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30 Stunning Photos of National Parks in Full Bloom

Emma TaubenfeldEmma TaubenfeldUpdated: Feb. 09, 2023

Spring has sprung in national parks across the country—now's the time to take in the wildflowers. Whet your appetite with these stunning shots.

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Mt Rainier National Park Wildflowers Summer Time Cascade Mountain WildernessChristopher Boswell/Shutterstock

Mount Ranier

Wildflowers brilliantly bloom beneath majestic Mount Ranier National Park in Ashford, Washington. Towering more than 14,000 feet above sea level, the peak is actually an active volcano and an iconic part of the state’s landscape.

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Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Las Vegas, NevadaGreg Jung/Shutterstock

Red Rock Canyon

Trees and shrubs grow in bright green bursts in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Las Vegas, Nevada, allowing the striking red-hued mountains and cliffs to take center stage.

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Sunset in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona.Anton Foltin/Shutterstock

Saguaro National Park

The sunsets on an impressively spiky landscape in this beautiful park near Tucson, Arizona. The park is named for one of the largest cacti species in the world—saguaro—which the region is home to. Here are more spectacular photos of America’s national parks.

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Brilliant purple rhododendron near the road that runs through Great Smoky Mountain National ParkKelly vanDellen/Shutterstock

The Great Smoky Mountains

Purple rhododendrons provide a pop of color to the lush forest landscape of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. You can find wildflowers in bloom year-round at this sprawling park.

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Herman Gulch Trail in Dillon, Colorado.Greg_J/Shutterstock

Arapaho

In spring, wildflowers begin to sprout along Herman Gulch Trail in Arapaho National Forest near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Make sure you’re ready for this trek, though. The elevation hovers around 10,000 feet for the seven miles of the out-and-back trail.

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Bear grass and beautiful mountain landscape Glacier National ParkSteve Boice/Shutterstock

Glacier National Park

Wispy bear grass mingles with wildflowers in Glacier National Park, a more than 1,500-square-mile wilderness area in central Montana. Streams flow throughout, and some of them travel all the way to the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson’s Bay.

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Super bloom of wildflowers, desert sunflower, Death Valley National Park, California, Spring 2016Sean Lema/Shutterstock

Death Valley

Desert sunflowers thrive in Death Valley National Park in California. Spanning parts of California and Nevada, it’s known for its ghost towns, colorful terrain, salt mounds, and being home to North America’s lowest elevation: Badwater Basin.

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Beavertail Cactus and other wildflowers blooming in the spring of 2017 in Joshua Tree National Park - CaliforniaBrian Lasenby/Shutterstock

Joshua Tree

Beavertail cactus clusters share a habitat with cheerfully bright wildflowers in Joshua Tree National Park in California. Home to two desert ecosystems, the region is known for gusty winds and surprise torrents of rain.

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Nevada Fall, Yosemite National Park, CaliforniaSundry Photography/Shutterstock

Yosemite

Paintbrush blooms wave high above the spray from Nevada Falls in California’s Yosemite National Park. The nearly 600-foot waterfall is known for its “bent” shape, as it takes a turn partway down. Check out some of these hidden national parks this spring.

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River with Flowers at Cuyahoga Valley National ParkZack Frank/Shutterstock

Cuyahoga

Yellow irises sway next to Beaver Marsh in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a wildlife haven just a short distance from several bustling Ohio cities.

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Scenic beauty in summer spring of wildflowers and mountains, Yankee Boy Basin, Ouray ColoradoVisions of America/Getty Images

Rocky Mountains

Beautiful wildflowers and sunny skies are not strangers in the Rockies. This view is found specifically in Colorado, but the Rockies stretch 3,000 from British Columbia all the way down to New Mexico.

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Cliffs reflected in lake during autumn, Springdale.David C Tomlinson/Getty Images

Zion National Park

These stunning rock formations are found along the Virgin River in Utah just three hours north of Las Vegas. Add these American campsites to your summer bucket list.

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Florida, Naples, Everglades, Big Cypress National PreserveJeff Greenberg/Getty Images

Everglades

The Everglades is a tropical wetland found at the tip of Florida with an abundance of wildlife including many, many alligators.

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Coastal landscape at Schoodic Peninsula...John Greim/Getty Images

Acadia National Park

This picturesque coastal landscape is situated at Schoodic Peninsula within Acadia National Park in Maine.

