Vancouver, Washington: where to see the best spring flowers
If you’re looking for an underrated spring flower destination in the Pacific Northwest then Vancouver, Washington should be on your travel bucket list! This vibrant city in southern Washington is the perfect base camp for exploring beautiful wildflower hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, and for seeing easily-accessible blooms in and around town. Below we share eight amazing places to see spring flowers in and around Vancouver, Washington.
This blog post was written in partnership with Visit Vancouver, Washington. All opinions and perspectives are our own.
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We’re Gwyn and Ami. Based in Spokane, Washington, and we’re your guides to the Pacific Northwest and beyond!
We’re adventure travel experts, and our blog is all about helping you find the best hikes, weekend getaways, and unique experiences in the United States and abroad. You can find more on Instagram @gwynandami.
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Eight places to see spring flowers in and around Vancouver, Washington
Below we’re sharing eight of the best places to see spring flowers in and around Vancouver, Washington. Most of these locations are within Clark County and the Vancouver metro region, but a few of the hikes are a bit farther afield in the Columbia River Gorge are in the neighboring counties of Skamania and Klickitat. All of these destinations are within an hour and a half’s drive of downtown Vancouver.
Leave no trace tips for wildflower hikes
If you visit any of the wildflower locations listed below please make sure to leave no trace during your visit. Our biggest piece of advice is to stay on the trail to prevent crushing both current and future wildflowers. Please do not pick any flowers, and avoid sitting or standing on flowers for pictures. You can read more about the benefits of wildflowers, and why you should protect them, here.
Even if you don’t care about leave no trace, you should still stay on trail in order to avoid the plentiful poison oak and ticks that can be found along some of these hikes.
Bathroom etiquette on hiking trails
It is your responsibility to pack out everything you pack in, including toilet paper! Below, we share a few options for how to ‘do your business’ on the trail while leaving no trace.
When hiking we rely on kula cloths to wipe. They’re reusable, sanitary, and they help keep trails free of toilet paper and trash. If you prefer you can bring toilet paper instead, but you need to pack out ALL of your used toilet paper in a plastic baggie. This applies to tampons and pads, too!
For pooping on the trail we recommend carrying WAG bags, which are the best way to leave no trace. On some trails you can bring a shovel and dig an 8 inch deep “cathole” to use the bathroom (toilet paper must still be packed out). Some people use a “backcountry bidet” instead of TP. Make sure to check local regulations to see if catholes are permitted.
Where to find spring flowers in and around Vancouver, Washington
Holland America Bulb Farm tulip you-pick
The Pacific Northwest is famous for its beautiful tulip fields, but many of the most popular tulip destinations are crowded! Located in Woodland, Washington just 30 minutes north of Vancouver, the Holland America Bulb Farm offers a refreshing reprieve from the crowds. This fun family-friendly experience offers visitors the opportunity to take pictures in the beautiful tulip fields, and to pick your own tulips for $1/flower (as of 2025) throughout April. Payment is cash only, and is on the honor system.
As of April 14, 2025 the fields were in full bloom and open to the public for the 2025 season! Please note that pets are not allowed in the fields.
Cape Horn hike in the Columbia River Gorge
Located just 30 minutes outside of downtown, Cape Horn is one of the closest hikes in the Columbia River Gorge to Vancouver. It’s also a great spot to see salmonberry flowers, bleeding hearts, flowering red currant, and beautiful trillium in spring. It feels like hiking in a fairytale forest!
Note: the full hike is nearly 8 miles long, but from February 1 to July 15 the lower section of the trail is closed for bird nesting. As a result, hikers will need to do this as an out and back. We choose to hike 3 miles in and back for a nice workout and beautiful views. More information on this trail can be found here.
Lyle Cherry Orchard hike in the Columbia River Gorge
Located an hour and 20 minutes from Vancouver, the Lyle Cherry Orchard trail is a moderate hike in the Columbia River Gorge that is famous for its wildflowers. You’ll find spectacular displays of lupine and arrowleaf balsamroot. The full hike features 6.5 miles and 1,100 feet of elevation gain, but there are options to make the hike shorter.
