Best Hikes to see Spring Ephemeral Flowers

A jack-in-the-pulpit pops up along a trail in Wissahickon Valley Park.

I love hiking in early to mid-spring, when those fleeting, magical spring ephemeral flowers — like trillium, bloodroot, and Virginia bluebells — pop up to gobble the sun before the forest canopy fully leafs out.  

One of the best places to start your ephemeral wildflower hunt is Wissahickon Valley Park, featured multiple times in 60 Hikes. With more than 50 miles of trails, its shaded creekside paths create ideal conditions for early spring blooms. Along Forbidden Drive and the Orange Trail, hikers can spot carpets of ephemeral flowers tucked among rocky slopes and wooded ravines.

Off-the-beaten path places in Philadelphia like Awbury Arboretum and the Schuylkill Nature Center offer quiet trails with spring ephemerals like mayapple and Virginia bluebells.

Churchville Nature Center in Bucks County abounds with spring ephemeral flowers like jack-in-the-pulpit, trillium, and many more.

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a casual walker, these trails — all highlighted in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Philadelphia — offer a perfect way to experience the brief but beautiful wildflower season. Check out the very-cool, very-detailed tables in the front of the book that lay out all the best spots for petal peeping spring flowers.