American Basin in southern Colorado's San Juan Mountains
© Blaine Harrington III/Alam
High alpine color in Colorado
Songstress Dolly Parton once sang 'wildflowers don't care where they grow,' but we gotta believe the wildflowers growing in Colorado's American Basin, shown here, are pretty delighted with their surroundings. American Basin is in the San Juan Mountains in the southern part of the state, about a five-hour drive from Denver. Visitors here will find rocky cliffs, streams, unique rock formations, and some spectacular wildflowers. July and August are the best months to see the blooms—it's the time of year when you'll reliably spot the Rocky Mountain columbine (Colorado's state flower), elephant's head, Parry's primrose, and marsh marigold. Bring us back a bouquet, all right?
Related Images
A rider hunts with an eagle in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia
Guaita Tower in San Marino
Glastonbury Tor and St. Michael's Tower in England for the start of the Glastonbury Festival
Chimney Rock State Park in North Carolina
Rio Grande and Sierra del Carmen range in Big Bend National Park, Texas
Rajgad Fort near Pune, India
The Skellig Islands, Skellig Michael and Little Skellig, in Ireland
Hope Valley, Peak District, England
Bing Today Images
Rice fields at Sapa, Lào Cai, Vietnam
Jul 09, 2026
Moselle River loop, Kröv, Germany
Jul 09, 2023
Jaguar in the Pantanal wetlands, Brazil
Jul 09, 2019
The Osterseen in Upper Bavaria, Germany
Jul 09, 2016
