Vibrant yellow Mule’s Ears brighten up the Blue River Trail, on the way to a stunning view of Peak 8.
“We were here like three days ago, and it’s already bloomed so much more,” Breckenridge Naturalist Jayden Floyd said.
Floyd and her colleague, Ella Garner, have been leading guided wildflower hikes for a while, but now they’re leading them as one of the many events included in Breckenridge’s first-ever Wildflower Week.
The idea came together after so many businesses and organizations started doing wildflower-themed events, so they combined them all into one week.
Visitors can expect to see Columbine, Silvery Lupine, and Fireweed. They all peaked earlier this year because of the state’s meager snowpack.
“The snow melted off sooner, so the flowers were able to start blooming sooner,” Breckenridge Naturalist Ella Garner said. “So this is the prime time to see the wildflowers, and they're always very fleeting in the high country. Within another month, they will be gone.”
Some recommendations for viewing lower-elevation blooms include Sawmill Reservoir, The Peaks Trail, and Iowa Hill. For more experienced hikers who can handle higher alpine hikes, the naturalists say Black Powder Pass, Baldy Mountain, and the Horseshoe Bowl are good picks.
But there’s more to Wildflower Week than what can be found on a trail. The schedule is packed with events, including flash flower-themed tattoos, a botanical cocktail course and craft classes centered around making floral mosaics and bolo ties.
The goal is for visitors to have fun but also learn about responsible recreation.
“We want to educate people about the flowers, and about Leave No Trace, and about our pollinators, and how important they are,” Breckenridge Tourism Public Relations Manager Kerry O’Connor said. “So we have this educational and sustainability piece, and then we also can incorporate that sort of arts and culture.”
Tourism in Breckenridge took a hit after a mild winter. But O’Connor said events like these can help make up some ground.
“This was already going to be our first Wildflower Week festival, but because it came after such a rough winter, we're lucky to see that timing and see some more tourists getting interested in it,” O’Connor said. “We can see that people are coming up, they have their trips booked, and the guided hikes are getting full, and some of the activities are too.”
The festival runs through July 12th. A full list of events, as well as how to RSVP for them, can be found on their website.
