Spring has officially sprung, and unless you’re an extreme allergy sufferer (or maybe even then), you’ll want to get out and celebrate the season at a campsite making its way out of winter.
One of the surest signs of a shift in the season is the appearance of wildflowers. Shocking explosions of color, they stand out against a backdrop of what was once solid white snow or uniform green or drab brown fields and hills (depending on how wet or dry the winter was).
Taken in ones, twos, or threes, new flowers are something pretty to admire, but maybe not to think much more about. In the hundreds or thousands or more, however, they can go from nice to look at to breathtakingly stunning. Acres of wildflowers aren’t just a visual treat; they’re a wonder of life returning to a world that has been slumbering under months of cold and dark. They remind us of what it is to be alive.
Consider, then, doing more than packing a picnic and enjoying the blossoms for an afternoon. Here are five areas where you can bring a tent, set up a campsite, and spend several days among the colorful, fragrant harbingers of spring.
Carter Caves State Park, Kentucky
The big draw for this campsite most of the year is actually underground: caves—in case you couldn’t tell from the name. But each spring, a more sunlight-driven attraction blooms in the form of countless wildflowers. While the colorful petals populate the forest throughout the season, mid-April marks a specific wildflower weekend, known as the Wildflower Pilgrimage, complete with tours by foot, by van, and even by canoe. The 2015 event is set for April 17 to 19, and is sure to be popular with day visitors and overnight campers alike.
Chinquapin Group Campground, Oregon
Visitors to this campground in the spring have used the words “wonderful” and “glorious” to describe the abundant wildflowers that grow in the meadows that can be seen from side trails that branch off from Grayback Creek. Interestingly, this is another case of flowers and caves sitting in close proximity, as the campground began its life as the home base for more than 200 Conservation Corps youth who kept busy during the Great Depression by working on the Oregon Caves National Monument.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
A desert may not be a wildflower seeker’s first choice for a visit, but Big Bend National Park proves that color can bloom just about anywhere. In fact, the park lays claim to welcoming more than 20 different species of tropical butterflies—beating out the rest of the national parks in that category. The colorful insects (and hummingbirds, too) are attracted to the even more colorful wildflowers that bloom with the rains, joining the flowering cactus that reach their peak in mid to late spring. The growing attractions continue into the summer as sunflowers take over.
Brown County State Park, Indiana
This park is a seasonal dream for color seekers. Autumn brings all of the beauty you would expect it to bring to the leaves on mile after mile of trees that leave green behind when the weather starts to turn. On the opposite end of the year, in the spring, the gorgeous hues move from overhead to underfoot. The 30th annual Wildflower Foray is set for April 24 to 26, and includes hikes and boat trips. It also coincides with the 33rd annual spring wildflower count.
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California
A haven for old growth coast redwood, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is home to ancient towering trees and here-and-gone western azaleas and rhododendrons that fill the forest with color in May and June. Coastal fog keeps plants of all kinds well hydrated, so there’s plenty of life to see beyond the Rhododendron Trail, from western hemlock to occasional orchids. Coastal fog also means there’s a beach nearby for when you’re ready to take a break from wildflowers and watch the waves instead
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