You can visit the Pikes Peak area two years in a row, and nature will put on a unique display each time because wildflowers follow their own schedules. Whether a species is a perennial (returning yearly) or a biennial (blooming every other year), the Pikes Peak flower show changes constantly. The season kicks off in March and peaks through late August. Welcome to Adventures Out West’s countdown of our famous “wildladies”!
First, let’s look at their life zones, so when you are booking a tour or hiking on your own, this can be a quick guide…
Where to Look: The Life Zones
- Montane (5,600 – 9,500 ft): Garden of the Gods and Cheyenne Canyon.
- Subalpine (9,500 – 11,500 ft): Gold Camp, Crystal Reservoir, and aspen groves.
- Alpine Tundra (Above 11,500 ft): Above treeline on Pikes Peak.
Early Bloomers (The Rocky & Sunny Sites)
Best seen via: GOG Segway Tours or Hiking Tours and Cheyenne Canyon’s Seven Bridges Hiking Tours.
10th place: The Pasque Flower- Fuzzy, lavender, and our first official sign of spring.
9th place: The Shooting Star: Delicate pink petals that look like they’re streaking through the sky.
8th place: Glacier Lily: A heart-warming burst of bright yellow against retreating white snow.
Mid-Summer Showstoppers (The High Country)
Best seen via: High Country Jeep, Pikes Peak Jeep, or E-Bike Tours.
7th Place: The Subalpine Larkspur: Tall, vibrant spikes in purple, blue, and pink. A hummingbird favorite.
6th Place: The Pikes Peak Purple Penstemon: 2 feet of beauty that are drought-resistant and reliable every August.
5th Place: The Elephant Head: Unique, deep pink blooms that look exactly like tiny elephant heads.
4th Place: The Mountain Bluebell: These “chameleons” shift from pink to purple along mountain streams.
3rd Place: Fireweed: Hot-pink pillars that thrive in fire-scarred soil. Catch these on a Rampart Range Jeep Tour.
2nd Place: The Indian Paintbrush: Striking shades of orange, red, and cream are found in high-altitude meadows. The paintbrush is a favorite because it blooms in red, orange, hot pink, and cream to yellow colors!
1st Place: The Colorado Blue Columbine: Our iconic state flower. From the forests to the tundra, its beauty never gets old.
Honorable Mention: The Alpine Forget-Me-Not
Thriving at 11,500 feet, these flowers offer a “true blue” so vivid it borders on turquoise—a color unlike anything else in the world of alpine botany. The plant and her blooms are so small that the cluster in the picture would easily fit in your hand.
Admittedly, I once opposed paving the Pikes Peak Highway, fearing it would feel too invasive. However, after seeing how the tundra “snuggles” right up to the asphalt on Mt. Blue Sky, my perspective shifted. For years, the silt and erosion from the old dirt road slowly choked out the delicate alpine life.
Today, the paved highway has drastically reduced that damage, allowing nature to reclaim the roadside. Now, you can spot these tiny treasures directly from the comfort of our Custom Tour Jeeps or during an E-Bike Tour!
With all this bloomin’ fun out here, we can’t wait to show ya,
Sassafrass/ Tammila K. Wright
For more information on Colorado Wildflowers, I stumbled on an amazing database, Colorado’s Wildflower.com