Calypso bulbosa   "Fairy slipper orchid"   "Calypso orchid"   "Venus's slipper"

The best place to see Calypso bulbosa is on the Lost Lake Trail near Roosevelt where there are huge colonies of them. But you can also find them on the Elephantback Trail in the Lake area, and once I found them at Trout Lake.

  • _CFM1095
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  • Calypso bulbosa, Fairly slipper, Lost Lake trail, Yellowstone
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  • CFM
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  • 6/11/14 9:55:05 AM MDT
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  • 4000 × 6016 (24.1 MP)
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  • 29.81 MB
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  • YNP > 14_0611
  • _CFM1115 |
  • Calypso bulbosa, Fairly slipper, Lost Lake trail, Yellowstone
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  • 6/11/14 10:15:13 AM MDT
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  • YNP > 14_0611
  • CFM_2686
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  • Calypso bulbosa, Calypso Orchid, Trout Lake, Yellowstone
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  • 6/15/13 2:58:02 PM MDT
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  • YNP > 13_0615 (1)
  • _CFM1616
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  • Calypso bulbosa, Lost Lake hike, Roosevelt, wilting
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  • 6/26/14 10:32:48 AM MDT
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  • 4000 × 6016 (24.1 MP)
    • |
  • 29.60 MB
    • |
  • YNP > 14_0626

Calypso bulbosa. The most showy of Yellowstone's orchids. There are 3 varieties seen in the park: white lip, red lip, and red spotted lip. Here are photos of the white-lipped and red-lipped varieties. Near Bozeman, Montana, I have seen a very pale variant, though not completely albino. Near Bozeman I have also found an apparent hybrid of the western variety with Calypso bulbosa var. americana.

Locations: Lost Lake trail from behind Roosevelt Lodge. Large colonies on the uphill side of the trail in mid-June below the last switchback en route to the lake.   Trout Lake trail (between Soda Butte and Pebble Creek campground in Lamar Valley), on the lefthand side of the lake in deep shade.   Elephantback trail, both the right and left sides not far past the trailhead. 

Blooming: mid-June. Found early to mid-June at all 3 locations.  Wilting by late June but still there. 

Sniff test: Ones with the white lip have a nice perfume in the morning, other times I do not detect any fragrance. Fragrance may depend on time of day.