Wildflower hiking trails in the US

Stef Zisovska

Maybe you don’t consider yourself as a professional hiker, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try it. All you need is a good will, a comfortable pair of walking shoes, and an interest in nature. To explore the great outdoors of the country you don’t need to be a top-class climber who goes for the rocky cliffs.

Hiking is a perfect way of getting close to the wilderness, explore beautiful sites, learn more about the wildlife and enjoy the beautiful wildflower fields across the US. This type of hiking is more motivating for all the people that keep thinking that hiking is something that only professionals do.

One thing we like about hiking is discovering the sights, smells and sounds nature has to show us
One thing we like about hiking is discovering the sights, smells and sounds nature has to show us

Mitchell Canyon Trail near Concord, California

Wildflowers on the Mitchell Canyon Trail
Wildflowers on the Mitchell Canyon Trail

The 3,849 foot Mount Diablo will surprise you with some of the most incredible views the in whole of North America. When it’s clear, you can see farther than from any other mountain in the world, except Kilimanjaro in Africa. While going up, you’ll get the chance to see wildflower fields that will amaze you with their colors. Mitchell Canyon-Eagle Peak loop is by far the most colorful.

Here you can find purple Chinese houses, lavender Ithuriel’s spear, and monkeyflower. Higher in the mountains there are yellow globe lily found only in these parts, currant and wild poppy. Now you know where to go if you want to see this beautiful, 4 petaled orange flower.

Roan Mountain Trail on Roan Mountain, Tennessee

Rhododendrons at Roan Mountain – Author: Daniel Martin – CC BY 3.0
Rhododendrons at Roan Mountain – Author: Daniel Martin – CC BY 3.0

Catawba rhododendrons are so big in this area that the locals organize a Rhododendron Festival each year. Visitors from all over the country come here to climb the 6,286 foot Roan Mountain and be a part of this flower celebration. These bushes are very tall, blooming in various colors that give you the sensation of some magical garden from a different world. Roan Mountain is actually a 5 mile range with of a wide pathway from where you can enjoy the vivid flower areas.

Umtanum Creek Trail near Ellensburg, Washington

Yakima Canyon
Yakima Canyon

Umtanum Creek Trail is perhaps the most colorful throughout the Yakima River Canyon. The trail starts at 1340 feet and you get to cross the Yakima River on a suspension bridge. There is a variety of wildflowers that you can see here and the most popular among them are golden currant, serviceberry, Oregon grape, ochre shooting stars, bladderwort, and arrowleaf balsamroot. Also, here you can find hedgehog cactus, lupine, showy large-headed clover and several varieties of violets.

If your two favorite hobbies are hiking and flower observation, now you know what to do. Call your best friend who likes the same things and decide which trail you’re heading to first. Spending a weekend outside is what everyone needs, especially after a long week in the office. Decide which flowers you like the most and get your hiking shoes out of the closet. Let your energy bloom together with the lovely wildflowers. Enjoy your adventure!

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stef-zisovska

stef-zisovska is one of the authors writing for Outdoor Revival