Best Times & Places to See Wildflowers on Colorado’s Western Slope

If you love chasing wildflowers in the Centennial State, look no further than Western Colorado's canyon trails and alpine escapes.

The Grand Valley, the Uncompahgre Valley, Grand Mesa, and North Fork of the Gunnison River are great places to see Colorado's spring and summer blooms come to life.

Keep scrolling to check out some great suggestions for finding desert primrose, Indian paintbrush, and fields of lupine at some of our favorite places for viewing Colorado wildflowers.

Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area

• 🎯 Dominguez–Escalante National Conservation Area (Delta/Mesa Counties)
• 📅 Best bloom window: Late March to mid-May
• 👀 What you’ll see: Desert globemallow, penstemon, primrose, Indian paintbrush
• 🔑 Access: Take the Bridgeport Trailhead or the Big Dominguez Canyon Trail
• ✅ Pro tip: Start early when it's cool, look for bighorn sheep near canyon walls.
• 😍 Local Fav: You will love seeing this area around the Gunnison River burst into color before summer heat arrives.

Colorado National Monument

• 🎯 Colorado National Monument (Grand Junction)
• 📅 Best bloom window: Late March to mid-May
• 👀 What you’ll see: Iconic sandstone cliffs mixed with spring color from evening primrose, yucca blooms, and claret cup cactus.
• 🔑 Access: Take the Monument Canyon or Wedding Canyon Loops.
• ✅ Pro tip: Take Rim Rock Drive for roadside wildflowers & 19 scenic overlooks.
• 😍 Local Fav: Turn your visit into an overnight at the Saddlehorn Campground for a closer look at wildflowers in the monument.

Read More: How Long Does It Take To Drive the Colorado National Monument?

Black Canyon of the Gunnison (South Rim)

• 🎯 Black Canyon of the Gunnison (South Rim)
• 📅 Best bloom window: Mid to Early June
• 👀 What you’ll see: Look for patches of lupine, wild rose, and golden banner at the rim’s ledges.
• 🔑 Access: Take the Rim Rock Nature Trail, Warner Point Trail
• ✅ Pro tip: Watch for bighorn sheep on the trails.
• 😍 Local Fav: The Sunset View overlook at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is your best bet for a legendary Western Slope sunset.

Gunnison Valley and Hartman Rocks

• 🎯 Gunnison Valley and Hartman Rocks
• 📅 Best bloom window: May through early June
• 👀 What you’ll see: One of the state’s most biodiverse areas for wildflowers. Expect mule’s ears, lupine, paintbrush, and more.
• 🔑 Access: Aberdeen Loop, Hartman Rocks rec area (BLM)
• ✅ Pro tip: Perfect for wildflower mountain biking or hiking with views of the San Juan Mountains.
• 😍 Local Fav: Hartman has 41 trails and 77 miles of trails for mountain biking

Grand Mesa Scenic Byway

• 🎯 Grand Mesa Scenic Byway
• 📅 Best bloom window: Mid-June to early July
• 👀 What you’ll see: Snow melts late, but when it does, meadows explode with columbine, wild iris, arnica, and mountain bluebells.
• 🔑 Access: Land’s End Overlook, Mesa Lakes area
• ✅ Pro tip: Combine with a day of paddleboarding or fishing in the alpine lakes nearby.
• 😍 Local Fav: During peak blooms, fields of wildflowers line the sides of the Grand Mesa scenic byway. Just stop and enjoy.

Read More: Colorado's Most Common Fish Found in Grand Mesa's Island Lake

Kebler Pass (Near Crested Butte)

• 🎯 Kebler Pass (Near Crested Butte)
• 📅 Best bloom window: Late June to early July
• 👀 What you’ll see: Famous for its fall aspens, but just as magical in spring with larkspur, cow parsnip, and bluebells across aspen groves.
• 🔑 Access: Cliff Creek Trail, Horse Ranch Park area
• ✅ Pro tip: Go midweek to beat the crowds and bring bug spray—wildflowers love wet ground.
• 😍 Local Fav: Taking the Kebler Pass means seeing Colorado's West Elk Loop, a National Scenic Byway.