The Fourth of July fireworks might be over for the summer, but the Colorado mountains are still very much alive when it comes to color and spectacle. With the summer monsoons happening in the Rocky Mountains, afternoon showers bring out the wildflowers! So if you are looking for another kind of lightshow, take a road trip up to North Park. There are so many beautiful places to see summer wildflowers in Jackson County, CO that you won’t want to miss!*
*All photos taken in North Park, CO
The Sticky Purple Geranium
A Photographer’s Dream
Not only known for mountains, high country fishing, and beautiful mountain views, the wildflower game in North Park is nothing short of incredible. With summer runoff finishing off in early summer, and already chilly nights beginning at higher altitude, the wildflowers are out in full force. Midsummer until the first leaves begin to change in August is the best time of year to see wildflowers in Colorado.
If you are a photographer, or just starting out with macrophotography, you need to add North Park to your list of where to find the best wildflowers for photography in Colorado. Our combination of floral diversity, climate, and remote locations mean there are plenty of wildflowers to see. From the purple sage of the rolling hills of the intermountain basin to the columbines and mountain crocuses of the high country, you are never far from your next perfect shot.
Colorado’s state flower, the Columbine
Hot Spots for Wildflowers
The best way to find wildflowers is to be familiar with the time of year they appear. A lot of that depends on factors such as temperature, precipitation, and sunlight. Early spring might bump up the timeline on some blooms, whereas late snowfall can delay others. Snowstorms in North Park can happen well into the summer months, especially in the high country. Unfortunately, ice storms can hit in late May or early June when flowering shrubs are at their height, causing blooms to drop and go to seed early.
Here are some to watch for:
Pasque flower: These flowers are also known as the prairie crocus and are usually found at high elevations. Among the first of the wildflowers to appear once the snow melts, you can usually find them in early to mid-June above the treeline.
Lilacs, poppies, flowering shrubs. These blooms are extremely fragrant and attract pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds. Look for these flowering plants mostly at the lower elevations. Walden has plenty of varieties of lilacs—especially at Hanson Park—as well as around town. Usually you’ll smell their warm, sweet scent before you see them.
Old World Charm. Many of the old homestead ranches throughout North Park were decorated with poppies as settlers came into North Park. It’s not uncommon to see a bright orange splash of color next to an old derelict cabin or some of the older ranches in Jackson County. Chances are some of these poppies have been returning summer after summer for a hundred years or more.
The Lesser-Fringed Gentian
Columbine Season in North Park, Colorado
The columbine is Colorado’s state flower and throughout the beginning of summer, the mountains come alive with its iconic blooms. Varying widely in color from pale blue and almost white to a deep purple, these multi-layered star-shaped blossoms appear mostly in the underbrush of pine forests where they benefit from shade and moisture. Remember to take only photographs, as the Colorado Columbine is a protected species and can incur serious penalties and fines if they are illegally picked.
Some other mountain wildflowers to look for:
- Rocky Mountain Mariposa
- American Globeflower (endangered)
- Lilac sage
- Tufted Evening Primrose
- Lesser-fringed gentian
- Fireweed
- Wild rose
- Currant
- Mulberry
- Wild strawberry
- Iris
- Indian Paintbrush
- Many, many more!
Prairie crocus, found in the high country of North Park
Flowers Around Town
Driving through Walden, you might see a lot of homes with impressive flower gardens. Along Main Street many shops are decorated with annuals, such as marigolds and geraniums. Flowering bushes such as lilacs, currants, honeysuckles, and even crabapple trees have withstood the long winters and often dry summers to bring out exquisite foliage. These flowers draw hummingbirds, hummingbird moths, and other pollinators throughout the summer. Irises, delphiniums, and hollyhocks add to the playful displays of color throughout Walden and other North Park communities as well. Some of these perennials have been coming back for decades. The weather of each year will often determine which flowers are dominant during the summer. Some years plants remain dormant, while others they come out in full-force.
A rare species of American Globeflower
The High Country
Above timberline an entirely different world of flora and fauna is just at our backdoor. Tundra isn’t just one type of plant but a vast group of species that withstand high winds, temperature extremes, and harsh winters. Getting closer to tundra, you’ll notice details like tiny flowers and delicate, complete ecosystems. When hiking or off-roading, always be conscious that the impact you leave on sharing these areas can sometimes affect tundra for decades. Damage might be irreversible or cause dramatic impact to their habitat. Tundra is an important part of limiting erosion as well as helping to filter ground water and snowmelt.
