Spring is here, and that means that wildflowers are starting to pop all over the state.
If you want to see spring flowers in Pennsylvania, there are many great spots throughout the state. In fact, you likely can head to your nearest local park and see many great varieties. However, for various reasons, some places are better than others.
So, if you are looking to see Pennsylvania wildflowers in all their glory, these are a few of the best spots to explore throughout the state.
Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve in Lancaster County
Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve is one of my favorite places to see spring flowers in Pennsylvania thanks to the 100 varieties of flowers that bloom here from roughly March through June.
Located along the Susquehanna River just north of Pequea, this 90-acre parcel of land features hiking trails that offer a chance to see this incredible landscape. My mid-April visit featured an incredible array of flowers including Susquehanna trilliums, Virginia bluebells, and golden ragworts.
Just note that the road to get here is quite bumpy, so a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
Raccoon Creek Wildflower Reserve in Beaver County
Of all the wildflower reserves in PA, none are larger than the 314-acre Wildflower Reserve in Raccoon Creek State Park.
In this spot, you can see upwards of 700 different varieties of Pennsylvania wildflowers, with red and white trilliums being especially abundant.
Five miles of trails crisscross the reserve, and you can extend your hike by exploring even more beautiful spots in the park. In fact, I saw a nice number of trilliums during my visit when I explored Frankfort Mineral Springs Falls on the other side of the park after visiting this reserve.
Fairmount Park in Philadelphia
The 2,000-acre Fairmount Park in Philadelphia is situated along both sides of the Schuylkill River and is an incredible place to see wildflowers in PA.
The highlight here are the thousands of cherry trees that are scattered throughout the park, creating one of the most striking scenes you’ll find anywhere in PA. This is especially true at spots along the river, as well as Shofuso Japanese Garden and the area around the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
These trees tend to bloom 10-14 days after the popular cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., but with much smaller crowds, making Philly a great springtime destination.
Wolf Creek Narrows in Butler County
Wolf Creek Narrows is a beautiful hiking area near Slippery Rock in Butler County, PA. And, while it’s beautiful any time of the year, it’s also an incredible spot to see wildflowers in the spring.
A variety of wildflowers grow here in abundance including white trillium and Virginia bluebells, making this an excellent place for a springtime hike in western PA.
It’s worth noting that this area also has an abundance of summer flowers, so it’s a great spot to visit then, as well.
Arboretum at Penn State in Centre County
The Arboretum at Penn State is best known for its beautiful manicured gardens (many of which come to life in the spring), but if you want to see wildflowers, this is also a great spot to visit.
This is particularly true in the Hartley Wood section of the arboretum, which is located just northwest of the main gardens. In this area, you’ll find an old-growth forest with some trees up to 300 years old.
Scattered amongst the trees, particularly along the Gerhold Wildflower Trail, you’ll find an abundance of spring flowers to enjoy.
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in Bucks County
The Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is located adjacent to the northern portion of Washington’s Crossing Historic Park, and is another can’t-miss spot to see wildflowers in Pennsylvania.
It is said that over 700 of the 2,000 plant species found in PA can be found found within the preserve, which makes this one of the most biologically diverse places in the state.
This also means that there is a long season here, with wildflowers blooming from March through June, making this a great spot to visit throughout spring.
Trillium Trail in Allegheny County
Located in Fox Chapel, a short distance northeast of downtown Pittsburgh, the Trillium Trail is one of the best springtime wildflower hikes in PA.
The Trillium Trail isn’t just a 1.5-mile trail, but it’s also the name for an entire preserve with other named trails within it. Still, the namesake trail is the one that most people hike to see the beautiful trilliums that sprout here each April.
These fragile wildflowers can be found in other places in western PA (some of which are mentioned in this article), but there are few places where they are more abundant than at this spot in Allegheny County.
Hell’s Hollow Trail in Lawrence County
There are many fabulous spots to visit in McConnells Mill State Park, but if you want to see wildflowers, there’s nowhere better than the Hell’s Hollow Trail.
This one-mile out-and-back trail follows Hell Run and ends at a beautiful waterfall and crumbling furnace. However, along the way, the trail passes through a unique landscape that features many incredible wildflowers during the spring, including the rare trillium.
Longwood Gardens in Chester County
Longwood Gardens is best known for its amazing landscaped spaces and indoor gardens, and those certainly come to life in the spring. However, did you know that there’s also a large wildflower meadow here?
That’s right, the 86-acre Wildflower Meadow is an incredible landscape that features a large number of wildflowers for visitors to enjoy during their visit. The native flowers, grasses, and other plants found here are truly remarkable and offer a great way for visitors to enjoy a more natural landscape among the beautiful gardens found here.
Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County
The Flight 93 National Memorial is one of the most sobering spots in all of Pennsylvania. However, the National Park Service has also turned much of the landscape into an amazing spot of rejuvenation filled with wildflowers.
In the park’s fields, dozens of varieties of wildflowers bloom from April through October, creating an incredibly beautiful space to visit and reflect on the tragic events that occurred here.
What are your favorite places to see spring flowers in Pennsylvania? Let us know in the comments below.
Looking for more things to do in PA? Check out the top waterfalls in PA, my favorite counties for outdoor adventure, and my picks for the best state parks in Pennsylvania.
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