#sickletop lousewort

[mountrainiernps]

You don’t have to go for a hike to enjoy the park’s wildflowers. Many, like this sickletop lousewort (Pedicularis racemosa), bloom right along the edge of the road. In addition to louseworts, look for pearly everlasting, Cascade asters, and more currently blooming along roadways. Take your time driving through the park to enjoy wildflowers as well as the mountain views. Ready for a photo? Park in a designated spot or pullout. Remember to keep all four tires on the road and not on the wildflowers! What wildflowers are you finding in the park?

For updates on what’s blooming where visit https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflower

Unfamiliar with Mount Rainier’s wildflower species? Check out the wildflower guide at https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflowerGuide

NPS Photo of sickletop lousewort blooming along the Paradise Valley Road, 8/11/25.

[mountrainiernps]

NPS Photo of elephant's head lousewort, July 2025.

“Elephant’s head”, “bird’s beak”, “coiled beak” and “sickletop” all describe the flower appearance as well as the species name of various louseworts. Elephant’s head flowers have a distinctive top petal that curves down and out like the trunk of an elephant while the side petals look like elephant ears. Likewise, bird’s beak louseworts have flowers with bent tube-shaped petals like- you guessed it! - a bird’s beak.

What other interesting wildflowers have you found in the park?

NPS photos of bird's beak (left) and sickletop (right) louseworts, July 2025.

Please stay on trails! There are plenty of opportunities for that perfect mountain + flower shot from the trails without needing to trample delicate wildflowers.

NPS Photo of coiled beak lousewort, July 2025.

For updates on what’s blooming where visit https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflower

Unfamiliar with Mount Rainier’s wildflower species? Check out the wildflower guide at https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflowerGuide