Each hike highlights a flower found along the trail, along with a checkbox that you can tick off once you’ve found that flower. The profile features a picture of the flower, a description of the plant, and interesting background information when available.
Other Wildflowers on the Trail: At the end of each flower profile is a list of wildflowers we encountered or reliably verified that others have encountered along the trail. We list them this way, instead of in the hike description, to allow for significantly longer, more detailed lists. That said, it is by no means an attempt at a comprehensive list, which would be a task well beyond the scope of this guide. In addition, different wildflowers bloom at different times of year, which means that a particular listed flower may not be blooming when you set out on a particular trail. This list is meant as a resource to help narrow your search of what to look out for on the trail. And if you miss a wildflower or two that you had hoped to see, you have a great reason to revisit that hike another time.
GETTING THERE
Driving directions to the trailhead start from a nearby city or town, generally along a major highway, such as Interstate 90 or State Route 20. Because trailheads can be approached from more than one direction, the driving directions are written to take this into account. In order to be as accurate as possible, every effort has been made to provide directions that match the actual signage posted at critical junctions on the driving route. Occasionally, online mapping and GPS systems will show information that does not match the posted signs. Where there is a discrepancy, the directions refer to the signs we saw on our way to the trailhead.
HIKE DESCRIPTION
This main section of each hike covers the step-by-step hiking directions. They tell you what to do at each junction you encounter and help you reach your destination. Use these directions along with the hike map to find your way.
HISTORY
Every trail has a story to tell, a reason the trail was cut through the forest, blasted out of rock, or carved into a mountainside. Sometimes that reason is simply to get to a delightful alpine lake, but more often than not the trail follows in the footsteps of prospectors, lumberjacks, and fisherfolk. The mountain ranges of Washington have drawn people for generations, and where there are people, there are stories. This section provides a window into that history and helps to connect trail users to the trail and the land. Humans are full of curiosity, and knowing what came before can enhance your appreciation of a hike.
WILDFLOWER BASICS
Identifying a wildflower along the trail is a skill that requires dedication and time to cultivate. Not only are there a staggering number of different wildflowers in Washington, but plants of the same species can vary a great deal. It takes time, practice, and access to reliable field guides to become skilled at plant identification. This book is designed to get hikers started on that journey. People who catch the wildflower bug will want to invest in a few field guides and wildflower identification resources to supplement this book.
At more advanced levels, wildflower identification can become quite technical, sometimes involving nearly imperceptible variations in obscure parts of the plant best left to botanists and plant experts. This book focuses on the fundamentals of plant identification, which at its most basic level is an exercise in narrowing down the field of possibilities— best done by observing different plant characteristics and zeroing in on the plant that matches your observations. Over time, you will begin to recognize a familiar set of characteristics and be able to observe, for example, “This looks like a type of vetch” or “This is definitely some type of larkspur.” Knowing what to look for is the first step. Consider the following attributes when attempting to identify a wildflower.
PLANT TYPE
The vast majority of the flowers in this book are herbaceous plants that grow each spring and summer and die back in the winter. However, some woody shrubs and trees are included as well. There’s even a cactus or two! Knowing whether the plant you’re looking at is woody or not will quickly exclude quite a number of options. As the term implies, woody shrubs and trees are made of wood that splinters when broken. They do not die back to their roots in the winter.
LEAVES
It’s tempting to focus first on the flower, but sometimes blooms are damaged, past their prime, or otherwise do not match the photos of ideal specimens in wildflower guides. Instead, start with the leaves.
Arrangement: There are four basic types of leaf arrangement: alternating, opposite, whorl, and basal. Alternating leaves alternate on the plant stem, whereas opposite leaves grow in pairs opposite each other. Whorls are simply three or more leaves attached at the same point; basal leaves are confined to the base of the plant.
Type: Leaves can be simple or compound. Simple leaves are composed of one discrete leaf on a stem, while compound leaves have multiple leaves on a single stem. Common examples of these leaf types can be found on balsamroot, which has simple leaves, and lupine, which sports compound leaves.
Margin: The margin is more or less the edge of the leaf. It’s often helpful in identifying a specific plant. There are quite a few very specific names for leaf margin types that quickly wade into technical waters. Beginners can simply note whether the leaf edge is smooth or toothed and whether it has distinct lobes.
Color: While most leaves are of course green, there is a surprising amount of variation.
Whether leaves are pale green, dark green, or tend toward another color should be noted.
Texture: Note whether the leaves are thick and fleshy or thin and flimsy. Do they have prominent veins, or are they smooth and shiny? It’s also helpful to note whether they are covered in fine hairs. All these qualities can help determine what wildflower you’re looking at.
FLOWERS
When first looking at a wildflower, we naturally focus on the color. Successful identification requires more than simply noting the color of the bloom, though the color is an important starting point.
Color: Most wildflower guides are organized by color for ease of identification. However, keep in mind that many wildflower species vary in color. Blooms can also change color as the flower matures. Avoid the trap of relying too heavily on flower color to narrow down your search. Reds can become pinks; purples can fade to blues. If you think you’ve identified the plant but the flower color is off, you’ve likely got the right plant. Do some further research to see if the plant you think it might be varies in flower color. Quite often you will find it does.
Size: Bloom size can vary from extremely tiny to several inches across. Knowing how big a flower tends to be can help narrow the list of potential candidates.
