It was a record-breaking snow season in Utah, but when the seasons turn it’s time for the mountainsides to change into their summer clothes. Quietly and seemingly overnight, the landscape shifts; the white, evergreen and bluebird colorways of the winter give way to a rainbow of beautiful wildflowers. Purples, yellows, whites, and corals blanket the mountainsides all throughout Utah, from the foothills of Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon.
Read on to learn what to look for as you walk or hike through Utah's most common wildflowers that will bloom from May through September.
Spring into Summer: May & June
- Mountain Bluebell; true to its name, a periwinkle colored dainty upside-down bell
- Silvery Lupine; represented in many shades of light purple to pale blue
- Fireweed; a tall stalk of a magenta/pink shade.
Deep Summer: July & August
- Indian Paintbrush; hits of bright orange and deep red
- Utah Columbine; white with a yellow burst in the center
- Wild Iris (earlier in Northern Utah); cascading petals of light purple with cream and yellow hits
Best places to see Utah wildflowers in and around your favorite resorts:
- Albion Basin, Alta Ski Area, Little Cottonwood Canyon
- Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Wasatch Front, Salt Lake City Foothills
- Cedar Breaks National Monument, near Brian Head Ski Resort
Locals Tip: keep your wildflower viewing environmentally friendly and ethical by respecting the following to help you truly “tread lightly”.
- Stay on the trail: It’s easy to think that just your footsteps alone will not do any real damage, but over time there are thousands of other footsteps tracing your same steps, so be sensitive and aware of your path and stay on the marked trail.
- Do not pick the flowers! Remember that many species rely on these plants like birds and pollinators – wildflowers support an entire ecosystem in these mountains. Once you pick them, they wilt quickly AND they are there to be enjoyed by many, not a select few.
- Photos – Don’t destroy a beautiful view and habitat to just to "get the shot." Along with staying on the marked trail and not picking these flowers, feel free to take pictures! Just keep in mind your angle and how you can best “tread lightly” to get the pic.
It’s a beautiful time of year to be in the mountains and to see the ski hills (and beyond) through a different lens. See the landscape cloaked in wildflowers, tac on a longer hike or a lunch, or visit a festival like Snowbird’s Oktoberfest, Brian Head Ski Resort's’s Rocktoberfest, or Deer Valley Resort's Mountain Beer Fest. There is so much to do at Utah’s ski resorts all summer long – enjoy the beauty of these beautiful wildflowers while you’re out there!
