It’s no secret that part of the magic of skiing and riding in the mountains is the ability to take in magnificent views of snow-covered peaks. Surveying a run from the top is usually met with a pause to view breathtaking landscapes stretching far beyond the resort itself, and enjoying a peaceful moment before dropping in.
As resorts’ closing dates come and go, snow melts and gear gets packed away for the season, perhaps with the hopes of breaking it back out again for one or two runs in the summer, the mountains slowly but surely turn green again and natural foliage is restored. For some resorts, there’s a “superbloom” of wildflowers creating just as beautiful of a landscape as there was in the winter months (well, almost as beautiful depending on how hardcore of a skier or snowboarder you are).
We’ve rounded up our top three wildflower festivals in the U.S., all taking place at ski resorts or ski towns this summer that you won’t want to miss.
1. Wildflower and Music Festival – Pebble Creek Ski Area, Idaho
On June 24, you can be a part of the 60th anniversary of the Pebble Creek Wildflower and Music Festival in Inkom, ID. The resort puts together a mini music festival for attendees who can set up lawn chairs and blankets amongst the fields of wildflowers. They’ll also be running the Sunshine chairlift for any festivalgoers interested in wildflower hikes during the day as well. The festival acts as a fundraiser for Pebble Creek Ski Patrol and you can expect to see Camas Lilies, Idaho Trilliums and other flowers native to the state while enjoying music, food and the mountain in all its wildflower glory.
Date: June 24 – Pebble Creek Ski Area
2. Wasatch Wildflower Festival – Salt Lake City, Utah
This multi-day festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of the wildflowers in the Cottonwood Canyons between the four ski resorts there: Alta, Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird. Education is the primary goal of this event with free guided hikes through the wildflowers designed to ensure visitors learn how to protect the unique natural resource.
The event is free, but registration is required and opens in May. The first tour of the day leaves at 9 a.m. and the final one leaves at 1 p.m. during the festival, which also consists of music, food and crafts for kids. Along with the education aspect, the volunteer guides make sure everyone can get solid photo opportunities while keeping the flowers safe thanks to designated photo areas along the walking trails. Come take in the natural beauty of the Cottonwood Canyons and learn about the native wildflowers like the Heartleaf Arnic or Sego Lily, Utah’s state flower.
Dates: July 8th, 2024 at Brighton — July 9th at Solitude — July 15th at Snowbird — July 16th at Alta
3. Wildflower Festival – Crested Butte, Colorado
While we may be biased being based in Aspen, Crested Butte is known as the wildflower capital of Colorado and its festival is our number one choice and not to be missed. Visiting the town during the month of July and hiking trails on the ski resort will enable you to admire the multitude of different wildflowers native to the area, but the festival itself takes place for over 10 days with over 200 activities attendees can register for.
The cost of each activity varies, and they incorporate everything from photography and crafting cocktails with wildflowers to identification hikes. There are limited spots for each activity, so the festival planners encourage visitors to sign up ahead of time to secure their spot. Whether you register for guided activities or venture out for hikes on your own, the wildflower experience in Crested Butte is unparalleled and you’ll be able to see Paintbrushes, Glacier Lilies and Mules Ears Sunflowers, just to name a few of the dozens of flowers native to the area.
Dates: July 7-16 at Crested Butte Ski Resort
Come see what ski resorts have to offer in the summer by checking out one (or all!) of these wildflower festivals and experiencing the beauty in these destinations during the warmer seasons of the year.
Planning to travel for a wildflower festival? Connect with a Mountain Travel Expert to request a free quote today to make lodging and airfare a breeze.