15 Wildflower Viewing Vacation Spots, Plus the Cabins to Stay in Nearby

Spring is a great time to view spectacular wildflowers across the country, from massive countryside superblooms to tucked-away woodland jewels. Here are some of the best destinations to view wildflowers in the U.S. – and some of the best rustic cabins and homes to complete a nature-filled getaway. 

Enjoy your vacation with amenities like hot tubs, full-kitchens, and stunning architecture in A-frame cabins, treehouses, and other unique designs, all provided by hosts that love to share their local landscapes. Travel with ease and book only the best with cabinland.com.  

1. Glaciers and beargrass

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Despite its icy namesake, Glacier National Park is home to some of the most spectacular high elevation wildflowers in the country. Check out beargrass, a local speciality, that carpets meadows with white blooms sometime between late May and August. Superblooms of the flower occur every five to ten years, but some flowers reliably appear each year, and the park is home to almost 1,000 different species of wildflowers. 

The park isn’t the only place to visit on a wildflower-viewing vacation either; public lands and hiking trails surround the town of Whitefish on the park’s doorstep, and several areas are home to many of the same flowers. You’ll have great views of wildflower-carpeted slopes and easy access to hiking at this cabin at the foot of the local ski mountain that’s only about 30 miles from the national park. 

2. Upstate New York

Explore the Adirondacks and see some of the best fauna in the Northeast near Syracuse, New York. Look for spring flowers like the Pink Lady Slipper, a showy orchid that blooms from late May to late June. Different species will bloom throughout the spring and summer in both forests and marshy areas. Travel is easy from dozens of major cities. 

Get prime access to the Black River Wild Forest, a 127,153 acre tract of public land in the Adirondacks filled with hiking trails and recreational opportunities, by staying at this charming woodland cabin for two. Keep an eye out for wildlife on the cabin’s 40-acre property.

3. Prolific poppies

Even among superblooms, the orange poppy fields of California truly are super. The poppies bloom each year, but whether they truly explode depends on a mix of rainfall, temperature and other weather conditions. Regardless, the orange flower has become a March staple for wildflower viewing on the West Coast. 

Stay at this treehouse oasis for two in Topanga, California, that’s sandwiched in between state parks and is within day-trip distance of other poppy meccas like Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. A balcony offers the perfect place to unwind during your vacation. 

4. Southern bells

The southern Appalachian Mountains are home to dozens of wildflowers, but none more spectacular than the flame azaleas. The brilliant red blooms appear in the late spring and early summer, bursting into clusters of five or more on six to twelve foot tall shrubs. 

Stay in the heart of Georgia’s Appalachian Mountains at this mountainside retreat. Each room of the cabin has great views, and travel is easy from the Atlanta area. 

5. Cactus commotion

The mighty saguaro cactus is a sight to behold at any time of year. It can grow up to 60 feet tall and spout as many as 25 arms. But once a year, this giant among cacti shows off its softer side. Sometime between March and June, depending on weather and elevation, the Saguaro unleashes its white and yellow blooms. They open at night, soaking in the cool evening, then often close by mid day. 

See this and other blooming cacti while staying at this A-frame cabin with easy access to the desert landscapes of the Prescott National Forest. Get a dose of civilization and live music in nearby downtown Prescott, which is less than two hours from Phoenix.  

6. Boise buds

See purple lupines, one of the earlier wildflowers to rise in the mountain west. The plant often grows in bunches, with its distinctive stalks standing above other flowers. It can be found throughout the spring and early summer among other flowers of that frequent mountain slopes. 

This spacious cabin in Idaho has great access to trails in the Boise National Forest, plus its own geothermal-fed hot spring pool! A small waterfall alongside the pool provides a refreshing cold contrast. It’s a unique vacation stay!

7. Beyond Bluegrass

The Bluegrass state may be known for its acres of rolling, grassy hills, but those areas are also perfect for spring wildflower blooms. Black-eyed susans fill parks and pastures around the Lexington area, and prairie flowers meet their mountainous cousins as the Appalachian Mountains rise in the western part of the state. 

