The Best Places to See Montana Wildflowers All Summer Long, According to the U.S. Forest Service

In Montana, spring doesn’t arrive all at once, but rather it unfurls. It starts in low-elevation valleys, then moves across foothills and alpine meadows in colorful waves. Glacier lilies and arrowleaf balsamroot poke through melting snow before lupine, paintbrush, and beargrass scatter the landscape in purples, reds, and creamy whites. 

“Wildflower bloom times are tied to elevation,” Kira Powell, the public affairs officer for the Flathead National Forest, told Travel + Leisure. “Some plants live in lower elevations and start to bloom earlier, whereas some native plants make their homes in high alpine meadows that are still covered in snow when the lower elevation plants have already finished blooming.”

For this reason, wildflower season in Montana can start as early as April and continue all the way through to September. We gathered intel from several U.S. Forest Service to find out the best places and times to see Montana’s wildflower displays in full bloom.

Spring: April to June

Custer Gallatin National Forest

Some of the state’s first blooms arrive in Custer Gallatin National Forest, which has low-elevation prairies and foothills. Morgan De Meyer, the public affairs specialist for the national forest, says that in April and May you’ll spot glacier lilies and bitterroot (the Montana state flower). In “mid-spring,” or May and June, De Meyer says, “wildflowers begin to populate in higher elevations, including foothills and lower mountain slopes. This season brings a variety of blooms like arrowleaf balsamroot and shooting stars.”

Flathead National Forest

Not far behind the blooms of Custer are the wildflowers of Flathead National Forest, which sprawls in the northwestern corner of the state. According to Powell, “One of the first plants to provide a showy bloom is the arrowleaf balsamroot, typically starting in May in lower elevations on sunny slopes.” She adds that Beardance Trail is a nice place to catch the forest’s spring bloom.

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

South of Helena, Montana, is the South Hills Trail System, which is part of the expansive Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. The South Hills trails are known for their spring wildflowers, which typically start at the end of May and bloom through mid-June, according to Chiara Cipriano, the public affairs officer for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.

Summer: June to August

Flathead National Forest 

As spring turns into summer, the wildflowers in Flathead become even more prominent. Powell suggests hiking the Danny On Trail, which she calls out for being “a good spot for viewing a diversity of wildflowers … in June through early August.” She adds that the Jewel Basin area has great wildflowers but tends to be crowded, while “the hike to Finger Lake crosses a bunch of different habitats and has some of the bench-like areas, which are excellent for flowers.”

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

The start of summer is also the start of wildflower season in southwest Montana, specifically the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. According to Jaime Trivette, the partnership coordinator for Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, “Wildflowers start blooming generally in late June through early August.” Trivette adds that, “the Gravelly Range Road opens on July 1, and blooming wildflowers can generally be seen around that time. This road is a great choice for those seeking the beauty of wildflowers without getting off the beaten path.” Meanwhile, those looking for more remote wildflower viewing will find it in the forest’s Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness—specifically, Trivette notes, at Goat Flat.

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

In the central-west portion of the state, in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Cipriano shares a few standout wildflower viewing spots—from trails and lakes to mountain passes. In late June to early July she recommends checking out the Willow Creek Trail near the town of Augusta and Lewis and Clark Pass near Lincoln. For wildflowers with water views, head to Heart Lake near Lincoln.

Custer Gallatin National Forest

In Custer Gallatin National Forest, in the south-central part of the state, the wildflowers tend to peak in June and July. De Meyer shares that during these months, “alpine meadows, subalpine forests, and mountain valleys start to display species like paintbrushes, lupines, and columbines.” Later, as July slips into August, the wildflowers move to higher altitudes. The tall stalks of beargrass appear as do the intricate elephant’s head lousewort flowers.

Late Summer: August to September

Custer Gallatin National Forest

In much of Montana, wildflower season wraps up in August, but in higher elevations, the blooms can continue into fall. In the higher elevation regions of Custer Gallatin National Forest, the wildflower season often extends into September. The trick is to get up high where the air is cooler. “Hiking in the mountains during this time tends to produce alpine forget-me-nots and fireweed,” said De Meyer.