Lupine and balsamroot blooms bring an eruption of purples and yellows to the grasslands that cover these lava plateaus above the Columbia River. The Tom McCall Preserve lies east of the Cascades in the rainshadow where conditions are generally drier than the lush woods on the western slopes. Come early and avoid weekends – this spot gets busy in April and May.

Only a few miles south of downtown Portland, this state natural area is a prime place to get out and enjoy the blossoms of spring. Camas, foxglove, tiger lilies, iris, trillium, and more put on quite a show here. Usually, the best blooms are seen from March to May, with the show peaking in April. Eight miles of trails wind through Oregon’s only state park that lies within a major metro area.

A half-mile loop trail makes a one-way circuit through one of the few remaining camas prairies in the Willamette Valley. Indeed, the preserve’s name comes from the genus of common camas: Camassia. The camas usually blooms in April and May, but with over 400 species of native plants on the preserve there’s no shortage of other flora to admire.

Perhaps the PNW’s most-popular wildflower spot, and for good reason. Balsamroot blooms blanket the mountainside in stunning yellow each spring between April and June, with lupine and paintbrush and other favorites mixed in for good measure. Permits are required on weekends and on Memorial Day during the peak bloom season and are available through Recreation.gov. For hikers wanting to avoid congestion, a free shuttle provides trailhead access (and a free permit!) from Stevenson, WA.

Encompassing over 5,000 acres of the Tualatin Mountains, Forest Park offers plenty of space to get out and look for wildflowers just minutes from downtown Portland. Pick your own path along the 80+ miles of trails that wind through the park or join a guided walk to witness all the wonders of spring found here above the Willamette River. Foxglove, iris, trillium, and yarrow are just a few of the species you might encounter on-trail.

A mellow loop trail makes for easy walking on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. The profusion of wildflowers lasts longer here than in most other spots, making this a prime destination from March to May, perhaps even into June. Balsamroot and camas put on quite the springtime display alongside poppies, larkspur, and grass widows.

High on the southern slopes of Mt Hood, this is the easiest access to alpine meadows and thus the easiest way to spy wildflower blooms later in the summer if you missed the grand show in the lowlands earlier in the year. Numerous trails wind through the woods and meadows surrounding the lodge, offering opportunities for short strolls and long hikes on trails that pass by indian paintbrush, columbine, shooting star, fireweed, and so much more.