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USA, Alaska, Gates of the Arctic National Park, river valley with mountains in backgroundDEA / M. SANTINI/Getty Images

Gates of the Arctic

All of the greenery in this river valley up in Alaska doesn’t make the Gates of the Arctic look very arctic. Check out these practically secret national parks that you’ll definitely want to visit during the springtime.

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Prairie with flowers Badlands National ParkDEA / GIANNI OLIVA/Getty Images

Badlands National Park

Little House on the Prairie in Minnesota isn’t the only beautiful grassland around. This prairie part of Badlands National Park in South Dakota boasts breathtaking flowers, clear skies, and mountains.

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Immigration And Border Security Issues Loom Heavy In Upcoming U.S. ElectionsJohn Moore/Getty Images

Big Bend National Park

The rugged and remote region of Big Bend in West Texas runs along the United States/Mexico border. The Rio Grande river creates a natural boundary between the two countries.

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Biscayne National Parkstockphoto52/Getty Images

Biscayne National Park

Boca Chita beach overlooks clear waters known for extensive coral reefs and an abundance of sea life. Check out these beautiful quotes about nature that will remind you how much you love the outdoors.

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Gunnison river passing through canyons against skyCavan Images/Getty Images

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

The steep gorges of Black Canyon were carved by the Gunnison River and boast some of the steepest cliffs in North America with spectacular geological rock formations that victors travel to from all over the world to witness.

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Bryce CanyonBrent Clark Photography/Getty Images

Bryce Canyon

This canyon in Utah is known for its rusty-colored spire-shaped rock formations called hoodoos.

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Inspiration Point view on Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Park Californiabenedek/Getty Images

Channel Islands National Park

These volcanic rocks are known as Inspiration Point on Anacapa Island, offering one of the best views in the park. Don’t miss this list of the best hiking trails in each state.

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cypress forest and swamp of Congaree National Parkdigidreamgrafix/Getty Images

Congaree National Park

Cypress Forest in South Carolina is known for its towering trees and swamps. The park is a preservation site for the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the country.

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Scenic View Of Lake By Trees Against SkyBrinley Clark / EyeEm/Getty Images

Crater Lake

This park in Southern Oregon gets its name from the now-collapsed volcano Mount Mazama and is the deepest lake in the United States.

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Alaska Cotton with Denali reflected in pond, Denali National Park, AlaskaJosh Miller Photography/Getty Images

Denali National Park

Alaska Cotton populates the area around this lake reflecting the mountains from Denali National Park. Check out these photos that prove Alaska is just as stunning in the winter as well.

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Summer wildflowers in Jackson HoleJeff R Clow/Getty Images

Grand Teton

A stunning meadow of wildflowers in Jackson Hole floods the grassland in front of the Teton Mountain Range.

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Wildflower Pathway Landscape at Great Basin National ParkCarolyn Hebbard/Getty Images

Grand Basin National Park

Great Basin contains the majority of the South Snake mountains in eastern Nevada.

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USA, Hawaii, Maui, Haleakala National Park, Makahiku FallsWestend61/Getty Images

Haleakala National Park

Hawaii isn’t all beaches and palm trees. This luscious park is named after a dormant volcano and houses Makahiku Falls, a 200-foot horsetail waterfall. See this list of the most gorgeous waterfall in each state.

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Kings Canyon National ParkChiara Salvadori/Getty Images

Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon is adjacent to Sequoia National Park in California and is known for its colossal trees and wildlife such as bears, cougars, and rattlesnakes.

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Heather Meadows Recreation Area, North CascadesAlan Majchrowicz/Getty Images

North Cascades

Rosy Spiraea decorates this small lake in this recreation area in North Cascades, Washington. The mountain in the distance is called Table Mountain, one of the most distinct landmarks and challenging hikes in the park.

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Charles Johnson / 500px/Getty Images

Shenandoah National Park

These forested hills of Shenandoah encompass part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the state of Virginia. The park is known for Skyline Drive, a 105-mile road that runs the length of the mountains. Before you start packing your hiking gear, make sure you read these tips that park rangers want you to know.

Originally Published: May 08, 2020

Emma Taubenfeld
Emma Taubenfeld
Emma Taubenfeld is a former assistant editor for Reader’s Digest who writes about digital lifestyle topics such as memes, social media captions, pickup lines and cute pets. When she’s not working, you can find Emma reading corny young adult novels, creating carefully curated playlists and figuring out how to spice up boxed mac and cheese.