Top Places to See Wildflowers in Durango & Southwest Colorado
Best Hikes For Beautiful Springtime & Summer Scenery
Like a scene from the Sound of Music, you will be singing, the hills are alive with these 5 breathtaking hikes in Durango. Featuring alpine lakes surrounded by mountain peaks and blooming wildflowers, you will want to include one of these hikes on your Durango vacation. The wildflower growing season is short so plan to visit between mid-June and the end of July, so make sure you plan on seeing the wildflowers in Durango this year.
San Juan National Forest
Connect with nature and enjoy the beautiful outdoors when you visit the San Juan National Forest. Located in the southwest corner of Colorado, these federal lands contain some of the best wildflower trails in the state. Go from high-desert mesas to alpine lakes to gaze upon the beautiful blooms.
San Juan National Forest
American Basin
Located northeast of Durango along the Alpine Loop Back Country Byway, the American Basin is well known for its gorgeous display of wildflowers in mid-July through August. You can reach the foot path trailhead via the backcountry Alpine Loop typically open from May through September, but you wheel need a four wheel drive vehicle to get there. The entire loop has several wildflower viewing options.
Alpine Loop
Emerald Lake
Located in the Weminuche Wilderness, Emerald Lake is an alpine lake located off the Pine River Trail near Vallecito. The alpine meadows are full of blooming wildflowers of all shapes and sizes on this 10 mile hike.
Emerald Lake
Vallecito Lake/Creek
A day hike perfect for wildflower viewing, this hike follows Vallecito Creek down into a valley scattered with wildflowers. The alpine meadows along the creek are full of blooming wildflowers from June – September, peaking in July and August.
Vallecito Lake
Engineer Mountain Trail
Close to Durango, Engineer Mountain trail is a popular hike in the summertime. As the trail nears the top, it opens into an alpine meadow filled with wild Columbine, orchids, primrose, coneflowers and more. The views are spectacular!
Colorado Trail
The Colorado Trail to Gudy’s Rest is a fantastic hiking route near Durango, Colorado that will take you through the forest to reach a wonderfully scenic viewpoint overlooking the surrounding landscape. In the spring and summer time the trail features more wildflowers than you could ever imagine. It’s practically a hiker’s dream.
Colorado Trail