While Vail Mountain is a must-visit for every snow sports aficionado, there is more to it than the vast expanse of snowfields. Come summer, the vast alpine meadows around Vail are dotted with wildflowers of a wide range of colors.

This riot of colors makes the Colorado high country a great destination for wildflower hikes with your family. There’s nothing quite like strolling through a wildflower meadow to fully embrace the joy of summer.

Before we go into the best wildflower hikes near Vail, keep in mind that picking wildflowers in Colorado State Parks is illegal. Such actions can damage the fragile alpine ecosystem. 

If this is your first visit to Vail in summer, we have listed the top 5 Vail wildflower hikes to help you choose. Take a look.

The Best Time for Vail Wildflower Hikes

To get the most out of Vail wildflower hikes, you need to time it perfectly. The best season for marveling at the wildflower explosion is in August. In July, the blooming will not be at its peak and by September the blooms will start fading away. If you come in the later part of the season, you will have to climb to higher altitudes to view the best blooms.

A wide variety of wildflowers can be viewed on these meadows, including the white and lavender Columbine, the state flower of Colorado. Other species include Bluebell, Sego lily, Indian paintbrush, Larkspur, and more. 

5 Best Wildflower Hikes Near Vail

Here are 5 wildflower hikes near Vail that are great for hikers of all levels.

1. Vail Pass/Shrine Ridge

This beautiful family-friendly trail begins at the Shrine Pass parking area and covers a distance of 4.2 miles for the to-and-fro trip. The views from the Shrine Ridge trail are wonderful as you move over lush green meadows studded with pine trees and painted with wildflowers.

The trail is easy to follow and the gradient is not too steep either. After crossing the meadows, you will move over the rocky ledges to reach the summit of Shrine Mountain. You get a magnificent 360-degree view of the surrounding area, including the Mount of the Holy Cross.

Note that this trail reaches high elevations, with its peak point reaching around 11,800 feet above sea level. This means you can expect the trails to be muddy early in the season, along with snow drifts. However, this is a popular trail for hiking and horseback riding. So, you will find other wildflower lovers along the route.

2. Lost Lake Trail

Combining flowery meadows and wooded areas with a beautiful Alpine Lake seems like an ideal weekend hike. That makes the Lost Lake trail a great option for families. The point-to-point distance of the hike is 4.3 miles and an elevation reaching 10,200 feet.

The hike can be completed from east to west or otherwise. The trail in both directions is easy enough and makes a great Vail family hike for wildflowers. You can take the exit for Vail from I-70 and then continue to Red Sandstone Road to start the hike. In the right season, the wildflowers cover almost every meadow along the trail.

In summer, expect the trail to remain dry but be prepared to encounter a few bugs around the lake area. The lake is also a popular destination for anglers. Even so, if you start early, you will be able to find plenty of solitude while crossing the meadows.

3. Notch Mountain

For adventurous hikers, the 10-mile round trip to Notch Mountain within the Holy Cross Wilderness is a great choice. Drive to the Half-Moon campground at the end of Tigwon Road and start along the Fall Creek Pass Trail. 

The trail takes you above 13,000 feet and the trail surface is mostly rocky. After the first 2.5 miles, you will reach the end of the tree line with the wind and the occasional chirp of pika being the only sounds around.

You will have to cross a few streams that meander through the meadows brimming with colorful flowers. In fact, wildflowers are abundant throughout the trail, but you will find the most colorful ones as you head deeper.

Make sure to resist the temptation of lying down on the flowery surface. Since the trail passes through the Holy Cross Wilderness, there are regulations for preserving the ecosystem. Once you reach the top, there are excellent views of Mt. of the Holy Cross to reward your efforts.

4. Wilder Gulch

This Vail wildflowers hike covers a stunning combination of colorful wildflowers and huge oak trees in a 6-mile round trip. Look out for the small forest service sign that marks the start of the trail from the lower parking lot of the Vail Pass Rest Area.

The track moves through sun-drenched meadows splashed with wildflower colors and moves into a conifer forest in the later stage. Most sections of the trail are flat and you will have to cross numerous small streams in between. The green meadows are gorgeous and are often encroached by the trees that provide a welcome shade.

Once you emerge from the trees, the Wilder Gulch trail will move to an intersection with Forest Service Road 708. You can turn back from here or hike further to the top of the 12,143-foot Ptarmigan Hill. Even though you might find a few mountain bikers along the trail, this is a great hike for lovers of solitude.

5. Gore Lake Trail

Many consider the Gore Lake trail one of the most beautiful hikes in the United States. If you want to combine the beauty of wildflowers with the charm of a pristine lake amidst the rugged wilderness, this is the hike to pick.

What makes this trail one of the best wildflower hikes near Vail is its breathtaking wilderness along with the colorful varieties of flowers along the entire route. Note, this is a 12-mile roundtrip and is challenging because of the steepness of the terrain that will test your lung power. However, the first 4 miles move along Gore Creek and are more family-friendly

If you can haul your backpacking gear, camping around the lake is a magical experience with excellent views of the Gore Range. The lake is located in the Eagles Nest Wilderness and the trailhead is a 10-minute drive from the Vail Ski Resort. Make sure to leave the lake with enough time to reach the parking lot easily before it gets dark.

Wind Up

Quite simply, summer is an incredible time to enjoy the splendor of wildflowers in the amazing meadows around Vail. If you have already enjoyed the magic of winter in Vail Mountain, it is time to discover the colorful side of the terrain during summer. 

Trust us. You’ll be glad you did.

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By Suvajit Banerjee

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