A real-time record of wildflowers on Independence Pass as they bloom (with a bonus bird list). Both lists include first sightings of the year only.

Scroll through and click on the images below from 2023 to read more about the flowers in this list.

September 7, Coleman Creek, 11,600’

Little fringed gentian, Gentianopsis barbellata

August 28, Jack Creek Basin, 12,000’

Alpine dandelion, Taraxacum scopulorum

August 27, Roadside 10,600’

Wild licorice, Glycyrrhiza lepidota

August 16, Grizzly Res & NY Trail area

Wildflowers:

Rayless senecio, Senecio bigelovii
Parry’s harebell, Campanula parryi
Twinflower, Linnaea borealis
Tranquil guldenweed, Pyrrocoma clementis

Birds:

Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius
Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos

August 15, summit

Wildflowers:

Sneezeweed, Hymenoxis hoopesii

Birds:

Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus

August 10, Blue Lake/North Fork valley

Alpine dustymaiden, Chaenactis alpina
Silverleaf phacelia, Phacelia hastata
Pygmy saxifrage, Saxifraga hyberborea

August 9, road & river-side

Gray tansy aster, Dieteria canescens
Englemann’s aster, Eucephalus englemannii
Western aster, Symphyotrichum ascendens
Alpine wintergreen, Gualthiera humifusa (in fruit)
Parry’s goldenrod, Oreochrysum parryi

August 8, Upper Lost Man/Independence Lake

Arctic gentian, Gentiana algida
Little gentian, Gentianella amarella ssp. acuta

August 7, Wet Gulch

Lesser wintergreen, Pyrola minor
Twisted stalk, Streptopus amplexifolius

August 6, Linkins Lake & Grottos

Rattlesnake plantain orchid, Goodyera oblongifolia
Pipsessawa, Chimaphila umbellata
Bottle gentian, Gentiana parryi

August 1, Ruby ridge & RFR & roadside

Velvet/Canada goldenrod, Solidago velutina/canadensis
Arctic bellflower, Campanula uniflora
Heart-leaved twayblade, Neottia cordata
Pygmy goldenweed, Tonestus pygmaeus
Rydberg’s arnica, Arnica rydbergii
* Ragleaf bahia, Hymenothrix dissecta (not seen before on Independence Pass)
Western mountain aster, Symphyotrichum spathulatum

July 28, Lackawanna/North Fork

Fringed grass-of-parnassus, Parnassia fimbriata
Alpine/Fremont’s ragwort, Senecio blitoides
Escholtz’s buttercup, Ranunculus escholtzii
Orange senecio, Packera crocata
Dandelion ragwort, Senecio taraxacoides
Subalpine buckwheat, Eriogonum subalpinum

July 27, Wild Rock area

Star gentian, Swertia perennis
Green-flowered wintergreen, Pyrola chlorantha
Spreading dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium
Blunt-leaved orchid, Platanthera obtusata

July 25, roadside (full length of Pass, west-side)

Lodgepole lupine, Lupinus parviflorus (white morph)
Fringed gentian, Gentianopsis thermalis
Yellow agoseris, Agoseris glauca
Tall daisy, Erigeron elatior
Alsike clover, Trifolium hybridum
Curly dock, Rumex crispus
Stinging nettle, Urtica doica
Bashful ragwort, Senecio pudicus
One-sided wintergreen, Orthilia secunda
Pink wintergreen, Pyrola asarifolia
Lonely ragwort, Senecio eremophilus
Showy goldeneye, Heliomeris multiflora
Spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe
Curly gumweed, Grindelia squarrosa
Many-flowered stickseed, Hackelia floribunda
Black medick, Medicago lupulina
Oceanspray, Holodiscus discolor
Alfalfa, Medicago sativa
Leafy aster, Symphyotrichum foliaceum
Spreading fleabane, Erigeron divergens
Tall ragwort, Senecio serra
Sego lily, Calochortus gunnisonii

July 23, Linkins Lake & roadside

Showy draba, Draba spectabilis
Hemolock parsley, Conoselinium scopulorum
Early cinquefoil, Potentilla concinna var. bicrenata
Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia

July 16, roadside

Woolly mullein, Verbascum thapsus
Ocean spray, Holodiscus discolor
Green bog orchid, Platanthera huronensis

