The huge amount of winter snow from the 2018/2019 winter is starting to produce some spectacular wildflower displays in Colorado. This trip report showcases some of the huge fields of lupine blooming in Crested Butte in early July this year. I’ll have to wait until August to explore some of the high alpine areas, however, as snowpack is still present in many of these areas.
Brush Creek Road
I started my trip by hiking the Brush Creek trail just a couple miles south of Crested Butte. This trail features fields of lupine and a hillside covered in mules ears. Unfortunately, the larkspur is a little late this year so it was just buds. I hiked down about a mile and found some really amazing fields of lupine. I also camped at the end of the passable portion of the road. Avalanches have blocked the Pearl Pass road indefinitely past this point. The fields here had some blooms but the mass of larkspur had yet to bloom.
Slate River Road
I drove down the Slate River Road and hiked the Lupine trail. I can attest this is an aptly named trail. Hillside after hillside was covered in purple. What an amazing sight. Hikers can proceed up to Gunsight Pass continuing on the trail but I stayed down low.
Gothic Road
The Gothic area has yet to really take off. There were some lupines but this area really needs a mother couple of weeks to mature. I hiked up to the Rustler’s Gulch trailhead and every inch of earth is covered in lush green plants with some buds. Not a single flower was present yet. This will be quite a show around the end of July. I could also see tons of snow still present up high on the surrounding peaks. You won;t be hiking to West Maroon Pass and doping the Aspen to Crested Butte trek any time soon this year. The best flowers here were at the start of the road at the Crested Butte campground. I camped amid fields of lupine.
