Year calendar · 25 places
Augustwhat's in season
What's in season in August?
August is wildflowers and lavender season at the places we track. Wildflowers is in its usual window at 17 places, the most in the week of Aug 1–7 (17), from Point Reyes (Feb 1–Aug 31) to Mount Rainier (Jul 21–Aug 10). Lavender: Sequim (Jul 1–Aug 10). Starting this month: late bloom: rabbitbrush and snakeweed at John Day Fossil Beds and late flowers: cardinal flower, rose mallow, then goldenrod and joe-pye-weed at Bombay Hook. Coming in September: fall foliage, from Guanella Pass (Sep 1–Sep 30).
Updated Sep 28. Sources: National Park Service, John Day Fossil Beds wildflowers ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Wildlife ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Peaking in August
Wildflowers
17 places in August
California
- Point ReyesLocal timing: Feb 1–Aug 31
- Lava BedsLocal timing: Mar 1–Sep 30
- YosemiteLocal timing: Mar 1–Aug 31
- WhiskeytownLocal timing: Apr 1–Aug 31
- Lassen VolcanicLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
Washington
- North CascadesLocal timing: Feb 21–Sep 10
- Mountain Loop HighwayLocal timing: Jul 1–Aug 31
- Wind RiverLocal timing: Jul 15–Aug 31
- Mount RainierJul 21–Aug 10
North Dakota
- Long Lake RefugeLocal timing: Apr 1–Aug 31
Wyoming
- Grand TetonLocal timing: May 1–Sep 30
District of Columbia
- Kenilworth Aquatic GardensLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
Colorado
- Rocky MountainLocal timing: May 21–Aug 10
- Guanella PassLocal timing: Jun 15–Aug 10
Minnesota
- Minnesota Valley RefugeLocal timing: Jun 1–Aug 31
Montana
- GlacierLocal timing: Jun 15–Aug 15
Arizona
- Escudilla MountainJul 1–Aug 31
Lavender
1 place in August
Washington
- SequimLocal timing: Jul 1–Aug 10
Also in August
Blooms, blossoms and green-up
Starting in August
- Late bloom: rabbitbrush and snakeweed John Day Fossil Beds · Aug–Oct
- Late flowers: cardinal flower, rose mallow, then goldenrod and Joe-Pye-weed Bombay Hook · Aug–Sep
- Peak wildflowers Escudilla Mountain · Aug
- Prairie sunflowers (wet years) Great Sand Dunes · Aug
Still going at 30 places: wildflowers (10 places), wildflowers on the mogollon rim, alpine wildflowers.
Festivals and night skies
Still going at 2 places: night sky tours at point supreme, ranger astronomy programs.
Out and about
Starting in August
- Tule elk rut and bugling peak San Luis Refuge · Aug
- Wild rice ripens Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota · Aug
Still going at 127 places: busiest months (3 places), busy season (3 places), cadillac summit road open.
Know before you go
Starting in August
- Caves closed for bats Hoosier National Forest, Indiana · Aug–May
Still going at 15 places: hottest months (4 places), extreme heat, off-trail areas closed for nesting.
Sources (8)
- National Park Service, John Day Fossil Beds wildflowers ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Wildlife ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Toolbox Draw wildflowers ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Great Sand Dunes conditions to expect by month ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Capitol Reef orchards ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge: Species (Nature's Calendar) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Chippewa National Forest FAQs ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Hoosier seasonal cave closure ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Questions people ask
Where are wildflowers in August?
At the places we track: Point Reyes, California (local timing Feb 1–Aug 31); North Cascades, Washington (local timing Feb 21–Sep 10); Lava Beds, California (local timing Mar 1–Sep 30); Yosemite, California (local timing Mar 1–Aug 31); Long Lake Refuge, North Dakota (local timing Apr 1–Aug 31); Whiskeytown, California (local timing Apr 1–Aug 31); and 11 more on this page.
Where is lavender in August?
At the places we track: Sequim, Washington (local timing Jul 1–Aug 10).
What should I know before a trip in August?
Hoosier National Forest, Indiana: caves closed for bats.