June.

winter Wonderland

Mount Rainier in Winter showcases a blanket of white show all along her upper slopes. The view from the plane window shows how far down the slopes the snow reaches in winter.

It seems almost unfair to rank the seasons with winter on Mount Rainier deserving it’s own stand alone podium. The mountain transforms under her blanket of white snow. And for the brave, bold adventurer that straps on snowshoes or skis, she becomes an unexplored landscape unrestrained by the trail. The meadows become passable with the dormant flora protected by a huge mattress of snow. You can quite literally, go anywhere. Such a playful wonderland rewards the well prepared hiker. Because as beautiful as the mountain is in winter, she can easily turn deadly in what seems to be a blink of a frosted eye. Avalanches, severe weather and white out conditions can easily defeat the ill prepared visitor. Much of Mount Rainier National Park is inaccessible in winter. The road to Sunrise is closed, usually re-opening in June. And the road to Paradise is limited to available staffing levels and at the mercy of the frequent snowstorms. Yet the quiet winter slumber of the mountain means less crowds and peace and tranquility once you venture away from the parking lots.

Mount rainier hiking tours

Adventures In Seattle offer Mount Rainier hiking tours in the summer months - July through September. Our guided hikes at Mount Rainier take you on the Burroughs Mountain Trail. You are guaranteed to see wildflowers and wildlife along this six mile trek. Locals and visitors alike agree it is the best trail at Mount Rainier.

The Joy of Slow Hiking Mount Rainier

Today I slow hiked.

I don’t usually. If anything, I speed hike. Always driven to see what’s around the next corner, climb to the highest ridge, and find the next bit of beauty around the bend. Downhill for me has always been an invitation to speed up and run. After all, it doesn’t take much effort and if you are nimble you can bounce from one rock to the next with nary any trouble.

But today I learned the joy of slow hiking at Mount Rainier.

It began as any other hiking adventure. Packed lunches, picked up the guest, and headed out on the Burroughs Mountain Trail. But this guest was a little different. She was absolutely charmed by the mountain and stopped every ten feet to take photos. So my usual marching walk slowed. My purposeful hunt for the next corner became a meander and I began to stutter.

And what came next was beautiful.

In the slow moments, I began to hear the dull roar of the faraway river flowing from the base of the glacier, ever constant. I felt the slight brush of a cloud as it passed over us as if a ghost reached out and touched my arm. Brief, gentle.

I could feel my toes through my merino wool socks and sturdy hiking boots hit the ground. I could distinguish pebbles from rocks from dirt. A small poof of dust escaped beneath each slow foot fall.

The smell of fir, snow and wildflowers delighted my senses now that I was breathing slowly. I could hear the call of birds whereas before I could only hear my heartbeat ringing in my ears.

I wasn’t bent over my hiking poles as usual, so instead I looked up and found moss draped across the noble firs like tinsel draped on a Christmas tree.

Slow hiking was magical.

I felt the warm kiss of the sun upon my brow instead of the usual trickle of sweat running down my temples.

I hear laughter over the roar of the river. A group behind us is being bewitched by a fat chipmunk.

I hear, “Smile like the mountain is out,” carried down the trail as friends gather for a photo.

Yes, I think I like it slow. While waiting…breathing…being… a movement catches my eye and I see a fat, furry marmot grazing in the alpine tundra. I wouldn’t have noticed him before. Would have just blown right by, oblivious.

And over all of us; slow, fast and in between Mount Rainier watches us. Bemused no doubt by us. What’s the hurry? I’ll be here long after you’re gone, the mountain says.

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Want to experience the joy of slow hiking Mount Rainier? Click below for our hiking adventures on Mount Rainier.

The Many Moods of Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier is moody. There’s just no other way to describe her. And yes, she’s a her. When I look at the mountain I just can’t see her as a he. Perhaps it’s the whole Mother Earth and Father Time thing.

When you go up on her flanks as often as we do, and see her each day standing as a sentinel, you start to develop a certain affinity and affection for her. The locals use her as a weather vane - is she out? Or is she hiding?

Does she have round, alien ship clouds floating above her indicating inclement weather on the way?

She’s tough and gritty, icy. A secure presence anchored in the Cascade range. She’s fickle and feisty, offering sun and warmth before cloaking you in her own blanket of clouds, mist and cold.

She’s a tease. Playing peak-a-boo in the clouds.

She’s hard. Taking lives from those that dare to challenge her. But offering triumph to those that are brave enough to try.

The stars in the heavens are her crown, the snow and ice coat her in diamonds and the foothills adorn her in emerald evergreens.

She’s constant. Always present, even as she hides among the clouds.

And we can’t help but love her. She was here long before us and she’ll be here long after we are gone.

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Want to experience the mystery and magic of Mount Rainier? Click below for our hiking adventures on Mount Rainier.