Murali Narayanan Photography

July and August are the prime months to visit Mount Rainier National Park for wildflower Photography. While there are many places in the park to enjoy the blooms, my favorite locations are Sunrise Visitor Center, Tipsoo Lake, Reflection Lakes, and Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise. Each of these areas offers access to a wide variety of subalpine wildflowers with only minimal hiking required.

1. Around Sunrise Visitor Center – Sitting at a higher elevation than the other spots, Sunrise typically experiences a slightly later wildflower season. I find mid-August to be the best time to visit. Two trails I especially enjoy here are the Sourdough Ridge Trail and the Silver Forest Trail. The former provides particularly expansive views, making it a rewarding choice for both wildflower and landscape photography.

2. Around Tipsoo Lake: Tipsoo Lake is one of the most accessible and scenic spots where the meadows around the lake burst into color with Broadleaf Lupines, Arrowleaf Groundsel, False Hellebore, and Avalanche Lilies set against views of Mount Rainier. As the trails here are short and gentle, it’s a perfect place to experience vibrant subalpine blooms without a strenuous hike. You can spend half a day just walking around the lake to photograph the wildflowers with the mountain reflected in the water.

3. Reflection Lakes: Just 3.5 miles south of the Paradise Visitor Center, Reflection Lakes offers an excellent location for photographing wildflowers beginning in July. Here you’ll find fireweed and rosy spiraea framed by subalpine firs, often with Mount Rainier mirrored in the water. On calm early mornings, a touch of mist can add an especially magical quality to your images. Sunrise & sunset are best times to visit the spot. You can get out of the car and shoot.

4. Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center @ Paradise: The meadows surrounding the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise are among the best places in the park to experience peak wildflower displays. In July and August, the slopes burst with colors from lupine, magenta paintbrush, avalanche lilies, and bistort. My favorite trails to photograph wildflowers are Skyline Trail toward Myrtle Falls, Golden Gate Trail, Alta Vista Trail, and Nisqually Vista Trail.

The wildflowers of Mt. Rainier National Park offer a fleeting but unforgettable display, transforming the mountain’s meadows into a vibrant sea of color each summer. From delicate avalanche lilies to bold paintbrush and lupine, each bloom reflects the park’s unique blend of rugged alpine beauty and fragile ecosystems. Whether on a quiet morning at Tipsoo Lake or along the busy trails of Paradise or Sunrise, these wildflowers remind us of the wonder and renewal found in nature’s briefest seasons.