What do leaf peepers do during the off-season? If they plan their travels carefully, they can practice wildlife peeping almost year around by visiting these wildflower viewing areas across the United States.

Alaska Region: Harbor Mountain Recreation Area, AK

In the Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska, visitors can explore the changes in vegetation that occur as one progresses from sea level, through coniferous rain forests, up to sub-alpine meadows.

Along the way, look for the bog orchids that grow in open, moist areas of the forest called muskegs. The acidic soil, thick layer of dead vegetation, and swampy conditions are just right to help the three-foot flower spikes of the white bog orchid, Platanthera dilatata, thrive in an attempt to lure pollinators with its potent fragrance. As you approach the 1900 foot level, you may observe stands of sub-alpine flowers like the blue gentian, the Fritillaria checkered lily, and the western columbine.

Intermountain Region: Bob’s Garden, UT

In Fairview, Utah, a botanist took a personal interest in barren, overgrazed plateau in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. So began Bob’s Garden, named for Bob Thompson, who served with the Forest Service for more than 50 years and oversaw the restoration of the plateau. Now visitors of the Wasatch Plateau can use pullouts along Skyline Drive to take in breathtaking views of valleys and mountains, punctuated by the wildflowers like the lupines that have repopulated the area.

Northern Region: Gravelly Range, MT

Cool summers and a high elevation allow hundreds of wildflower species to thrive in a southwest Montana mountain range in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Pick up a plant list in Ennis, and maybe you’ll spot the peculiar elephant’s head Pedicularis groenlandica or the petite pygmy bitterroot Lewisia pygmaea. Shooting stars, a primrose relative, and fabulous clusters of the vibrant blue sky pilot are also common.

Pacific Northwest Region: Skyline Divide, WA

Active wildflower enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the diverse species found on the Skyline Divide, in the Mt. Baker wilderness area near Glacier, Washington. Yellow glacier lilies appear even as snow still lies on the ground. A rainbow of mountain heather species thrives here, as do several penstemon species. When you stop for a rest during your hike, look in rock crevices to see if stonecrops or spreading phlox reside there.

Pacific Southwest Region: Alpine Pedal Path, CA

Because of the abundance of plant species that exist nowhere else in the world, the San Bernardino Mountains have earned the nickname “the island of endemism.” Visit the area not just for the recreation at Big Bear Lake, but also for the many wildflowers that bloom from May through July. Look for carpets of purple desert sand verbena, or inhale the namesake fragrance of the grape soda lupine. In mid to late summer, the flame-colored blooms of the San Gabriel beardtongue attract hummingbirds.

Rocky Mountain Region: Grand Mesa Visitor Center, CO

Alpine flower lovers should put this demonstration garden on their bucket list if they are planning a visit to the Grand Mesa National Forest in Colorado. In existence since 1999, the garden is fully accessible by wheelchair. It’s fun to see just how many of the 50 or so wildflowers are in bloom during your visit by consulting your color plant directory during your visit. During the summer, you may see wildflower garden favorites like aster, yarrow, sneezeweed, or wild roses.

Southern Region: Pat’s Island, FL

Florida may be best known for its beaches, but native Floridians seek the cool, mossy forests of Florida’s interior for rest and relaxation. The Ocala National Forest features areas closed to motor vehicles and even bicycles, so you can study nature’s processes with very little interference from humans. Pat’s Island is one such area, accessible by foot via the Yearling Trail, near Silver Springs. Some flowers you may encounter on your six-mile hike include several milkweed species, Carolina rock rose, and the stunning deep blue butterfly pea vine.

Southwestern Region: Valle Vidal, NM

Tourists looking for a vacation off the beaten path will appreciate the absence of crowds in Valle Vidal, part of the Carson National Forest near Questa, New Mexico. Heavy summer rains cause a seemingly overnight appearance of cinquefoil, purple geranium, and paintbrush. Pockets of marshy areas may produce sightings of bog primrose, gentian, and the monocarpic monument plant, which only flowers once in its average 40-year lifespan.