Idaho is downright gorgeous in the spring, especially after intense winter weather causes the landscape to explode with fabulously colorful rewards – and there are plenty of wildflower trails in Idaho you’ll want to explore. While our fabulous wildflower displays are often overlooked by out-of-staters, natives and locals alike know the vibrant beauty that our mountainsides and meadows hold! True pinks, purples, blues, yellows…nearly every color of the rainbow makes its appearance in awe-inspiring displays that range from simple, tiny blossoms to entire fields of bouquet-worthy blooms.

The US Forest Service lists over a dozen known wildflower havens, some of which we’ve compiled here for the ultimate spring adventure and photo session – with a few local tips thrown in. Of course, we suggest you bring a wildflower guidebook as there are more varieties than you can imagine! Here’s a Google Map to get you started!

1. Bloomington Lake Trail, Paris

Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails
James Holloway/Flickr
Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails
Bryant Olsen/Flickr
A hidden gem to those outside of Southeast Idaho, Bloomington Lake is an absolute treasure whose most recognizable feature is a sheer north-facing headwall. Two incredibly rare plants are found here in abundance, nurtured by the lake's waters and shade trees: Rydberg's musineon and green spleenwort. Uniquely, many of the flowers and vegetation found here aren't found in Southeast Idaho at all - they're found in alpine regions nearly 2,000 feet higher in elevation. But this strange phenomenon also makes the area incredibly diverse.

2. Centennial Marsh, Fairfield

Nicholas D. / Flickr
Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Hill City, ID 83337, USA
Nicholas D. / Flickr
The breathtaking Centennial Marsh in spring is a bucket list must-see for every Idahoan. Every year between May and June, a 3,100-acre sea of purple-blue Camas Lillies is awakened and fed by the overflowing of Camas Creek. As the landscape transforms into a marshy, vibrant snapshot of these sublime flowers, the dipping of waterfowl and the music of songbirds only add an extra bit of magic to the scene.

3. Fairfield Foothills

Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails: a Road Trip
Nicholas D/Flickr
Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails: a Road Trip
Nicholas D/Flickr
Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails: a Road Trip
Fairfield, ID 83327, USA
Nicholas D/Flickr
While photographers and wildflower enthusiasts alike have perhaps heard of Centennial Marsh, the foothills surrounding Fairfield and Soldier Mountain are just as ravishing in their golden, sunny hues.

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4. Bear Basin Road, McCall

Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails: a Road Trip
Bear Basin Rd, McCall, ID 83638, USA
US Forest Service
Just a few miles north of McCall, Bear Basin offers wildflower viewing with a wow-worthy backdrop. The sub-alpine meadow comes alive with colorful, flowering plants in an array of blues, pinks, yellows, and whites. June and early July provide visitors with the best opportunities for wildflower viewing, especially mule’s ears, camas, mountain shooting star, and more. The drive takes you straight through the middle of the meadow, which is lined with fir and other conifers.

5. Elk Mountain

Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails: a Road Trip
Tom Kelly / Flickr
Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails: a Road Trip
Elk Mountain, Idaho 83637, USA
Martin Bravenboer/Flickr
A panoramic view of Central Idaho and Scarlet Gilia (pictured), Larkspur, and Lupine form a spectacular scene along the Continental Divide Ridge. Rocky-growing wildflowers add color to an already magnificent vista high in the mountains.

6. Keg Springs, Island Park

Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails: a Road Trip
Keg Springs Road, Keg Springs Rd, Idaho, USA
Joel Holland via Wikimedia Commons
In winter, Keg Springs is known as one of the snowiest parts of Island Park, which in turn is the snowiest city in the entire state. But spring dramatically transforms this idyllic meadow into a kaleidoscope of color. The Keg Springs road begins at about 6,600 feet in elevation and ends on the continental divide between Idaho and Montana at about 9,000 feet. A two-mile hike can also be taken along the continental divide trail to Blair Lake in Montana. The best time to access this area for wildflower viewing is mid-July through early August.

