5 Wildflower Hikes in the Mount Grace Region

From hillside meadows to forested trails, the Mount Grace region offers a rich mosaic of habitats where wildflowers burst into bloom each spring and early summer.

Whether you’re drawn to the delicate pink petals of lady’s slippers or the vibrant clusters of columbine, the colorful show that nature puts on every spring is coming to a trail near you. But much like our vibrant fall foliage, spring ephemerals are only in theaters for a few weeks each year. They’re here one week and gone the next.

To help you get the most out of your springtime strolls, we’ve put together five hikes in our region that not only lead you to beautiful views and peaceful forests, but they also offer some of the best opportunities to witness the seasonal beauty of native wildflowers across conserved lands in the region. Apart from Royalston Falls, Mount Grace has helped protect every property on this list.

1.    Mount Watatic – Ashburnham

One of the most beloved peaks in northern Massachusetts, Mount Watatic is not only a local hiking favorite but also a spectacular spot for wildflower viewing in late spring and early summer. The 3-mile loop trail to Nutting Hill and the summit of Watatic via the Wapack Trail is short but steep, winding through hardwood forests that burst with trillium, wild violets, and lady’s slippers in bloom.

As you ascend, the open summit offers sweeping views stretching into southern New Hampshire and even glimpses of Mount Monadnock. Mount Grace helped permanently protect Watatic in 2002, ensuring that its diverse plant life and natural beauty remain intact for generations.

• Wildflowers to spot: Columbine, Canada mayflower, starflower, lady’s slippers
• Best time for viewing blooms: Mid-May to early July
• Trail information
• Please Note: Parking is only permitted in the designated parking area.

2.    Arthur Iversen Conservation Area – Warwick

The Arthur Iversen Conservation Area in Warwick is a 600-acre paradise for anyone who enjoys our region’s forests, especially when brooks and wetlands and waterfalls are included. In the early springtime, Washbowl Falls is in full force and wildflowers can be found throughout the surrounding area.

Along the 2.5-mile Washbowl loop trail, you can find azure bluets, wild geranium, and mountain laurel.

• Wildflowers to spot: Azure bluets, painted trillium, red trillium, wild geranium, mountain laurel, dwarf ginseng, violets
• Best time for viewing blooms: May through early June
• Trail information

3.    Skyfields Arboretum & Willis Woods Loop Trail – Athol

The 40 acres of rolling meadows and mixed deciduous forest surrounding our headquarters are a joy to explore in every season—but in spring, Skyfields Arboretum bursts into vibrant color. You can easily combine a stroll around Skyfields with the Willis Woods Loop trail – circumnavigating both will take about an hour. But why rush? The path is lined with springtime ephemerals such as violets, blue-eyed grass (a lily) and starflower.

Wander a bit off trail, and you’ll discover columbine and jack-in-the-pulpit hidden in the rich, deciduous woods that surround Skyfield’s open meadows.

• Wildflowers to spot: Violets, starflower, sessile bellwort, jack-in-the-pulpit, blue-eyed grass
• Best time for viewing blooms: May-June for springtime flowers, July for colorful milkweed and black-eyed Susan blooms
• Trail information
• Please be aware: This property tends to have a high number of ticks in the spring and early summer.

4.    Mount Jefferson – Hubbardston

You could drive for three hours to reach a crowded trailhead in the White Mountains to hike New Hampshire’s third tallest peak, Mount Jefferson. But why not stay local and explore the Mount Jefferson that’s right in our backyard?

At 1,213 feet, Mount Jefferson is the highest point in the town of Hubbardston. The trails within Mount Jefferson Conservation Area are filled with mixed wildlife habitat, historical landmarks and rolling terrain. This 5-mile hike makes a loop of the reservation’s southern trails, where you’ll find a variety of wildflowers ranging from bloodroot to trillium.

The variety of habitats on display here – everything from open fields and meadows to forest and wetlands – make this area quite unique. As one AllTrails user put it, “It was almost like I hiked through four different microenvironments across the different trails.”

• Wildflowers to spot: Bloodroot, trillium, pink lady slippers, bunchberry dogwood
• Best time for viewing blooms: May-June
• Trail information

5.    Royalston Falls – Royalston

Tucked in the remote woods of Royalston, this 45-foot waterfall isn’t just a visual spectacle — it’s also one of the region’s hidden gems for spring wildflowers. Along the trail, hikers are treated to carpets of trillium and trout lilies blooming beneath towering hemlocks and hardwoods. The cooler microclimate around the gorge supports a rich diversity of plant life, making it a must-visit for wildflower enthusiasts.

• Wildflowers to spot: Trillium, trout lilies, and spring beauty
• Best time for viewing blooms: Late May
• Trail information

There’s no shortage of forests and parks to explore across our region. If you’re interested in volunteering to help us maintain our beloved trails, please visit our volunteer page to sign up! If you’d like to join us for an upcoming hike or nature walk, check out our events page.