Mother’s Day: 6 great WA wildflower walks to do with mom

Mother’s Day serendipitously coincides with the onset of wildflower season in Washington. May brings a brilliant spread of wildflowers in the Pacific Northwest: pink coast rhododendrons (which happen to be Washington’s state flower), avalanche lilies and yellow arrowleaf balsamroot, to name a few.  

Whether you hike among late-spring wildflowers in the Yakima Valley or stop by the Pike Place Flower Festival in downtown Seattle over Mother’s Day weekend, get outside and experience the glory of Washington’s May blooms — a perfect outing with your mother or the mother figure in your life.  

Snow Mountain Ranch 

Location: 2648 Cowiche Mill Road, #2262, Cowiche 

Mileage: 14 miles of trails  

Elevation gain: 1,140 feet 

Pass: None 

Located west of Yakima, Snow Mountain Ranch spreads across 2,000 acres in the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, with 14 miles of trails to explore. The meandering, interconnected trail system allows you to explore diverse flora and fauna within the conservancy. Formerly a cattle ranch, much of Snow Mountain Ranch’s native habitat has been restored in recent years, now home to around 200 plant species and over 100 species of birds and animals.  

You can choose from several trails, such as the more strenuous 7-mile loops combining the Cowich Mountain Trail West and Cowich Mountain Trail East. An easier option would combine some of the shorter trails, including Cowich Mountain Trail East, Bench and Wildflower. As its name suggests, Wildflower Trail (just under a mile) is plentiful with seasonal wildflowers, including seasonal parsley, balsamroot and desert violets.  

Lyle Cherry Orchard 

Location: Just east of Lyle, off Highway 14

Mileage: 6.5 miles of trails  

Elevation gain: 1,050 feet 

Pass: None 

Named for the cherry orchard that was formerly on-site, Lyle Cherry Orchard has two trails along the Columbia River Gorge. Choose to hike the Cherry Orchard Loop (5 miles round trip), the Lyle Loop (4 miles round trip) or both for a total of 6.5 miles round trip.

Whichever route you choose, you’ll climb up to the plateau overlooking the gorge and be welcomed by views of the river below. Follow the trail through meadows of springtime wildflowers, where you can spot glacier lilies, balsamroot, larkspurs and shooting stars, among other seasonal flowers.  

Wild Horse Wind Farm

Location: 25905 Vantage Highway, Ellensburg

Cost: Free

If you’re interested in learning more about spring wildflowers, join an expert at Wild Horse Wind Farm for a guided walk on the morning of Mother’s Day. As you amble through the shrubbed steppe around Vantage, your local guide will help you spot high-elevation flowers, such as the pink and yellow buds of thyme-leaf buckwheat, blue prairie lupine and yellow desert parsley.  

Washington Park Arboretum

Location: 2300 Arboretum Drive E., Seattle

Cost: Free

You don’t have to leave the city to enjoy some of Washington’s best seasonal wildflowers. The Washington Park Arboretum near the University of Washington is a perfect spot for spring blooms. In May, azaleas and rhododendrons are particularly spectacular. Take a stroll along Azalea Way, a ¾-mile-long path through brilliant blooming cherry and dogwood trees and azaleas. Loderi Valley is another spring standout in the Arboretum, featuring aromatic rhododendrons beneath the shade of magnolia trees.  

Rhododendron Botanical Garden

Location: 2525 S. 336th St., Federal Way

Cost: $10 general admission 

Another adventure near home, celebrate mothers and flowers at Federal Way’s Rhododendron Botanical Garden. Open Tuesday-Sunday, the garden invites you to get lost among the splendor of evergreen trees and flowering rhododendrons. Explore the garden solo or take a guided tour — and don’t forget to stop at the nursery, with many rare botanical options to add to your home garden.  

Over Mother’s Day weekend, the Rhododendron Botanical Garden will be particularly festive. As you explore the gardens at their peak bloom, sample fare from food trucks and browse the craftsmanship of local artisans.  

White Salmon Wildflower Festival

Location: Multiple locations in White Salmon

Cost: Varies depending on event, additional info can be found at explorewhitesalmon.com

Celebrate art and nature all month long at White Salmon’s third annual Wildflower Festival. The month started with a bang on May 3, and features events such as a half-marathon and a guided hike at Dalles Mountain Ranch.  

Throughout May, you can visit the Wildflower Artisan Market, join guided hikes on Klickitat Trail and participate in stewardship activities at Coyote Wall. Art shows, photography workshops, music evenings and wine walks are all part of the Wildflower Festival fun as well. Every element of the monthlong affair is dedicated to local wildflowers, a love for sustainability and giving back to nature.