As the ice and snow melts, Yosemite National Park is about to burst into a world of colorful wildflowers.
Spring in the park means waterfalls and beautiful blooms, attracting crowds of visitors.
As of Wednesday, March 25, waterfalls were flowing fiercely in Yosemite Valley — and wildflowers in parts of the park weren’t far behind.
“Wildflower season in Yosemite National Park shifts based on elevation, snowpack and rainfall,” Yosemite Resorts said on its website. “Blooms do not happen all at once. They move up the mountain as snow melts.”
Planning your trip carefully could mean the difference between seeing some scattered flowers or catching a big, colorful bloom at its peak, the lodging company said.
Here’s what to know about wildflower season in Yosemite:
A tiny winged insect with long antennae moves along the bloom of a baby blue eyes wildflower near Balch Camp, April 18, 2020. JOHN WALKER The Fresno Bee
When is wildflower season in Yosemite National Park?
The best time to see wildflowers in the park is generally mid-spring to summer, according to First Light Resorts.
That’s when the blooms are most open and the weather is ideal for exploring.
“While you can spot colorful blooms nearly year-round, the months between March and July offer the most vibrant displays across the immense park, which is home to more than 1,400 species,” the resort said on its website. “In Yosemite Valley — the park’s most popular area — wildflower viewing peaks in late May and early June.”
The timing also depends on conditions including the weather and snowpack in higher elevations.
Yosemite National Park experienced a relatively warm winter with little snow, so wildflowers will likely pop up earlier, especially at lower elevations, First Light Resorts said.
Wildflowers bloom along the John Muir Trail in Lyell Canyon in the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park in this file photo. MARK CROSSE The Fresno Bee
Where are the best places to see wildflowers in Yosemite?
Wildflower season in the park typically starts in March and runs through August, depending on elevation, according to Yosemite Resorts.
March and April are a great time to explore the foothills and lower elevations west of Yosemite Valley and along the Merced River corridor, the lodging company said.
Try Cook’s Meadow, the Valley Loop Trail or the Bridalveil Fall area.
The Merced River Canyon is just outside the park at a lower elevation, so flowers there bloom before those in the park, according to The Yosemite Conservancy’s wildflower guide.
“The drive along Highway 140, heading to the Arch Rock entrance, transforms into a rainbow ride for several weeks depending on the spring weather,” the conservancy said. “Patches of flowers coat the canyon walls in a rich tapestry of color.”
Poppies, lupines and fiddlenecks soak up the sun amidst lush spring foliage of a hillside overlooking Dinkey Creek, April 18, 2020, near Balch Camp, in the Kings River watershed, where wildflowers are profuse this year. Late rains will likely extend the wildflower display this year. JOHN WALKER The Fresno Bee
What kinds of flowers can I spot in Merced River Canyon?
Here are five classic springtime blooms to look for from the end of February through late April in the Merced River Canyon, according to the Yosemite Conservancy:
- Poppies
- Baby blue eyes
- Fiddlenecks
- Popcorn flowers
- Redbuds
Wild lupines bloom next to the San Joaquin River Trail and upper Millerton Lake on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. CRAIG KOHLRUSS [email protected]
Which California wildflowers will I see this spring?
The Yosemite Conservancy created its wildflower guide to help beginners and experienced botanists alike identify wildflowers in Yosemite National Park.
“Incredible wildflowers of all shapes, sizes and colors grow in the protected habitats of Yosemite National Park,” the conservancy said. “From rare endemic species that only flower in Yosemite to more commonly known species, each blossom brings a sense of delight to the senses.”
The conservancy also provides a detailed species list for vascular plants in the park for the “real plant pros.”
Look for these common wildflowers in the early spring:
- California poppies
- Lupine
- Goldfields
- Redbud trees
Early in the season, you can find flowers blooming in the shade of giant sequoias.
These wildflowers are “more prominent earlier in the season for the mid-montane elevations of giant sequoia groves, late-April through June,” the conservancy said. “Notable wildflowers include the periwinkle poofs of California lilac … and occasional wild strawberries dotting the forest floor.”
Wildflowers bloom in the Lyell Canyon near the John Muir Trail in the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park in August 2006. MARK CROSSE The Fresno Bee
When is peak bloom season in Yosemite?
Late spring from May to June is typically peak bloom season in Yosemite Valley — and a great time to go chasing waterfalls as well.
