Appearances can be deceiving. Craters of the Moon near Arco, Idaho is famous for its dark and desolate landscape, but look closer and you may be surprised by what you find. Every year, this wildly unique park bursts with color as the wildflower bloom in Idaho reaches its peak. With blooms in just about every color, it makes for a stark contrast to the typically dramatic scenery!
Located in Idaho's Snake River Plain, Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve never fails to fill us with awe. Its vast ocean of lava flows and scattered cinder cones may look desolate at first but just wait...
When the wildflowers start to bloom, you'll find that the park is actually full of color and life! Every spring, you can witness a spectacular display of floral beauty all around the park's dramatic landscape.
Believe it or not, there are more than 700 different types of plants that can be found at the monument. They come into bloom at different times, starting with the arrival of wild onion in late April.
Peak bloom can typically be observed around mid-June. During this time, you can see the purple blooms of Monkeyflower, the bluish blooms of Larkspur, and the bright orange shades of Indian Paintbrush - and that's just naming a few.
The bloom typically lasts into September, ending with the blossoms of rabbitbrush. All of these flowers are unique in their own way, but they all have one thing in common.
All of these flowers have adapted to growing in this harsh, dry, and hot environment. With meager soil and surface temperatures that can exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit, this is definitely an impressive feat!
Craters of the Moon may be most well-known for its rugged and seemingly barren appearance, but look a little closer and you'll see that this park is just brimming with plant life. Make sure to see the wildflower bloom this spring!
Idaho has many beautiful places, and each of them can be a wonderful spot to discover wildflowers. Check out some of our favorite places where you can enjoy nature in Idaho:
Have you been to Craters of the Moon during the annual wildflower bloom in Idaho? It's certainly a sight to be seen. Share your thoughts with us! Then, check out even more wonderful places to enjoy wildflowers in Idaho.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/idaho/wildflowers-in-idaho-id/
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