Have access to both areas from this ideally-situated treehouse west of Lexington with easy access to the Daniel Boone National Forest. Travel between rooms along suspended decking, and feast in the circular kitchen.  

8. New England, New blooms

Discover unique woodland wildflowers of New England. Blooms don’t burst forth as easily here as in open meadows. Instead, flowers make the most of light that filters in through leafy canopies to offer delightful surprises among taller trees. Find unique spring blooms like the deep burgundy of wild ginger plants or the droopy-but-beautiful yellows of the large-flowered bellwort. 

This woodland A-frame cabin sleeps six and is only minutes from hiking trails for a great nature vacation. The spring flowers in this area are just as beautiful as the fall leaves.

9. PNW Paintbrush

Islands are home to some of the most unique foliage in the world, and those that dot Washington’s west coast are no exception. The San Juan Islands are home to both old growth forests and sweeping cliffside meadows along coasts. The brilliant indian paintbrush is at home in either environment, where it blooms in brilliant pinks, reds, and oranges. The plant is often found among other flowers, as it uses other plants’ roots to help establish its own root system. 

This treehouse sits near the top of it all among trees on Lopez Island, with sweeping ocean views. Plan a nearby hike while lounging on the deck that actually has a tree growing through it. Travel is easy from Seattle! 

10. Prairie preserves

Prairies filled with waving grass and wildflowers probably aren’t the first thing that spring to mind when picturing the Arkansas landscape. But the state is still dotted with prairie remnants that offer spectacular wildflower viewing in the spring and summer. Look for bright orange butterfly weed, or find the bird’s foot violet along shady woodland riverbeds and lake shores. 

Get the best of both landscapes while staying at this luxury cabin that’s within an hour of three different natural prairie preserves. It’s also only minutes from Beaver Lake, a popular recreation area. 

11. Rocky Mountain meadows

Rocky Mountain National park is known for sweeping views of its namesake peaks and plunging waterfalls, but there’s a lot to see closer to ground-level. The park is home to hundreds of species of flowers, creating a shifting kaleidoscope on the landscape as spring turns to summer. Look for the distinct blue and white petals of the Colorado Columbine, the state flower, which blooms between June and August depending on elevation. 

This tucked-away cabin in Estes Park is less than 10 minutes from the national park boundary. Enjoy spring and early summer flowers right in town along the Big Thompson River Walk that navigates downtown Estes Park. 

12. Maine attractions

While wildflowers occur far into the backcountry, arboretums are a great way to see spring colors closer to civilization. Some of these gorgeous gardens are tended and manicured, while others host existing natural plants that are merely encouraged and guided. The Viles Arboretum sits in the heart of Augusta, Maine, includes more than 5 miles of hiking trails, and is free to access year-round. 

Enjoy a woodland retreat only 15 minutes from Augusta at this expansive treehouse that sleeps seven. 

13. Flowers on the farm

The rural midwest is known for its farmland, and there can be great opportunities to view wildflowers alongside agriculture. In central Ohio, find both wildflowers and cultivated flower gardens at the Malabar Farm State Park. Enjoy hiking trails at the state park, which was used to film the opening scene of the prison-break movie classic, The Shawshank Redemption. 

Stay only ten minutes away at this luxurious cabin that includes a hot tub and deck. In the winter, it’s close to the local ski area. 

14. Hill country 

While lots of things may be bigger in Texas, take some time to enjoy the small things. The Texas Hill Country around Austin has some of the best wildflowers in the south. Looks for fields blanketed with bluebonnets, a blue and white lupine whose blooms often peak in late March. The Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area along the Colorado River is an ideal spot to scout for flowers. 

This lakeside treehouse is only minutes away and bridges the gap between access to nature and Austin’s amazing live music scene. 

15. Bozeman balsamroot

Arrowleaf Balsamroot is one of the surest signs that nice weather is here to stay in Montana. The yellow flower blankets sunny slopes, mingling with purple lupines to create a brilliant canvas. The hiking trails around Bozeman, Montana are a great place to view this flower, especially the iconic “M” trail that overlooks the town. 

Soak in the colors from this home at the foot of the Bridger Mountains that can accommodate up to six people. When the flowers are under snow, this cabin has great access to local ski areas!