July 15, North Fork Lake Creek and Mountain Boy area

Mountain thistle, Cirsium scopulorum
Golden saxifrage, Saxifrage chrysantha
Whiplash saxifrage, Saxifraga flagellaris
Alpine dandelion, Taraxacum scopulorum
Colorado ragwort, Senecio soldanella
Rambling daisy, Erigeron vagus
White prairie smoke, Geum triflorum (mutant)
Harbour’s penstemon, Penstemon harbourii

July 10, Midway & Twin Lakes

Giant lousewort, Pedicularis procera
White locoweed, Oxytropis sericea
Monkshood, Aconitum columbianum
Parry’s arnica, Arnica parryi
Douglas’s dusty-maiden, Chaenactis douglasii
Purple geranium, Geranium caespitosum
Richardson’s bitterweed, Hymenoxis richardsonii
Woolly cinquefoil, Potentilla hippiana
Lodgepole lupine, Lupinus parviflorus
Brook saxifrage, Micranthes odontoloma
Pennsylvania cinquefoil, Potentilla pennsylvanica
Long-stalked starwort, Stellaria longipes
Orange agoseris, Agoseris aurantiaca
Alpine speedwell, Veronica wormskjoldii
Giant angelica, Angelica ampla
Western valerian, Valerian occidentalis

July 8, summit and roadside

Stemless evening primrose, Oenothera caespitosa
Chamerion angustifolium, Fireweed
Yellow stonecrop, Sedum lanceolatum
Sticky goldenrod, Solidago glutinosa
Alpine lousewort, Pedicularis sudetica
Alsike clover, Trifolium hybridum
Beautiful daisy, Erigeron formosissimus
Whipple’s penstemon, Penstemon whippleanus
White-flowered hawkweed, Hieraceum albiflorum
Wooton’s ragwort, Senecio wootonii
Scentless chamomile, Matricaria perforata
Sudetic lousewort, Pedicularis sudetica
Lancepod draba, Draba lonchocarpa

July 5-6, South Fork Lake Creek and surrounding mountains (10,500’-13,100’)

Alpine milkvetch, Astragalus alpinus
Showy locoweed, Oxytropis splendens
Green gentian/Monument plant, Frasera speciosa
Small-flowered penstemon, Penstemon procerus
Five-nerved sunflower, Helianthella quinquenervis
Death camas, Anticlea elegans
Parry’s lousewort, Pedicularis parryi
Slender hawkweed, Hieraceum triste
Alpine goldenaster, Heterotheca pumila
Bog saxifrage, Micranthes odontoloma
Willowherb, Epilobium sp.
Red-stemmed cinquefoil, Potentilla rubricaulis
Butter-and-eggs, Linaria vulgaris
Sharp-leaf valerian, Valeriana acutiloba
Little-leaf alumroot, Heuchera parviflora
Alpine kittentails, Veronica besseya
Dwarf bilberry, Vaccinium cespitosum
Mouse-ear chickweed, Cerastium arvense
Thick-leaf draba, Draba crassa
Parry’s clover, Trifolium parryi
Thick-leaf ragwort, Senecio crassulus
Sticky gilia, Aliciella pinnatifida
Dwarf phlox, Phlox condensata
Alpine tundra draba, Draba streptobrachia
Alpine buttercup, Ranunculus adoneus
Northern sagewort, Artemisia borealis
Rydberg’s penstemon, Penstemon rydbergii

July 3, above Grottos climbing wall & NE summit

Wildflowers:

Showy daisy, Erigeron speciosus
Spotted saxifrage, Saxifraga austromontana
Bering’s chickweed, Cerastium beeringianum
Rocky Mountain alpine daisy, Erigeron grandiflorus
Western yellow paintbrush, Castilleja occidentalis
Pygmy bitterroot, Lewisia pygmaea
Dryas octopetala, Mountain aven
Fendler’s sandwort, Eremogone fendleri
Green mitrewort, Mitella pentandra
Thimbleberry, Rubacer parviflorus
Spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata
Few-flowered meadowrue, Thalictrum sparsiflorum
Fendler’s sandwort, Eremogone fendleri

Birds:

Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

July 2, Roadside 8,500’-11,500’

Black-tipped senecio, Senecio atratus
Scentless chamomile, Tripleurospermum inodorum
Oxeye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare
Elephanthead, Pedicularis groenlandica
Hairy evening primrose, Oenothera villosa

June 26, Lincoln Creek & Ruby 11,500’

