The quaint Colorado town of Crested Butte, or C.B., has been witnessing a flock of winter sports enthusiasts throughout the season. Recently ranked the second ‘Snowiest Small Town in America,’ the place has attracted vacationists from across the nation for being a top-notch skiing destination. And as the snow starts melting, the vast valley gets ready for another striking natural phenomenon. After the thick blanket of snow vanishes each year, the meadow gets decked in bright shades of colors with blooming flowers.
The ‘Flowering’ Phenomenon
Nestled in the Elk Mountains, the charming town of C.B. delivers a spectacular display of colorful blooming flowers during spring and summer each year. This natural phenomenon has aptly given the town the name ‘the wildflower capital of Colorado.’ The town is surrounded by a vast valley bordering several mountain ranges like the San Juan Mountains, the Maroon Bells, etc. While these mountains give the town its best-in-class skiable plateau each winter, they also help create fertile soil when the snow melts. Add in the favorable climate, and the vast meadow comes alive with vibrant pops of color once the flowers start to thrive after winter. Lupines, glacier lilies, and numerous sunflower varieties are just a few out of the 1500 species of wildflowers that grow here.
The Best Time to Visit
Dr. David W. Inouye of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) is a principal investigator at the institute and observes the blooming cycle each year. As Inouye explains, the starting of the flowering season depends upon the amount of winter snowpack. But generally, mid-June to late July is the peak flowering season in C.B. Around the second and third week of July, midseason flowers start to bloom, and the greatest abundance of blooming wildflowers can be witnessed during this time. With a mountainside covered with flowers of various colors and types, it’s a phenomenal scene indeed!