Summer is wildflower season in Utah, and, according to the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, there are 1,200 species of wildflowers on the Wasatch Front.

To celebrate the color explosion, the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation is holding the annual Wasatch Wildflower Festival, July 17-20, in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons. This free festival includes guided wildflower and geology walks, kids arts and crafts activities, and live music.

Organizers always try to plan the festival for the peak of the wildflower season, but that proves a difficult task. “They are on target to hit the peak,” said Mike Duncan, a botanist with the Uinta/Wasatch Cache National Forest. “The peak, when you may see the most flowering at one single time, hits from the mid to the end of July, at least at the higher elevations where the festival is held. But you can see flowers from the early spring all the way into October. There is always something to see.”

A wet winter and damp spring has created a lush situation for mountain vegetation. Duncan says plants will be “more robust” with more flowers and tend to be taller than during dry or normal precipitation years.

Trying to identify wildflowers along the Wasatch, even with a guidebook, is certainly intimidating.

The guided walks offered during the festival are a great way to learn the basics of plant identification from experts and other enthusiasts.

More information » www.wasatchwildflowerfestival.org

2009 Wasatch Wildflower Festival schedule

July 17

Where » Brighton Resort, Big Cottonwood Canyon — meet in the parking lot

9 and 11 a.m. » Beginner lower mountain walk.

10 a.m. » Snake Creek intermediate walk.

9:30 a.m. » Advanced Brighton Lakes walk.

10 and 11 a.m. » Kids walks.
Where » Solitude Resort, Big Cottonwood Canyon – Village, entry 23 and 4 p.m. » Moderate walks with a ride up the Sunrise lift and hike to Lake Solitude, ride back down the lift.

3 and 5 p.m. » Moderate to advanced walk with ride up Sunrise lift with hike down the mountain.

3 and 5:30 p.m. » Beginner walk on lower mountain.

All Solitude walks depart every 15 — 20 minutes as groups fill.
July 18

Where » Alta, Little Cottonwood Canyon

9, 10, and 11 a.m. and noon » Beginner walks (van assisted). A short ride followed by a down hill walk through Albion Meadows. About 1½ hours.

9, 10, and 11 a.m. and noon » Intermediate walks. A round trip scenic trail from Albion parking to a moderate ascent to the upper flowers in Albion Meadows. About 1½ hours.

9:30 and 10:30 a.m. » Kids walks. A short and mellow walk with sightings of wildlife, wildflowers, & geology. Swings at the town park. Less than 1 hour.

8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. » Live Bluegrass music by Michigan City String Band, a local bluegrass band consisting of an amazing combo of father, daughter and a few friends.

9 a.m. to noon » Kids art and entertainment

July 20

Where » Snowbird, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Plaza Deck, entry 2

8:15-9:15 a.m. » Sign up for wildflower and geology hikes ($5 donation to the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation).

9:30 a.m. » Tram leaves for wildflower hikes – advanced hikes ride tram up and hike down the mountain; easy walks ride the tram up, take a gentle walk at the top and ride tram back down.

10 a.m. -» Tram leaves for geology hike (moderate).

9:30-11:30 a.m. » Lower mountain wildflower hikes. Departures every 20 minutes as needed.

Tips For Wildflower Watching

Enjoy the wildflowers while you can.  It’s like the “Sound of Music” movie up there in “them thar hills”… with meadows of beautiful flowers in every color that you can imagine. 

The upper meadow at the top of Albion Basin is absolutely breathtaking during the peak season.