White bog orchid, Plantanthera dilatata
Wind anemone, Anemone multifida var. multifida
Rosy paintbrush, Castilleja rhexifolia
Snowbed draba, Draba crassifolia
Pygmy bitterroot, Lewisia pygmaea
Fern leaf lousewort, Pedicularis bracteosa
Colorado columbine, Aquilegia coerulea
Purple phacelia, Phacelia sericea
Varied leaf phacelia, Phacelia heterophylla
Alpine fireweed, Chamerion latifolium
Subalpine buckwheat, Eriogonum subalpinum
Hairy fruit valerian, Valerian acutiloba
Mountain bluebells, Mertensia ciliata
Raspberry, Rubus idaeus
Eaton’s thistle, Cirsium eatonii
Cowbane, Oxypolis fendleri
Whipple’s penstemon, Penstemon whippleanus
Mountain golden banner, Thermopsis montana
Triangular ragwort, Senecio triangularis
Polemonium viscosum, Sky pilot
American bistort, Bistorta bistortoides
Alpine sagewort, Artemisia scopulorum
Pearly everlasting, Anaphalis margartiacea
Beautiful pussytoes, Antennaria pulcherrima var. anaphaloides
Tall cinquefoil, Drymocallis arguta
Crown vetch, Securigera varia
American wintercress, Barbarea orthoceras

June 25, Linkins Lake

Parry’s primrose, Primula parryi
Alpine sandwort, Cherleria obtusiloba
Werner’s groundsel, Packera wernerifolia
Hoary whitlow grass, Draba cana/breweri

June 20, roadside and RFR 8,300’

Golden banner, Thermopsis montana
Hairy golden aster, Heterotheca villosa
Sulfur indian paintbrush, Castilleja sulphurea
Curly dock, Rumex crispus
Northern bedstraw, Galium boreale
Stinging nettle, Urtica doica
Cow parsnip, Heracleum maximum
Shrubby cinquefoil, Dasiphora fruticosa
Yellow sweet clover, Melilotus officinalis
Linear-leafed collomia, Collomia linearis
Porter’s lovage, Ligusticum porterii

June 19, Midway/Lost Man & Difficult

Wildflowers:

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
Fendler’s meadowrue, Thalictrum fendleri, M & F
Tansy mustard, Descurainia incisa
Wild rose, Rosa woodsii
Round-leaf snowberry, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius
Red clover, Trifolium pratense
Rocky Mountain penstemon, Penstemon strictus
Beautiful cinquefoil, Potentilla pulcherrima
Snow cinquefoil, Potentilla nivea
Richardson’s geranium, Geranium richardsonii
Praire smoke, Geum triflorum
White clover, Trifolium repens

Birds:

Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator

June 18, Linkins Lake & Summit

Wildflowers:

Grouse whortleberry/Broom huckleberry, Vaccinium scoparium
Alp lily, Lloydia serotina
Snowball saxifrage, Micranthes rhomboidea
Cutleaf daisy, Erigeron pinnatisectus
Alpine bluebells, Mertensia lanceolata
Spotted saxifrage, Saxifraga bronchialis
Blueleaf cinquefoil, Potentilla glaucophylla
Alpine clover, Trifolium dasyphyllum
Pygmyflower rockjasmine, Androsace septentrionalis
Alpine nailwort, Paronychia pulvinata
Sibbaldia, Sibbaldia procumbens
Alpine parsley, Cympoterus alpina

June 16, New York TH area & Green Mountain

Wildflowers:

Baneberry, Actea rubra
Jacob’s ladder, Polemonium pulcherrimum
Snow buttercup, Ranunculus adoneus
Dwarf clover, Trifolium nanum
Alpine forget-me-not, Eritrichum nanum
Old-man-of-the-mountain, Hymenoxis grandiflorus
Alpine smelowskia, Smelowskia calycina
Mountain aven, Geum rossii
Moss campion, Silene acaulis
Twinberry, Lonicera involucrata

Birds:

Wilson’s warbler, Cardellina pusilla
Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus

June 11, Lincoln Creek/Grizzly

Wildflowers:

Slender draba, Draba albertina
Glacier lily, Erythronium grandiflorum
Edible valerian, Valerian edulis
Alpine blue violet, Viola adunca var. bellidifolia
Meadow salsify, Tragapogon pratensis
Graceful buttercup, Ranunculus inamoenus
Alpine parsley, Oreoxis alpina

Birds:

Canada jay, Perisoreus canadensis

June 10, roadside, 8,400’

Wildflowers:

Yellow salsify, Tragapogon dubius
Chokecherry, Padas virginiana

June 9, south slope to 11,300’

