Where to See Wildflowers in New Hampshire (And When)
Though New England gets most of its attention for its Autumn colors, the state of New Hampshire has much more to offer than just one beautiful season. In fact, it’s one of the states whose seasons each have something special to offer year-round. One of those is the spring and summer wildflowers.
As an elopement photographer, one of my favorite natural landscapes to explore with my couples is patches of wildflowers. Whether it’s a grassy plain, a mountain ridge, or overlooking a serene lake, wildflowers bring life, warmth, and vibrance to the ground after winter’s cold has finally left for the year. It’s a perfect backdrop for an eloping couple to explore, see the beauty, and say their vows.
If you’ve ever wondered where and when to catch these wildflowers in New Hampshire, read on!
Photo: Heeb Photos
Where to Find Wildflowers in New Hampshire
Wildflowers grow in many locations across New Hampshire, primarily in mountainous areas, meadows, and wooded forests. The White Mountain National Forest has several species blooming and thriving above 4,000 feet. The combination of rugged rocky mountains and soft, colorful flowers makes for a truly beautiful sight.
Photos: Andrea Doss Photo, Trail Finder, Hike New England
Rhododendron State Park
In Fitzwilliam, NH, about an hour west of Nashua, this state park is home to a 16 acre grove of rhododendrons and short, easy trails to enjoy their beauty. Quiet and off the beaten path, it’s home to the biggest known concentration of these flowers in New England. The white and pink flowers are gorgeous no matter what time of day it is, but as they change to a romantic pink-purple-ish hue as the sun begins to set, they’ll stop you in your tracks. The rhododendrons bloom from early-July to mid-July, giving wildflower-lovers a short window to enjoy their beauty.
Even when rhododendrons aren’t blooming, their leaves are a rich deep green and really nice to look at. In addition, if you’re a mushroom enthusiast like me, Rhododendron State Park is a great place to check out some really cool fungi.
Check out my blog on the Best Wedding Dress Brands for Non-Traditional Eloping Brides for more photos of this stunning elopement gown shown above accentuated by rhododendrons.
Photos: Northeast Mountain People
White Mountains
In the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire, many species of alpine wildflowers begin blooming, with the earliest beginning to show in mid-May. Much of the wildflower growth in the mountains are concentrated in patches low to the ground, and they can be elusive—you’ll want to pay close attention so you don’t miss them! The best places to find wildflowers are the mountains of the Presidential Range, including Mt. Madison, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Clay, Mt. Washington, Mt. Monroe, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Pierce, Mt. Jackson, and Mt. Webster.
In the White Mountains you’ll find flowers like diapensia, alpine goldenrod, labrador tea, mountain avens, bigelow sedge, trillium, and more.
Lupines are another of the most sought-after New Hampshire blooms, showing off for a few weeks in early- to mid-June. These whimsical, taller flowers boast shades of white, purple, and pink, and they’re so popular that the small town of Sugar Hill, NH hosts a Lupine Fields Festival every year. However, as it happens with many locations that gain popularity online, some local Sugar Hill residents have been overwhelmed with mistreatment of their private property and have had to witness the lupines being disrespected by destructive tourists.
So if you’re looking for a more quiet adventure with less people around, I recommend traveling into the White Mountains themselves (you’ll find lupines in Franconia Notch State Park as well) to hunt for alpine wildflowers. There, you can find patches of lupine, mountain avens, diapensia, and mountain cranberry.
Be prepared though—the best trails for wildflowers in the White Mountains National Forest are rated from moderate to hard, due to the elevation gain and trail length. Weather conditions can change quickly on mountain peaks, and the terrain is rocky, rugged, and steep. Hiking these trails is not for beginners or the faint of heart. You’ll need to make sure you’re up for the challenge with proper gear and physical fitness, but as long as you check those boxes, the sights are absolutely worth seeing! The White Mountains are stunning year round, so even if you don’t happen upon any wildflowers when you go, the experience will still be 100% worth it.
Where to Stay in the White Mountains
One of my favorite White Mountains accommodation recommendations is Lumen Nature Retreats, a “luxury glamping and cabins experience.” Their 20 cabins and 15 glamping tents are perfectly situated on the corner of the White Mountains National Forest, an ideal location to come back to after a day of exploring and wildflower viewing. They even have saunas, perfect to soothe aching muscles after a long day of hiking in the mountains. Say no more, right?
When to Look for Wildflowers in New Hampshire
Depending on where you’re looking, wildflowers typically begin blooming in early spring and peak through mid-summer. June or July is probably your best bet depending on where you go since it’s right in the middle of wildflower season, but May will bring lots of beautiful colors and textures as well.
The wildflower season in the alpine environment of the White Mountains tends to be quick due to the extreme climate in the high elevations, and peak bloom season will be different each year based on how the seasons and weather patterns shift.
Photo: Northeast Mountain People
Tips for Wildflower Viewing
1. Leave No Trace (don’t step on or pick wildflowers)
The most important thing to keep in mind when enjoying wildflowers is to leave them as you find them. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics reminds us to leave what we find so we can “allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts, and other objects of interest as you find them.”
Wildflowers are often a source of food for small animals and insects, and also provide food for pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds. Disrupting this ecosystem is not only unnecessary, it can be harmful to the environment and the animals that call it home. Don’t pick wildflowers, and never step on or trample them. Wildflowers are extremely fragile, and stepping on them can destroy the plant and prevent it from regrowth.
Not only can it be harmful to local living creatures, preventing the regrowth of wildflowers takes away the opportunity for others to enjoy their beauty.
Instead, take pictures! Not only will your photos keep them in your memory for years to come, but the actual wildflowers will continue to thrive and grow, untouched and left to do their thing—looking beautiful and playing a necessary role in the local habitat.
2. Visit on a weekday morning and go where other people won’t
As with many places that offer beautiful views such as state parks and national forests, crowds typically ramp up on weekends and during the middle of the day. While wildflower season is short, you can usually mitigate some of the chaos by visiting a wildflower location earlier in the morning or closer to sunset on a weekday.
And, the further you go into the less accessible locations (like hiking into the mountains), the fewer people you’ll run into. I’m a huge proponent for leaving as little impact on the land as possible, and that’s a heck of a lot easier to do when you’re not part of a huge crowd. It’s much easier to stay aware of your surroundings in a backcountry location so you don’t accidentally trample the delicate flowers or have to bear witness to others doing so. And let’s be honest, the busyness and noise of a chaotic tourist destination will never be as enjoyable as the quiet and solitude you’ll find deep in the mountains.
3. Take your time
When you do find yourself among wildflowers, really enjoy yourself! Wildflowers remind us that change is the only constant in life, and they’ll be gone before you know it as their blooming period comes to an end and colder months set in once again. Allow yourself plenty of time to sit nearby, listen to the birds, watch the bees buzz by to gather nectar from the flowers, and be in the moment for a while.
Hey friend! I’m Andrea, a New Hampshire Elopement Photographer, and I’m so glad you’re here. I love helping couples plan elopements in the beautiful region of New England, and this blog is just one of the many ways I enjoy providing information that will help my couples enjoy a beautiful, fulfilling elopement experience.
Ready to plan your own spring or summer elopement in New Hampshire? Reach out and let’s get started!