7. Mores Mountain

Mores Mountain, Idaho 83716, USA
christiannafzger iStock via Getty Images Plus
A part of the Bogus Basin State Park system, Mores Mountain is a favorite local getaway for good reason. But come spring, the colorful views here only add to the panoramic views of the Boise valley.

8. Sawtell Peak

Sawtell Peak, Idaho 83429, USA
Gary O. Grimm/Flickr
The road up Sawtell Mountain provides an opportunity for many people to enjoy a drive up from valley sagebrush meadows to an alpine peak with a view of the Island Park caldera, Island Park Reservoir, and Henrys Lake. The peak is dominated by cushion plants, but the best wildflower viewing throughout the growing season tends to be the subalpine meadows along the way that are full of showy, flowering forbs. July and August provide visitors with the best opportunities for wildflower viewing, including sunflowers, Indian paintbrushes, and more.

9. Craters of the Moon National Monument

Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails: a Road Trip
BLMIdaho/Flickr
Idaho's Best Wildflower Trails: a Road Trip
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Idaho, USA
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
The rocky, volcanic landscape of South-Central Idaho isn't ordinarily thought of as a dazzling landscape of color; grey and black rides, tuffs, and cones are the primary colors in this eerie plain. But take a closer look and you might just be surprised! Craters of the Moon NPS offers multiple wildflower walks during the spring for good reason: itty bitty desert blossoms and hardy, weedy blooms combine with the green of spring to transform the landscape into something quite lovely.

Check out even more of our favorite beautiful places in Idaho:

Talk about a beautiful journey! Any one of these wildflower trails in Idaho would make a spectacular place to visit on its own, or, create your own road trip using our Google Map as a starting point – just be sure to share your photos of any beautiful wildflowers in Idaho with us!

There is no better way to enjoy spring wildflowers in Idaho than by taking a road trip! Here is one we love from Sun Valley in the south to Priest Lake in the north.

The Scenic Road Trip That Will Make You Fall In Love With The Beauty Of Idaho All Over Again

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More to Explore

Idaho Wildflowers

Chris Muras | March 19, 2024

What are some of the best wildflower hikes in Idaho?
If you are on the lookout for the best spring hikes near you in Idaho, we have a few ideas for you. Here are a few of the best wildflower hikes in Idaho that we really enjoy, and think you will too:

  • Menan Buttes, Idaho Falls, ID: The fascinating Menan Buttes are ancient tuff cones, which are volcanos that erupt through the groundwater. These 10,000-year-old natural wonders exploded through the cold water of the Snake River. They are the only ones to have done so through freshwater in the United States. Much of the land seems like a barren rocky landscape, but if you get up close and personal you'll discover that there is a lush area of beautiful wildflowers in the North Menan Butte.
  • Cougar Bay Nature Preserve, Coeur d'Alene, ID: This is one of our favorite places to go on a nature walk near Coeur d'Alene. The rich wetlands are home to 34 rare animal species many of which are birds that you can catch a glimpse of flitting from tree to tree. The walking trails start near the marsh but head into the forest with an overview of the bay. During wildflower season, you'll be treated to beautiful batches of flowers along your hike.
  • Camel's Back Trails Loop, Boise, ID: You'll find this trail in the Camel’s Back and Hulls Gulch Reserve - a super cool spot near Boise. The trail is only about 1.7 miles but there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy this beautiful area within view of the city. When you climb the stairs to the overlook you can see incredible views of Treasure Valley. When hiking in the spring and summer months you'll be able to spot plenty of gorgeous wildflowers, too.To say that Idaho has a few wildflower hikes to enjoy is like saying we only have a few potato farms. Good thing for us outdoor lovers we have plenty of choices when it comes to throwing on a well-worn pair of hiking shoes and seeing where they lead us. If you want a few of our favorite places to hike, check out our ultimate guide to Idaho hiking trails. Before you head out, give AllTrails+ a try for up-to-date maps and trail info.

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