Lupines at higher elevations have already peaked, while lower-altitude blooms are just beginning. It’s wild how just a few hundred feet in elevation—or the direction a slope faces—can make such a difference!
On the Snodgrass Trail, we noticed that lower sections hadn’t started blooming much yet. But once we gained around 200 feet and crossed into National Forest land, the lupines really started popping. Expect lower elevation lupines to begin blooming over the next two weeks—so depending on when you read this, you might be catching them right on time.
👉 See the wildflower conditions on my YouTube here.
The Lupine Trail had more consistent blooms during our visit (June 16–17, 2025), especially in the first ¾ mile from the Slate River trailhead.
While we weren’t quite at peak lupine bloom across the board, I was pleasantly surprised by how many wildflowers were out—even if it wasn’t full explosion mode yet. This was my only chance to visit this season, and it was still so worth it.
Friendly reminder: Stay on trail and help protect these delicate meadows for future wildflower chasers 🌸
🌼 Want the full scoop on Crested Butte wildflowers?
Nicknamed the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, Crested Butte truly comes alive in summer. Click here for the full wildflower hiking guide—with everything you need to plan your trip, including peak bloom timing, must-do hikes, and Wildflower Festival tips.
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Tiff, the owner and author of Follow Tiff’s Journey, is a California/ Colorado-based adventurer and outdoor connoisseur who divides her heart between the Eastern Sierra Mountains and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Despite her fear of heights, she’s become a seasoned mountaineer, ultralight hiking and backcountry camping enthusiast, expert road trip planner, and a fervent explorer of alpine lakes, natural hot springs, and sandstone canyons.
With 10 years of experience exploring the outdoors, her blog is your go-to source for all things wilderness, offering invaluable insights and pro tips, essential gear recommendations, and awe-inspiring stories from her adventures.
Join Tiff on her quest to share the wonders of nature and inspire others to follow their own path in the great outdoors.