Wildflowers:

Cleavers, Galium aparine
Indian paintbrush, Castilleja miniata
King’s crown, Rhodiola integrifolia
Cutleaf daisy (rayless), Erigeron compositus
Golden draba, Draba aurea

Birds:

Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus
Canyon wren, Catherpes mexicanus
Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi

June 6, Grottos

Wildflowers:

Fairy slipper orchid, Calypso bulbosa
Red elderberry, Sambucus racemosa var. microbotrys

June 4, Difficult & North of Difficult

Wildflowers:

Red Columbine, Aquilegia elegantula
Aspen peavine, Lathyrus lanszwertii var. laetivirens
Canada violet, Viola canadensis
False Solomon’s seal, Maianthemum stellatum
Large false Solomon’s seal, Maianthemum racemosum
Yellow buckwheat, Eriogonum stellatum
Tiny trumptet, Collomia linearis
American vetch, Vicia americana
Small-leaf pussytoes, Antennaria parviflora
Arrowleaf balsamroot, Balsamorhiza sagittata

June 3, lower Pass

Wildflowers:

Rocky Mountain groundsel, Packera streptanthifolia
Mountain parsley, Cymopterus lemmonii

June 2, waterfall/Turkey Rock ridge

Wildflowers:

Heart-leaved arnica, Arnica cordifolia
Globeflower, Trollius albiflorus

Birds:

Steller’s jay, Cyanocitta stelleri
Mountain chickadee, Poecile gambeli
Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus

June 1, Monitor Rock

Wildflowers:

Kinnikinnik, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Kinnikinnik
Cutleaf daisy, Erigeron compositus
Rockslide daisy, Erigeron leiomerus
Pretty draba, Draba streptocarpa
Wax currant, Ribes cereum
Richardson’s bitterweed, Hymenoxis richardsonii

May 31, Twin Lakes

Wildflowers:

Showy burttercup, Ranunculus cardiophyllus
Mountain cactus, Pediocactus simpsonii
Early bluetop daisy, Erigeron vetensis
Elegant cinquefoil, Potentilla concinna var. bicrenata
Pasque flower, Anemone pratense

May 29, Difficult

Wildflowers:

Scarlet gilia, Ipomopsis aggregata

Birds:

Canada goose, Branta canadensis
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri
Red-naped sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus
Cordilleran flycatcher, Empidonax occidentalis
Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common raven, Corvus corax
Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
American robin, Turdus migratorius
Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia
Wilson’s warbler, Cardellina pusilla
Lincoln’s sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca
Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia
Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia
Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus

May 28, Difficult

Wildflowers:

Wolf’s currant, Ribes wolfii
Nodding silverpuffs, Microseris nutans

Birds:

Pine siskin, Spinus pinus
Brown-headed cowbird, Moluthrus ater
Virginia’s warbler, Leiothlypis virginae
Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus

May 24, Lower Pass roadside

Wildflowers:

Serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia
Mountain strawberry, Fragaria virginiana

Birds:

Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana

May 20, Lower Pass & Difficult Campground/Trail

Wildflowers:

Drummond’s rockress, Boechera stricta
Blue-eyed Mary, Collinsia parviflora
Spring larkspur, Delphinium nuttallianum
Lambstongue ragwort, Senecio integerrimus

Birds:

Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina
Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus
Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
House wren, Troglodytes aedon
Orange-crowned warbler, Leiothlypis celata
Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorous platycercus
White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophyrs

May 14, Difficult Campground & Trail

Wildflowers:

Mountain lover/Oregon boxwood, Paxistima myrsinites
Oregon grape, Mahonia repens
Spring buttercup, Ranunculus glaberrimus
Slender phlox, Microsteris gracilis

Birds:

Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca
Yellow-rumped warber, Setophaga coronata
Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia
Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis
Swainson’s thrush, Catharus ustulatus
Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorous platycercus

April 24, Difficult Campground & Trail

Wildflowers:

Spring beauty, Claytonia lanceolata
Wild candytuft, Noccaea fendleri ssp. glauca
Spring bluebells, Mertensia fusiformis

Birds:

Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula
Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia
Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus

April 23, roadside, lower Pass

Wildflowers:

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
New Mexico groundsel x. Threetooth ragwort, Packera neomexicana x. tridenticulata
Storksbill, Erodium cicutarium

Birds:

Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratas
American Robin, Turdus migratorius

May/june 2023

june 2023

JUNE/july 2023

august 2023

september 2023