Meadows In Bloom: Your Guide to Early Summer Flowers

As the snow melts and summer awakens in the alpine, Sunshine Meadows transforms into a kaleidoscope of colour and life. Just in time for the start of the summer season, the meadows are bursting with wildflowers—each one a small miracle of resilience and beauty, thriving in the thin mountain air over 7,000 feet above sea level.

Here’s what you can expect to see blooming along our trails, and what makes each flower so special.

The First to Bloom: Anemones & Buttercups

Western Anemone, often called "Towhead Baby" once it goes to seed, is among the first to greet hikers. Look for its creamy white petals and fuzzy seed heads dancing in the wind. You’ll find them along nearly every trail, from Rock Isle Road to the Monarch Viewpoint. These hardy pioneers are a true sign that summer has arrived.

Right beside them, Alpine Buttercups bring a splash of gold to the meadows. These cheerful blooms are specially adapted to thrive in rocky, well-drained alpine soil—where most plants wouldn’t dare take root.

The Standish Summit Blooms: Rare Beauties at the Top

Hiking the Standish Viewing Deck Loop offers more than just panoramic views—you’ll also spot some unique alpine gems:

• White Mountain Avens and Yellow Draba add touches of white and bright yellow along the dry, exposed ridgelines.
• Lancepod Draba is a delicate flower endemic to high elevations—blink and you might miss it!
• Yellow Mountain Heather, a low-growing shrub with bright yellow clusters, thrives in the harsh winds of higher elevations.

From the Standish Deck down toward Rock Isle Lake, you’ll see even more blooms: Alpine Forget-Me-Nots, White Rock Jasmine, and Sitka Valerian. Each of these tiny blossoms tells a story of survival, blooming only once conditions are just right after a long winter.

Hidden Treasures on the Grizzly & Laryx Loops

For the most diverse range of flowers, the Grizzly/Laryx Loop is the place to be. This trail is home to some of the season’s most stunning and rare alpine wildflowers:

• Mountain Fleabane – These daisy-like flowers are loved by alpine pollinators and add soft pink and lavender hues to the meadow.
• Alpine Paintbrush – Vibrant red-orange blossoms that resemble a painter’s brushstroke. A favourite for photographers and hikers alike.
• Woolly Pussytoes – With their silvery, fuzzy appearance, these low-growing flowers are named for their resemblance to a kitten’s paw.
• Showy Jacob’s Ladder and Globe Flowers – Brilliant bursts of yellow and purple that bloom in clusters near moist, sheltered patches.
• Saxifrage and Strawberry Flowers – Hardy plants that thrive on rocky ledges, adding delicate white blossoms to your alpine views.
•  

The Monarch Viewpoint Trails: Rugged Beauty in Transition

The Twin Cairns to Monarch Viewpoint Trail is mostly bare, with a few lingering snow patches—but that’s not stopping early blooms like:

• Western Spring Beauty – Pale pink flowers that pop up as soon as the snow recedes.
• Marsh Marigolds – Often found near snowmelt streams and wet meadows, their golden petals seem to glow.

Returning to the Village via Meadow Park Trail

On your return from the Monarch Viewpoint to the Village, the Meadow Park Trail welcomes you back with a final bouquet of Western Anemones, Alpine Buttercups, and Glacier Lilies—a fitting farewell to your mountain floral adventure.

Why These Flowers Matter

What makes Sunshine Meadows so special isn’t just the volume of blooms—it’s the ecosystem they represent. Each flower is adapted to survive extreme alpine conditions: short growing seasons, cold nights, and powerful UV rays at high elevation. Many of these species are endemic to the Rockies, meaning you won’t find them anywhere else in the world.

They’re not just beautiful—they're resilient, rare, and critical to the health of our alpine environment.

Plan Your Visit

Early Season is the perfect time to explore Sunshine Meadows in bloom. Trails are dry and open, the air is crisp, and wildflowers are just beginning their season-long spectacle. Whether you're a botany buff, landscape photographer, or simply love a scenic hike, there’s no better place to start your summer.

So pack your water bottle, bring your camera, and get ready to walk among the wildflowers. Summer has officially arrived at Sunshine!