Keep in mind too that rock stacking is not only obnoxious, but even slight changes in the environment at high altitude can adversely affect growth and development of tundra for years to come. Leave No Trace recreation is the best practice to make sure everyone gets a chance to enjoy the outdoors, especially in the high country.
Lilac sage or whorled clary, also appearing in the mountains of North Park
Even Deserts Are Beautiful
Aside from the lush forests and highland tundra of North Park’s mountains, the rolling plains of the North Park basin have plenty of desert type flowers and plants, from small cactus to the Tufted Evening Primrose. Sage brush is often plentiful throughout the area and during wet spring weather, the purple sage reveals where it got its name.
Tufted evening primrose, finding a home in the dry parts of Jackson County
Wildflowers Bring in the Hummingbirds and Other Pollinators
You’ll usually hear the hummingbirds before you see them. Often recognized by their high-pitched trill as they dart past, hummingbirds are most often found in the mountains and forests of North Park. Gould, Rand, Coalmont have some of the most impressive concentrations of these migratory birds. They feed on the nectar of blooming trees, shrubs, and flowers and are important pollinators for berry and fruit trees in the region.
Hummingbird feeders are a great place to sit and watch these birds buzz around and compete for sugar water. Placing a hummingbird feeder on your RV or cabin is a great way to entice these feisty birds to observe them. Just remember to use only hummingbird feeder mix as rancid sugar water and other ingredients can harm them. So if you have any doubts about your hummingbird feeder solution, let the birds find their own nectar.
Overfeeding hummingbirds has been criticized for altering ancient migration routes and leaving these birds vulnerable during early frosts, rather than letting the decline in flowers be an indicator for them to travel to warmer climates, so please be aware of your impact on these delicate creatures.
Bats!
Hummingbirds aren’t the only flying creatures you’ll see in North Park. Several species of bats also call North Park home. The only species of mammal capable of self-sustained flight, bats are hardly frightening. Bats are nocturnal animals that use echolocation to target and catch their prey—usually insects. Visitors to North Park might think that the mosquito is one of our largest species of birds, and nearly anyone can agree what a nuisance they are. Bats are responsible for eating tens of thousands of mosquitos, moths, and other flying insects in a single night.
Things to know about bats
- Bats often hunt near flowers that draw insects. You can usually see bats pursuing flying insects under street lamps and above bodies of water at nighttime.
- There are no vampire bat species that live in North Park. Any bats that you see are likely pollinators and insectivores. But they will bite if they feel threatened. Give them room!
- Bats are known carriers of some contagious diseases, such as rabies, for which there is no known cure in humans once symptoms arise. Again, leave them be!
- Bats are shy creatures and because of their agility and echolocation at night, it is unlikely they will ever come into contact with humans. If you see bats, don’t flail your arms or try to touch them. Leave bats alone, and they will leave you alone.
- Bat droppings, also known as guano, have high concentrations of potassium nitrate, which is a key ingredient in fertilizer and gunpowder. Bat caves were once mined as sources of agricultural fertilizer and munitions.
- Bats migrate to southern latitudes during the winter time, going as far south as Central and South America.
- We are more of a danger to bats, as humans can spread an infective fungus that affects the respiratory systems of bats. It is advised to not enter caves or abandoned mines where bats live to prevent this deadly fungus.
Rocky Mountain Mariposa
Late Summer and Early Fall
As the summer rain showers begin to ease off and the colder weather begins to come in, the last burst of color from wildflowers comes in. The wetter areas of North Park, such as the Park Range, Rabbit Ears, the Never Summer Range and Spicer Peak areas will be the places to look for. Lily ponds will erupt with large yellow flowers for a short while. Fruit bearing shrubs such as raspberries, mulberries, currants, and roses will be heavy with the fruit for a few weeks, providing food for bears, varmints, and deer looking to store away calories for the long winter ahead.
When photographing wildflowers, remember to be aware that other animals also enjoy flowers. Be on the lookout for deer, bears, and other wildlife who might feel threatened by your presence. Wildlife and human visitors don’t always mix and it seldom turns out well for the wildlife. Give wild animals a lot of distance. Keep your dogs leashed and under control while hiking, and never feed wildlife (especially by hand!) You can unwittingly spread disease or cause them to lose their fear of humans, which is an important form of defense they need for their survival.
Wild roses in bloom
Enjoy the Outdoors Responsibly
Throughout the summer, the different waves of wildflowers come and go. From wild daisies and sunflowers to columbines, crocus, and everything in between. Just about any time of the summer is a good time to see different Rocky Mountain wildflowers. Remember to bring your camera or just a good memory. Most of these species are protected on public lands, and leaving them where you found them is a good way to ensure they will be there again for next summer!
