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Wildlife refuge in Montana

Red Rock Lakes Refugewildflowers

At Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, June and July are best for wildflower viewing, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its usual window for this year has passed.

Checked against 3 official sources.How we check

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Local timing

June and July

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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About Red Rock Lakes Refuge

What it is

A wildlife refuge in Montana

What you'll see

  • Mountain wildflowers, best viewing June and July

Before you go

  • Getting there: Get fuel first: the nearest gas station is nearly 50 miles away.

Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge ↗

Right now at Red Rock Lakes Refuge

From the Weather Service and the Park Service

Next 7 days

Forecast: National Weather Service

  • Today73° 40°1% rain
  • Mon75° 41°–
  • Tue72° 39°–
  • Wed71° 38°–
  • Thu69° 38°–
  • Fri67° 38°3% rain
  • Sat62° 30°54% rain

Heads up. Freezing night (low 30°F): Saturday Night. Windy (winds up to 21 mph): Saturday Night.

Today: sunrise 7:29 a.m., sunset 7:04 p.m., light until 7:33 p.m. Moon waning crescent, 32% lit (our calculation).

Your guide to the area

Best spots and nearby places

  • Red Rock Lakes Refuge
  • Nearby, next spring
  • Nearby, next summer
  • Town

Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census; Canada, Mexico and lakes Natural Earth; spot positions agency pages.

Best spots around Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Around Red Rock Lakes Refuge

In season first, then nearest; straight-line miles

Next season here: Mountain wildflowers, June and July.

The year at Red Rock Lakes Refuge

From the official sources, starting now

FallNow

Sep to Nov

  • Aspens, willows and chokecherry turn

    Middle to end of September

Winter

Dec to Feb

Nothing listed

Spring

Mar to May

  • Elk, deer, pronghorn and moose calves born

    May and June

Summer

Jun to Aug

  • Mountain wildflowers

    June and July

  • Trumpeter swan cygnets hatch

    June

  • Wildflower peak bloom

    Mid-late June through late July

Red Rock Lakes Refuge in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
A wide green valley below a dark mountain and distant peaks under purple-gray clouds
Upper Red Rock Lake's valley below the Centennial Mountains. Photo: Erin Clark/USFWS · public domain · none (shown at its own size)

Questions people ask

When is peak wildflowers in Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in 2027?

Best viewing: June and July. June and July are best for wildflower viewing, per the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Is it blooming in Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge right now?

Not now: its usual wildflowers window for this year has passed. Next time: June and July, local timing.

When do wildflowers peak at Red Rock Lakes Refuge?

Around mid to late June, continuing through late July; the refuge calls June and July the best months for wildflower viewing.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When is the best time to visit Red Rock Lakes Refuge?

May through September: snow from as early as October through April makes winter visits very hard or impossible.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where's the nearest gas to Red Rock Lakes Refuge?

Nearly 50 miles away: fill your tank before you leave the paved highways.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When do the aspens turn at Red Rock Lakes Refuge?

Typically the middle to end of September, with willows, chokecherry and serviceberry.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where are the best spots in Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge?

The best spots are Sparrow Pond Trail and Odell Creek Trail. Sparrow Pond Trail: an easy out-and-back trail. Odell Creek Trail: the refuge's other easy out-and-back trail.

What is Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge has something to see in 4 months of the year. Elk, deer, pronghorn and moose calves born: May–Jun. Trumpeter swan cygnets hatch: Jun. Wildflower peak bloom: Jun–Jul. Aspens, willows and chokecherry turn: Sep.

How we know

The official pages behind every date on this page

  • Oct 4Weather National Weather Service forecast and alerts
  • Oct 3Fish & Wildlife Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
  • Sep 30Fish & Wildlife Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
All our sources and how we use them