- Wildflowers in Montana can bloom as late as September.
- Wildflowers bloom in different areas of Montana’s national forests throughout the summer.
- The right timing will allow travelers to enjoy a wide variety of flowers, such as the state flower, bitterroot and lupine.
The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us MontanaSpring doesn’t come all at once. It unfolds. The spring season begins in valleys at low elevations, and then spreads out in waves of color across the foothills and meadows. Glacier lilies, arrowleaf Balsamroot, and paintbrush poke through melting snow, before lupine and beargrass cover the landscape with purples, whites, and reds.
Kira Powell is the Public Affairs Officer for the National Wildflower Society. She says that the height of the wildflowers will determine the time it takes to bloom. Flathead National ForestTell me if you can Travel + Leisure. “Some plants are found at lower altitudes, and they bloom sooner. Other native plants grow in high-alpine meadows which are covered with snow even though the plants in lower elevations have finished blooming.”
This is why wildflower season can begin in Montana as early April and last through September. In order to learn more, we spoke with several U.S. Forest Service personnel. the best places and times to see Montana’s Wildflower displays in full blossom.
Spring: April – June
Custer Gallatin National Forest
In the spring, some of the first blooms in the state arrive. Custer Gallatin National ForestThe low-elevation foothills and prairies are a feature of the area. Morgan De Meyer, a public affairs specialist with the National Forest, says you can see glacier lilies in April and may, as well as bitterroot, Montana’s state flower. De Meyer states that “wildflowers start to populate higher elevations in May and June,” including foothills and lower mountains slopes. This season brings a variety of blooms “Like arrowleaf Balsamroot or shooting stars.”
Flathead National Forest
The wildflowers that grow in the Flathead National Forest are not far behind Custer’s blooms. This forest is located on the northwest corner of the state. Powell says that the arrowleaf Balsamroot is one of the first to bloom, usually starting in May at lower elevations and on sunny slopes. She says that Beardance Trail This is a good place to enjoy the forest in spring.
Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest
South of Helena in Montana is the South Hills Trail System. It is a part of the extensive Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. According to Chiara Cipriano of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest’s Public Affairs Officer, South Hills trails are famous for their spring wildflowers. These bloom typically at the end or May and continue through mid-June.
Summer: June to August
Flathead National Forest
Wildflowers are more visible in Flathead as spring becomes summer. Powell suggests hiking the Danny On Trail, which she calls out for being “a good spot for viewing a diversity of wildflowers … in June through early August.” She says that the Jewel Basin has beautiful wildflowers, but it is often crowded. The hike to Finger Lake, however, crosses many different habitats, and includes some bench-like areas which are great for flowers.
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Wildflowers bloom in southwest Montana as summer begins. Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Jaime Trivette is the coordinator of Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest’s partnership program. She says that “wildflowers begin to bloom in general from late June until early August.” Trivette notes that the Gravelly Range Road will open on July 1. Wildflowers bloom around that time. The Gravelly Range Road is an excellent choice for those who want to see wildflowers but don’t want to go too far off the beaten track. Meanwhile, those looking for more remote wildflower viewing will find it in the forest’s Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness—specifically, Trivette notes, at Goat Flat.
Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest
In the central-west portion of the state, in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Cipriano shares a few standout wildflower viewing spots—from trails and lakes to mountain passes. From late June through early July, she suggests checking out the Willow Creek Trail Augusta is a town in the vicinity of Augusta Lewis and Clark Pass Near Lincoln. Visit for wildflowers and water views. Heart Lake Near Lincoln
Custer Gallatin National Forest
The wildflowers are at their peak in Custer Gallatin, located in the southern part of the state. De Meyer says that in these months “alpine meadows and subalpine forest, as well as mountain valleys, start to display species such as paintbrushes and lupines.” columbines.” As July slips in to August, the wildflowers move to higher altitudes. The elephant’s heads lousewort flower is as intricate and tall as the beargrass.
Late Summer: From August to September
Custer Gallatin National Forest
In Montana’s lower elevations, wildflowers bloom in August. However, in the higher elevations they can continue to bloom into autumn. In Custer-Gallatin National Forest higher elevations, wildflower blooms can last into September. It’s best to go high, where it is cooler. De Meyer says that “hiking in the mountains around this time produces alpine fireweed and forget-me-nots.”
