Natural science education, summer camps, hiking, snowshoe tours and things to do in the Eagle River Valley and Vail, Colorado.

Fresh Off the Trail: Mariposa Lily Sighting

Written by Walking Mountains Science Center | Jul 13, 2017 6:43:13 PM

There are many varieties of mariposa lily found in the Rocky Mountains but all are members of the Calochortus genus. In Greek, Kalos means beautiful and Chortos, means grass and thus, the mariposa lily is named for its gorgeous bloom and thin, grass like leaves and stem. Some people also refer to mariposa lilies as sego lilies, whereas “sego” is a Shoshonean word for edible bulb. The bulbs are generally sweet and are credited with keeping many settlers alive as other, introduced crops failed.

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2017 Full Day Hikes
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays (6/6 – 9/1)
Tuesdays & Fridays (9/5 – 10/31)

2017 Family Hikes (6/8-10/5)
Summer Hikes: Thursdays | 9:00am – 1:00pm (6/8-8/31)
Fall Color Hikes: Wednesday & Thursdays | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (9/6-10/5)