Four great places to see stunning wildflowers our public lands in Wyoming!
We had a great time exploring national forests in Wyoming to film an episode on PBS and Amazon Prime, “Travels with Darley: America’s National Forests Wyoming.” From June to August, many parts of Wyoming’s forests are in full bloom, making it a great time to travel to take in colorful flora and fauna.
Wyoming is a beautiful state and whether you’re in Jackson Hole, Laramie or an outdoor lover’s small town like Pinedale, National Forests may likely be part of your journey. Wyoming is home 9.7 million acres of National Forest land, including the more than 3.4 million acre Bridger-Teton National Forest, a large part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We took the following photos of Wyoming wildflowers on National Forest trails that are easy to access, making them great places for wildflower viewing for nature lovers of all skill levels.
Great Places to View Wildflowers in Wyoming’s National Forests
#1 Snowy Range Scenic Byway: Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests
We snapped the below photos on the 29-mile Snowy Range Scenic Byway, along Hwy 130. We started our drive on the Western boundary of the forest by the Medicine Bow Lodge and Brush Creek Information Center. Some wildflowers you might find here include blue columbine, buttercups, sticky geranium, shootingstar, alpine forget-me-not and harebell. Wherever you start this drive, make sure to stop at the new Centennial Visitor’s Center during your trip. Inside, you’ll find lots of interesting information and helpful maps.
Pretty purple wildflowers juxtaposed with snow-capped mountains along the Snowy Range Scenic Byway in the Medicine Bow National Forest. This is a great pick for wildflower viewing, as you can drive the byway and there are scenic overlooks, making it easy to get deep into nature.
Flowers bloom just after a snow bank melts along the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. One of the first scenic byways designated on National Forests, the Snowy Range Scenic Byway stretches through gorgeous alpine habitats.
#2 Wildflower Trail at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort: Bridger-Teton National Forest
The aptly named Wildflower Trail is accessible from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR), making it a great day hike or side trip while enjoying Jackson Hole. A moderate hike, the trail is approximately 5 miles one way, ascending up 2000 feet. It connects to other trails on the lower part of the mountain, so you can enjoy lots of different loops. This trail and other trails at JHMR offer access to high alpine environments from the resort’s tram and the gondola. This is a great trail if you’re enjoying time in Jackson Hole, as it runs from the base of the resort up to the Bridger Gondola.
Grab lunch at the resort or bring a picnic on this hike, as there are benches to rest along the trail. The Wildflower Trail is a top trail wildflower viewing from JHMR. You can hire a guide to take you hiking here or go it alone.
#3 Cache Creek Trail: Bridger-Teton National Forest: Another trail easily accessible from downtown Jackson Hole, the Cache Creek Trail is popular for locals and travelers alike. It offers a variety of recreation opportunities, including biking, hiking, skiing and you’re bound to see folks with their dogs along this trail. We explored on mountain bikes. You can ride side by side during much of the beginning of this dirt trail, which narrows to single track as you get further into the valley. This is where you’ll start to see less people and have a greater chance of spotting wildlife.
Ride your mountain bike or hike to see flowers along the Cache Creek Trail in the Bridger Teton National Forest outside of Jackson Hole. You can enjoy views of the Tetons and wildflowers along this trail.
#4 Vedauwoo: Medicine Bow National Forest: If you like climbing or want to bring out your inner child, head to magical Vedauwoo, where trails are easy to reach from parking areas and a good match for all skill levels, whether you want to walk along flat pavement or climb up on boulders. Not far from downtown Laramie, flowers start to bloom at Vedauwoo as early as April or May and peak in June or July. Some flowers you might see here include the Wyoming Townsend daisy, nineleaf biscuitroot, prairie bluebells, sand lily and lupine.
Flowers bloomn unexpectedly between the rocks at Vedauwoo, part of the Medicine Bow – Routt National Forest, near Laramie. This rocky area is starkly different than the nearby Snowy Range’s snow capped mountains. For those who want to vacation here, the campground has 28 developed campsites with potable water.
Find out where the “Wyoming National Forests” episode is broadcasting in your area by checking these listings and your local PBS TV station and look for “Travels with Darley” on Amazon Prime.