“As snow melts and waterfalls surge, meadows begin filling with color,” Yosemite Resorts said.
Look for these species as the weather warms:
- Shooting stars
- Mule’s ears
- Lupine
- Western azaleas
- Dogwood blossoms
Fiddlenecks sprout up around a fallen tree branch along the San Joaquin River Trail on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. CRAIG KOHLRUSS [email protected]
Where can I go in Yosemite to get away from crowds?
The best “hidden corner of the park for wildflowers in the spring” is Hetch Hetchy, the Yosemite Conservancy said.
From March through May, “this northwest area of the park really shines throughout the spring months for flower lovers,” the conservancy said.
There, you’re likely to find mariposa lilies, clarkias and monkeyflowers lining the trail to Wapama Falls, according to the Yosemite Conservancy.
“This sunny, moderate, 5-mile hike is best started first thing in the morning before things heat up along the reservoir,” the organization said.
Andy Clendenning hikes past wildflowers growing out of granite formations along Willow Creek in September 2010. JOHN WALKER The Fresno Bee
Where can I see waterfalls and wildflowers at the same time?
“Flowers frame iconic rock formations and wildflowers throughout the early spring season,” the Yosemite Conservancy said.
“Lupines along Southside Drive, western azaleas in Cooks Meadow, apple blossoms in Curry Village and dogwoods along the Lower Yosemite Fall trail make hiking in spring time a botanical delight,” the conservancy said.
These are a few flower species to look for in Yosemite Valley from April through early June:
- Lupine
- Dogwoods
- Redbud
- Western Azaleas
- Apple blossoms
You might see Pacific dogwood in bloom just below Yosemite Falls in May, according to the National Park Service.
A motorcyclist rides past a dazzling wall of poppies and lupines on Fresno Vomac Road near Balch Camp, April 18, 2020. JOHN WALKER The Fresno Bee
Where and when to look for alpine blooms in the high country
Once Tioga Road opens, you can start exploring the high country for alpine blooms.
July and August are great times to drive Tioga Pass into the Tuolumne Meadows.
There, you can see:
- Columbine
- Paintbrush
- Elephant’s head
- Sierra primrose
- Alpine shooting stars
A distant hillside is blanketed with poppies near Balch Camp, April 18, 2020. JOHN WALKER The Fresno Bee
“In the middle of the summer, when the foothills have turned to golden amber grasslands, the wildflowers are just awakening in the high Sierra,” the Yosemite Conservancy said in its guide. “Depending on snow levels, the wildflowers listed below will be blooming throughout the short growing season. Think hikes off of Tioga Road that go to alpine lakes or follow seasonal creeks for the best wildflower vistas.”
Look for these species:
- Shooting stars
- Pussy paws
- Cinquefoil
- Tiger lilies
- Paintbrushes
From June through August, you can also spot mountain pride in this area.
The conservancy described as mountain pride as a “precociously pink penstemon” that brings a “bold, bodacious bounty of magenta magic along the highways.”
A bee collects pollen among delicate wildflowers on Trimmer Springs Road above Pine Flat Reservoir, April 18, 2020. JOHN WALKER The Fresno Bee
What to expect during Yosemite’s wildflower season
“Yosemite is not known for massive desert-style super blooms,” the lodging company said. “Instead, you will find pockets of color scattered through meadows and along trails.”
Dry, warm winter weather could mean fewer blooms overall, Yosemite Resorts said, noting that wildflower coverage can vary week to week.
“A meadow can look different even 10 days later,” the company said.
Yosemite Resorts shared these tips for planning a wildflower trip:
- Monitor snowpack reports.
- Check Tioga Road opening status. Snow plowing on the pass typically starts in mid-April, and the road opens to vehicles from late May or June into November.
- Late May is your best bet to see waterfalls and wildflowers together in Yosemite Valley.
- Visit sun-soaked south-facing slopes earlier in the season.
- Go earlier in the day for softer light and smaller crowds.
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This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
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Brooke Baitinger
McClatchy DC
Brooke (they/them) covers Fresno and California news as the Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter. They previously covered wildlife and national parks out west for the national real-time team at McClatchy News. Originally from Florida, they studied journalism at the University of Florida and previously covered LGBTQ+ news for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, their hometown newspaper. When they’re not writing stories, they enjoy hanging out with their cats, riding horses or spending time outdoors.
