Favorite wildflower hikes for beginners

Hike: Brush Creek

When: Mid-June through late-July

The gentle, well-packed and wide trail provides a little bit of everything for the wildflower seeker. Hikers can find a dozen different wildflowers in the first dozen minutes of the walk and the flowers keep changing as the summer progresses. You will always find wildflowers along Brush Creek during the season. Lupine is prime in June; larkspur pops in July.

This trail experiences the morning sun, and it is best to get an early start or wait until the late afternoon to avoid the heat of the day. You are almost guaranteed to see some of our favorite wildflower pollinators (bees and hummingbirds) at any point along this picturesque environment. Brush Creek is a featured trail on the “self-guided wildflower hikes” map provided by the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival.

Drive: Crested Butte to Gothic

When: Mid-June to mid-July

From the Four-way in Crested Butte, drive out Gothic Road to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) Visitor’s Center. Once you pass through Mt. Crested Butte, the open meadows and aspen groves provide a spectacular display of wildflowers. There are plenty of pull-off opportunities for cars to park and capture stunning photos of the wildflowers, East River, and West Elk Mountains all from the roadside. A standard car can travel on the well-packed, improved dirt road. Stop at the RMBL Visitor’s Center to learn more about their wildflower and pollinator research projects.

Hike: Beaver Ponds

When: July

One of the best-kept secrets for wildflower viewing can be found on this gentle hike through a mature aspen forest. Combine this hike with a drive over Ohio Pass Road for a stunning day in the mountains. Hikers will experience a lush, fern-covered forest where wildflower aficionados can often discover harder-to-find blooms.

Hike: Three Lake Loop

When: July

This moderate loop hike offers a rewarding adventure for advanced beginners to intermediate hikers, covering approximately 3 miles of occasionally steep and uneven terrain. This trail winds through aspen forests and leads to several viewpoints, three picturesque alpine lakes, with an option to hike to Beckwith Pass, where sweeping views make the effort worthwhile. Along the way, hikers can expect to see one of the region’s more unique blooms, the rayless cone flower, a highlight often found along Kebler Pass and Ohio Creek trails.