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The Best Flowers in Mineral King

It must be Friday because the California artist is talking about Mineral King again.

You can count on seeing the best variety of flowers in Mineral King in 2 places: along the Nature Trail and at the Farewell Gap/ Franklin Lake junction. The first week of July is when they are usually the most profuse. It is about 4 miles to the junction from the bridge at the end of the road, aka “The Mineral King Bridge”.

Crystal Creek, Mineral King
Crossing Crystal Creek is easy, thanks to a log-jam type bridge. It is one mile up the trail from the beginning of the hike.
along the Franklin/Farewell Gap trail, Mineral King
Trail Guy shows the way at this intersection. The sign also helps, but if you would rather go to Soda Springs, ignore the sign.
blazing star wildflower
There are 2 places I know to always find Blazing Star in Mineral King – the trail to Soda Springs and on the way to Franklin Lakes or Farewell Gap.
Franklin Lake/Farewell Gap junction
The sign says it is 4 miles back to Mineral King at the Franklin Lake/Farewell Gap junction, but I am always a little surprised that it is so far. This is because I love this hike!
Wildflowers of Mineral King
The flowers are this good in a not-so-good flower year at the junction. Last year was better. No, I’m not whining on the yacht.
larkspur
This is off the trail, because I follow Trail Guy lots of places besides trails. He led me to the best larkspur I’ve ever seen – the boldest color, the tallest, the thickest blossoms on the stems, the biggest clumps I’ve EVER seen in Mineral King, and all this in a not-so-great flower year.
Leopard lilies
Leopard lilies are Trail Guy’s favorites. We often smell them before we see them. Most people call them “tiger lilies” but I associate tigers with stripes and these are spotted like leopards. Or giraffes. They are tall like giraffes, so perhaps it is time to rename them.
Franklin Creek
I love to put my feet in Franklin Creek on the way home. It makes them feel good for about 25 steps after putting my boots back on.

2 Comments

  1. John, I’m so glad someone else has seen the larkspur in person because the photos look so wimpy by contrast!

    I wasn’t too terribly specific on the Blazing Star locations, was I?? When Retired Road Guy showed me the ones along the road, I doubted whether they were the real thing or not, because they were paler and smaller.

    And thanks for the the giraffe lily’s true name – you are so good at that!

  2. Yes, Jana! The larkspur is/are the best ever!

    Plus you’ve revealed the two (secret) locations of GIANT Blazing Star, as opposed to “ordinary” Blazing Star down below on the MK road).

    And I’ve researched this: The proper common term is “Sierra lilies” (Lillium kellyanum), although not nearly as exciting as leopards and tigers and bears!

    I enjoy your blog.

    John

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