In 2025 this trail started blooming in mid-April. You can find more information about this trail here and here. Beware of poison oak!
How to identify poison oak
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘leaves of three, leave it be’? If so, you probably already know a bit about identifying poison oak!
Poison oak can be found along many hikes throughout the west coast, and touching the plant can lead to severe blistering and rashes. As such, it’s important to know how to identify (and avoid) poison oak! The plant can grow as a shrub or ground vine, and is distinguished by its clusters of three leaves with irregular, lobed edges. The leaves can be red or green, depending on the season and their age. You can read more about this plant on the OSU Extension website.
Cherry blossoms at Clark College
Looking for cherry blossoms in Vancouver, Washington? Clark College is a great place to visit to take in the blooms in April. In 1990, 100 Shirofugen cherry trees were gifted to Vancouver from Japan and planted on Clark College’s main campus. Today, Joyo, Japan has a unique tie to the area as Vancouver’s celebrated sister city.
Indulge in the seasonal cherry blossom-themed menu at Grays
Looking for more flower-themed activities for spring? Throughout April Grays Restaurant and Bar in downtown Vancouver offers a special cherry-forward cocktail and appetizer menu in celebration of cherry blossom season. The food and drinks are delicious, and it was fun getting to celebrate Vancouver’s flower season in a novel way!
Grays seasonal cherry blossom menu for 2025 includes the ‘Joyo Cocktail,’ featuring gin, Luxardo Maraschino Liquor, fresh lime juice, and rose water. It’s a flavorful gin-forward cocktail that hits all the right cherry notes! For a featured appetizer, they’re offering ‘Joyo Charred Pork Belly,’ which features sticky tart cherry glaze, furikake crusted rice coins, miso-ginger kewpie, and micro mizuna. The chef was kind enough to sub tofu for the pork belly for Gwyn as a vegetarian option, and it was equally delicious!
Catherine Creek hike in the Columbia River Gorge
Located in the Columbia River Gorge about an hour and 20 minutes from Vancouver, Catherine Creek has beautiful displays of arrowleaf balsamroot and lupine! There are a multitude of hiking options here, but a popular choice for spring wildflowers is the Catherine Creek Loop Trail, which is two miles long.
You can find more information about this trail here and here. Beware of poison oak!
Shop our hiking gear!
Not sure what gear you need to pack for your next epic hike? Check out our full 2025 hiking gear guide, which includes the best hiking gear for summer, winter, and year-round hiking.
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Spring flowers abound at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in downtown Vancouver, Washington! Cherry blossoms can be found all around the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, and there are several Sakura cherry trees on Ft. Vancouver Lane between 5th Ave and Evergreen Blvd. You can also find abundant camellias, dogwood, and rhododendron. This is a lovely spot to walk around on a warm spring afternoon!
Camas Lily Fields
Located about 25 minutes from downtown Vancouver, the Camas Lily Fields are located in a 312-acre park that includes a forest and Lacamas Lake. Here you will find abundant fields of camas lilies, which are vibrant purple flowers that typically bloom from mid April until June. In spring this is also a great place for bird watching and spotting trillium. We did the 1 mile Round Lake and Lily Fields Loop.
When we visited in mid-April 2025 the lilies were just starting to bloom for the season. In the above photo you can see the fields where the purple flowers burst into bloom. Please be mindful of staying on trail so these delicate blooms can continue to thrive.
Columbia Hills Vista Loop hike in the Columbia River Gorge
Last but not least, the Columbia Hills Vista Loop is another great wildflower hike to gave on your radar. This hike is located about an hour and a half from Vancouver in Columbia Hills State Park, this hike offers great views of the Columbia River and stunning fields full of wildflowers. I recommend the 4 mile Crawford Oaks loop.
Welcome to our blog! We’re Gwyn and Ami, the couple behind the Instagram @gwynandami. We’re USA travel experts, and we’ve road tripped all over the west exploring the best destinations, hikes, and national parks. We put together epic travel itineraries to make planning your next adventure easier! You can learn more about us here.
Looking for more? Click here to find additional flower spots in Vancouver. You can also find additional Washington state travel tips, hidden gems, and weekend itineraries here.
