Subalpine lupine at Mount Rainier

Lupinus latifolius

Subalpine lupine usually blooms from early July to late August at Mount Rainier, with the best color from mid-July into early August.

early July – late August Best: mid-July into early August Out of season

The show usually starts around early July. Check back closer to the season.

Not every season keeps to that rhythm. In 2 of the 5 seasons on record (2019 and 2026) the first flowers opened around early April.

Based on reports from iNaturalist naturalists. 192 flowering reports from Washington shape this curve. The shaded band marks the best weeks; the dashed line is this week.

Where to see them

The purple in every famous Rainier meadow photo. Peak lupine at Paradise is arguably the best wildflower show in the country — and the most crowded; go on a weekday if you can.

Mount Rainier National Park (Paradise meadows, Skyline Trail)

We name public reserves, parks, and roads only — never exact pins, never private land.

Nearby on the calendar

Avalanche lilies at Mount Rainier — best late June into late July

Updated September 8, 2026. Bloom timing varies with the year's weather — the curve shows the usual rhythm, and in-season updates sharpen it.