National parks top the list of places to visit during the summer. But taking a trip in the springtime allows you to witness spectacular wildflowers. Planning is key for viewing blooms at their prime. “Wildflower displays vary every year in every park,” says Sue Fritzke, retired superintendent at Capitol Reef National Park and a member of The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. “What they might see in photographs of a park one year may look very different in another year.” Come with an open mind, she adds.

And do your research. “Checking park websites, social media updates, and wildflower reports can help visitors catch peak bloom,” says Natalie Lambert, communications coordinator for the National Park Trust. “Bloom times can vary by region, elevation, and yearly weather conditions.” According to AARP’s 2025 Travel Trends survey, 70 percent of Americans 50-plus plan to travel this year and plan to take an average of 3.6 trips. Older adults 50 to 69 said they are more intent on planning a domestic trip than those 70 and older. 

Visit these six national parks for stunning wildflowers this spring.

Joshua Tree National Park sits among two deserts – Colorado and the Mojave – and gets its namesake from the cactus, the Joshua tree. The park is also renowned for rock climbing, 15 cacti species and wildflowers that debut as early as January, depending on the year, and continue through the spring.

Some of the first flowers to debut are the California poppy, the state flower, that paints the landscape with small orange flowers, along with the desert Canterbury bells and its bright blue blossoms and yellow stamens. Look for them in lower elevations near the southern entrance or the Pinto Basin. Brittlebush, a desert shrub with fragrant bright, yellow blossoms, orange desert globemallow and white pincushion flowers appear from early March to May in higher elevations – around 3,000 to 5,000 feet – in canyons and valleys. Spot them in Indian Cove and Jumbo Rocks.

Superblooms occur every five to 10 years in Joshua Tree. A superbloom is a phenomenon in desert environments when there is above-average rainfall, typically in the fall and winter, causing annual plants to bloom simultaneously. If you’re curious about whether it’s a superbloom year, Fritzke recommends monitoring the parks’ websites. “They will have a sense of whether a real superbloom is [going to] happen based on that pattern of precipitation that happened earlier in the year,” she says.

Many spring wildflowers begin to bloom in April and continue into the summer in Capitol Reef National Park, which is known for its canyon, cliffs and domes. “One of the more spectacular flowers is the claret cup – it’s got these beautiful … rose, red-colored flowers on these … tiny cacti plants,” Fritzke says.

Desert Indian paintbrush is another favorite for its red and orange floral bracts that are easily spotted in southern and central areas of the park, such as Cohab Canyon and Notom Road. For some of the best opportunities to see wildflowers, Fritzke recommends getting onto trails and backcountry roads.

Some years, there’s a superbloom of scorpionweed with beautiful purple flowers, says Fritzke. “You’ll see this landscape awash with purple, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.”

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has more types of flowers – more than 1,500 – than any national park, giving it the moniker of “Wildflower National Park.” Spring beauty, with white or soft pink blossoms and white bloodroot, which gets its name from the reddish-orange sap found in the roots, are some of the wildflowers visible in early spring.

In lower- to mid-elevations of the park, you’ll find 10 species of trillium, known for three-petaled flowers, including white trillium and white Catesby’s trillium that turn pink over time and hang down, along with red-hued Vasey’s trillium. Look out for smooth Solomon’s seal for its small bell-shaped flowers that dangle off an overarching stem and small white strawberry flowers. Time your visit with the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, a four-day event with guided walks, exhibits and activities related to flora and fauna.

The giant saguaro is a cactus that is a symbol of the Sonoran Desert and the main feature of Saguaro National Park. Starting in mid-March, many springtime blossoms open, including the white twist flower, white wild zinnias, yellow desert marigolds, pink fairy dusters and blue desert lupines. Go for a hike on King Canyon Wash Trail, Ringtail Trail and the Sendero Esperanza Trail to spot them.

The saguaro cactus can be found throughout the park. The white flowers with yellow centers bloom in April, with peak bloom usually at the end of May. The cactus blooms are the star of the show, Lambert says. Many cacti species are in full bloom the first week of May, such as yellow prickly pear, orange and yellow staghorn cholla, and pink fishhook pincushion flowers.

Pinnacles National Park’s wildflower season is from March to May. In early March, many flowering shrubs begin covering the landscape with colorful hues, such as yellow bush poppies, orange California poppies, purple fiesta flowers and yellow monkey flowers.

By the time April rolls around, yellow suncups, various hues of lavender and blue larkspur deck the tall stalks, and purple-flowered bush lupine, among others, add to the vibrancy. Wildflowers can be seen almost anywhere within the park, but hiking on Balconies Trail, High Peaks Loop, or Juniper Canyon Trail will give you closer views of wildflowers. Respect the flora when snapping photos. “Stay on trails and avoid stepping into bloom areas for photos,” Lambert says. 

Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of hiking trails, spans hundreds of miles across the Blue Ridge Mountains and is home to over 850 flowering plant species.

Wildflowers begin to bloom at the end of March and early April with lavender, blue or white hepatica flowers and small white or pale pink bloodroot blossoms. Purple and yellow violets, wild geraniums and yellow marsh marigolds begin to appear in early April. The famous trilliums peak in April and May, says Lambert, and include wake robin, known for its red flowers and strong scent.

Many wildflowers can be seen in lower elevations near water, including the Hughes River, Rose River, and South River. Shenandoah offers a wildflower calendar. If you’re curious about what wildflowers are in bloom, Fritzke says, “Ask the staff in the visitor centers.”

Lauren David is a contributing writer who writes about food, gardening and health. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Dwell, Martha Stewart, Southern Living and other outlets.