Top Ten Wildflower-Viewing Spots

2. Colorado
Designated as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado by the State Legislature, Crested Butte is clearly the place to go when buds begin to pop. This mountain town, surrounded by the Elk Mountains and the Gunnison National Forest, may be ski-central in the winter, but all of that moisture turns the landscape positively technicolor once the snow melts. In early June yellow glacier lilies, purple larkspur, and white candytuft cover the landscape, while, as summer progresses, blue lupine, monkshood, mules ears, and columbine appear. Wildflower spotting in this neck of the woods is a no-brainer and can be done from the seat of the car along the West Elk Scenic Byway or on foot on trails through the mountains. For an all-out week-long wildflower celebration, head for the annual Crested Butte Wildflower Festival in early July.

Check out photos of nearby Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.