Best PNW Wildflowers Locations for Families
The PNW wildflowers make spring in Oregon and Washington one of the most beautiful seasons. After a long gloomy winter, we are all ready for a burst of color, warmer weather, and getting outdoors more with our families.
Numerous locations in both states are phenomenal. On this blog, I will share my favorites to visit with my family, and believe they will be yours too. They are close to or within a few hour’s drive from Vancouver and Portland, easy to hike, and offer incredible backdrops for photos with your kids!
Closest Location for PNW Wildflowers: Camas Lillies
Located at Lacamas Lake in Camas, Washington, you’ll find vibrant purple Lilly fields from mid-April through mid-May. Camas Lilly fields are accessible via a short hike through the park. The .7-mile Lilly loop is easy for younger kids and parents carrying babies and toddlers in a pack.
There is also a lake, playground, and other trails that are easy for families. This is a great location if you want a quick and easy hike with beautiful wildflowers!
My favorite PNW Wildflowers: The Dalles Mountain Ranch
Dalles Mountain Ranch is located within the Columbia Hills Historical State Park in The Dalles, Washington. Once a homestead ranch, there are historical buildings still standing. You feel like you stepped back in time on an old cattle ranch. Further, the gently rolling hills come to life in the spring with bright yellow balsamroot and purple lupine flowers. It is definitely a must-see in the spring and is absolutely breathtaking! We love to go about mid-April.
This park requires a Discover pass, and pack a picnic so you can refuel before heading home. It always makes my kids take great naps for the ride back!
Best Viewpoint with PNW Wildflowers: Rowena Crest
Located in Mosier, Oregon. Just east of Hood River, Rowena Crest sits above the Columbia River on a hill that offers incredible views of the Columbia River Gorge, Mt Hood, and Mt Adams on clear days. You can simply walk right into the fields of flowers exploding with vibrant yellow colors from the parking lot and continue onto a moderate hike. When we take our kids, there is more than enough space for them to run, hike, and play before the hike becomes more strenuous.
Watch the cliffs with kids, and this park is not dog friendly. (this is Jack, our first baby, pictured in the parking lot area before we knew it was not dog friendly. But hey, I won an award for that photo!) However, Hood River is very close and dog friendly! Grab some lunch at one of the many breweries before heading home!
My Favorite Location for Wildflowers: Mt Rainier
Mount Rainier kept a piece of my heart after the first time I visited this magical place. It is pristine, lush, and full of subalpine wildflowers, and your kids will love seeing wildlife! Although it is the farthest location from Vancouver and Portland, it is worth the drive. The best time of year to see wildflowers is late July to early August.
Make a weekend trip and stay at Paradise Inn and take your family on part of the Skyline loop trail. Though the trail becomes more difficult as it increases, you can start at the parking lot of Paradise Inn and see many wildflowers, marmots, bears, deer, and the view of Mt Rainier is incredible. Moreover, the park offers many other kid-friendly hikes, but this area is my favorite with my kids!
Tulip Fields
Ok, so they aren’t wildflowers, but they are beautiful and a fun family day trip that I had to add to my list of favorites for flower locations! Wooden Shoe Tulip festival in Woodburn, Oregon, is a popular destination in April for the colorful fields of stunning tulips. Family-friendly and has lots of fun activities other than enjoying the flowers.
Although we love the tulip festival in Oregon, we also found a smaller tulip farm in Woodland, Washington, that is great for families that want a low-key experience and fewer crowds. We discovered this location when my daughter was a baby, and we didn’t want to drive hours away to see the tulips, so we headed to Woodland, which didn’t disappoint.
Things To Bring On Your Wildflower Adventure
A few things that were helpful for us to bring on our trips were snacks, layers in case it gets windy or chilly, your camera or phone camera, sunscreen, hats, extra water for kids and pets, and a child carrier.
Whatever location you choose, your family will love seeing the PNW’s beauty! We are so lucky to live in an incredibly stunning area of the world. Enjoy and have fun!
Pssst…do you love these locations and are looking to update your family photos? Head to my family photography site or contact me about booking your following family photos in one of these beautiful locations!
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