Why All This Rain in the Rockies is Actually a Good Thing

If you’ve been in the Bow Valley lately, you’ve probably noticed it feels like it’s been raining for a month straight. Around here, we sometimes joke about “Monsoon June,” and this year it really lives up to the name - albeit about a month too late. Although it hasn’t been endless downpours so much as rain on and off, it's just the kind of weather that keeps you guessing "Should I bring my waterproof jacket or not" (and the answer is almost always yes!) I'm fond of saying, if you don’t like the weather here, just wait a few minutes. Still, between the drizzle, the sudden showers, and the grey skies, it’s easy to feel like summer plans are getting washed out. But the truth is, all this rain is exactly what the Rockies need.

Lush and green views from Wind Ridge

The Mountains Are Thirsty Too

The forests, meadows, and alpine slopes out here drink it up just as much as we do. After a string of dry summers and early wildfire seasons, these long soaking rains are a reset button. They recharge groundwater, keep creeks running strong into August, and feed the wetlands that so much wildlife depends on. Rivers stay healthier for fish, and alpine plants have the fuel they need to thrive through the season.

Berries, Bears, and Balance

If you’ve ever stumbled across a wild blueberry patch or a cluster of buffaloberries on a hike, you know how magical it feels and how fast they disappear. To us it’s a fun snack. To bears, it’s survival. A wet spring and summer mean better berry crops, bigger harvests, and longer-lasting patches. That helps grizzlies and black bears bulk up for winter, and it also means they’re less likely to wander into towns searching for food. In a way, every rainy day now is insurance for a healthier, safer late summer.

Green, Lush, and Full of Surprises

All this rain has turned the Rockies into a different kind of paradise. Hillsides and valleys are greener than we’ve seen in years, with meadows bursting to life and forests thick with new growth. It feels like every shade of green is on display. The damp weather also brings out another bonus: mushrooms. From bright orange fungi clinging to tree stumps to clusters of chanterelles and other wild varieties along the forest floor, the abundance this year is hard to miss. It adds a whole new layer of discovery on the trail, a reminder that the mountains are full of life in ways that go far beyond the postcard views.

Holding Back the Smoke

Nobody misses wildfire smoke. Heavy rains keep humidity up, dampen forest fuel, and delay the onset of peak fire season. That translates into clearer skies, better air quality, and less risk of fast-moving fires disrupting travel or threatening communities. It’s hard to complain about wet boots when the trade-off is a safer, healthier landscape.

A Different Kind of Beauty

Rainy days change the Rockies in ways that sunshine can’t. Low clouds drape across the peaks like curtains, waterfalls roar louder with fresh runoff, and the greens of the forests look richer and deeper against the grey sky. Moraine Lake and Lake Louise take on a whole new character. Instead of turquoise sparkle, they offer moody, glassy reflections after a storm. We often find these days bring the best photographs: softer light, fewer crowds, and a sense of solitude you just don’t get under bluebird skies. There is a quiet magic in those moments that makes you feel like you’ve seen the Rockies in a way most visitors never do.

A Little Perspective

Sure, the rain might put a damper on your hiking plans or keep you off the water for a day, but it’s also the reason this place stays as wild and alive as it does. The rivers you paddle, the meadows you walk through, the wildlife you hope to see all benefit from this cycle.

So instead of cursing the drizzle, take it as part of the Rockies’ rhythm. Monsoon June always gives way to clear skies, and when the sun breaks through, the mountains feel fresher, greener, and a little more alive thanks to every drop that fell.