Get inspired for your spring and summer national park trips
Longer days and warmer weather make spring and summer prime time for visiting many national parks across the West. Whether you’re chasing wildflower blooms or planning a summer vacation, our guide will help you prepare for an amazing season of national park adventures. Read on for more inspiration.
A quick and easy guide to wildflower viewing in national parks
The promise of wildflowers—either as a desert superbloom or as the first emerging blossoms after a snow melt—is a truly special national park experience. While the exact timing, length, and brilliance of a wildflower bloom varies greatly from year to year, here are our tips for finding flowers.
- Call ahead. Wildflower blooms, especially in the desert, often occur soon after rain. Speak with park staff to learn about when blooms are likely to peak, and be prepared to make a (somewhat) spontaneous trip.
- Stay on trail and plan for potential crowds. As flowers may be concentrated in one area, it is likely that you will meet other people at the park who also want to experience the blooms.
Top national parks for spring wildflowers
Saguaro National Park
With both districts within a 40 minute drive from Tucson, this park is a great option for those who don't want to travel far to see blooms.
Tonto National Monument
Hike to the cliff dwellings and see wildflowers at this Indigenous heritage site just two hours from Phoenix.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Looking for a more remote experience? This park on the borderlands of Arizona and Sonora offers more solitude.
Mojave National Preserve
In the right conditions, this remote California park has major superbloom potential.
Big Thicket National Preserve
Wildflower season in this Texas park is a little different. Visitors have the opportunity to see four of the five types of carnivorous plants that grow in North America here.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
This diverse Oklahoma park has the potential for many types of wildflower blooms, due to its lush ecosystems.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
With miles of trails, there are plenty of ways to explore and search for wildflowers at this California park just outside of Los Angeles.
Pinnacles National Park
Catch a potential glimpse of a California condor while you search for wildflowers at this special park.
Great Basin National Park
With seven habitats and over 800 species of plants, spring snow melt brings potential for amazing blooms at this Nevada park.
1 of
Special spring and summer events
Mark your calendars for these special celebrations taking place in national parks and nearby cities throughout the West.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, March 7 and 8, at the Fox Tucson Theatre in Tucson, Arizona
If you love national parks, you’ll love these incredible films, featuring adrenaline-fueled action, breathtaking landscapes, and stories that stir the soul. From first ascents and whitewater thrills to personal triumphs and impossible journeys, this year’s lineup is a tribute to half a century of pushing boundaries and living boldly. Each night features a unique lineup that you won’t want to miss. A portion of the ticket sales from these events benefits the Arizona Trail Association and Western National Parks.
Western National Parks at the Tucson Festival of Books, March 14 and 15, at the University of Arizona
Learn, play, connect, and shop the national parks at The National Park Experience Pavillion. Enjoy two days of engaging author panels with award-winning writers, including Craig Childs, Bridget Crocker, Kevin Fedarko, Kelly Ramsey, River Selby, Sunaura Taylor, and many others. Hear from Diné (Navajo) Trader Wallace James Jr as he shares stories of Hubbell Trading Post during his popular rug talks, and enjoy weaving demonstrations by Diné weaver Tonita Yazzie. Participate in the family-friendly Junior Ranger Jamboree. Shop national park–inspired apparel, gifts, collectibles, and more at The National Parks Store Tent, and purchase authentic Native American jewelry, rugs, and crafts at the Hubbell Trading Post Tent.
Commemorate the completion of the first continental railroad on May 10 at Golden Spike National Historical Park
Experience history and learn the many stories of the people who built the first transcontinental railroad at this all-day event, featuring a reenactment of the Golden Spike completion ceremony.
Commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn, June 25—June 27 at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Little Bighorn National Monument will observe the 150th anniversary of this important event, where Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors fought to protect their ways of life. Although the full event lineup is yet to be released, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so start planning your trip now.
Start planning your national park summer road trip
Escape to high elevations, go on some epic hikes, and explore underground worlds with these itineraries. These are some of our top picks for national park adventures this summer.
12 hours at Great Sand Dunes
Spend a day in exploring the highest dunes in North America.
7 days in Northern California
Enjoy high summer in California’s mountains and along its beautiful coast, with this epic road trip, featuring in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
3 days of family-friendly science adventure in Utah
Explore the underground worlds of Timpanogos Cave National Monument on this fascinating three-day vacation based out of Salt Lake City.
1 of
Looking for even more high-altitude adventure? Great Basin National Park, Bandelier National Monument, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park are all great options for climbing a peak while beating the summer heat.
Whether you’re looking to take photographs of wildflowers, enjoy a cultural festival in a nearby city, take a hike high in the mountains, or learn about the many stories of our nation, there’s a perfect national park adventure this spring and summer.
By Nikki Stavile
