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Mar 25, 2024 · If you’re still wondering where to see wildflowers in California, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is the answer. The “crown jewel” of California’s 280 state parks is not only home to the best scuba diving destinations in the Golden State , but it’s also where you’ll find the most breathtaking displays of brilliant wildflowers.
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The Most Beautiful Places to See California Wildflowers....
- The 5 Best Bay Area Hikes
Best Hikes In The Bay Area 1. Mount Tamalpais via Matt Davis...
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- California Desert Wildflower Blooms
- Central Coast Wildflower Blooms
- Northern California Wildflower Blooms
Death Valley National Park
1. Peak season: February to July Without a doubt, the holy grail of California wildflower events is considered to be the Mojave Desert super bloom, which famously occurs in Death Valleyand usually happens only every 10 to 15 years (the last two were in 2016 and 2005). When things go perfectly, desert wildflowers at lower elevations—including the valley floor at Death Valley—will begin to appear in mid-February and last until mid-April. At higher elevations, above 5,000 feet, visitors will typ...
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
1. Peak season:Mid-February to mid-May The largest state park in California (600,000 acres), located about 85 miles northeast of San Diego in the Colorado Desert, comes alive during wildflower season with desert marigold, desert lily, sand verbena, desert sunflower, apricot mallow, five-spot, Orcutt’s woody aster, and blooming cacti. It’s too soon to tell if there will be a super bloom event this year; check the park’s wildflower hotlinefor regular updates.
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
1. Peak season:Mid-March to late April/May At this nearly 1,800-acre reserve75 miles north of Los Angeles, the rolling hills covered in poppies seem to go on forever. Since there was a showstopping super bloom event in 2023, there likely won’t be one this year. However, Antelope Valley is still the most convenient place to see wildflowers in the Los Angeles area, and the blossoms will surely still be a spectacular sight. Poppies are the stars here, but flowers like desert pincushion, blue dic...
Channel Islands National Park
1. Peak season: Mid-February to mid-May The five islands that make up Channel Islands National Park, 25 miles off the Santa Barbara coastline, enjoy a breadth of wildflower offerings. On Anacapa, Santa Barbara, and San Miguel Islands, yellow coreopsis begin blooming in January, with flowers usually lasting through March. The rare, butter-yellow, soft-leaved Indian paintbrush is endemic to the Channel Islands but is typically only found on Santa Rosa Island these days. San Miguel is also home...
Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area
1. Peak season:Mid-March to mid-May In late March, Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area (about 50 miles northwest of Santa Barbara) and nearby Grass Mountainbegin bursting with wild hyacinth, shooting stars, buttercups, milkmaids, Johnny jump-ups, chocolate lilies, scarlet Indian paintbrush, goldfields, purple fiesta flowers, popcorn flowers, and poppies.
Pinnacles National Park
1. Peak season:Mid-March to late April/May This underrated national park, about an hour’s drive southeast of Monterey, typically starts seeing wildflowers in March and reaches its peak in May, when more than three-quarters of the park’s flowers are in bloom. Depending on rainfall and temperature, the first-comers include milkmaids, shooting stars, and Indian warriors, followed by California poppies, bush poppies, fiesta flowers, monkey flowers, baby blue eyes, and bush lupine, and finally the...
Mount Diablo State Park
1. Peak season: Mid-March to late April/May The state parksurrounding this 3,849-foot peak about 40 miles east of San Francisco usually begins blooming with flowers in early March. Here, visitors can see blue skullcaps, Fendler’s meadow-rues, saniculas, Johnny jump-ups, bush lupines, monkey flowers, globe lilies, California poppies, bird’s eyes, and wallflowers.
North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve
North Table Mountain Ecological Reserveencompasses a wide-open, 3,200-acre mesa near Oroville. It’s a favorite destination for wildflower lovers and usually hits its peak around late March to mid-May, when visitors can wander among lupine, foothill triteleia, Sierra primroses, blue dicks, purple owl’s clover, and, of course, poppies.
Lake Tahoe
1. Peak season:Late April to June/July Once the snow melts on the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe, the valleys and slopes come alive with a flush of colors, from white phlox and Mariposa lily to yellow plantain buttercup, blue lupine, bright-red snow plant, orange paintbrush, and lacy pussypaws.
Here are a few more places where you have a chance to see wildflowers in California if you don’t live close to any of the places in the main list: Tule Elk State Natural Reserve. Death Valley NP. Point Reyes National Seashore. Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area. Picacho State Recreation Area.
- Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore. Trailhead Coordinates: 33.732593, -117.393808, map. Flower Type: California Poppy and Others. Season: Feb to April. Hours: Sunrise to Sunset.
- Carrizo Plain National Monument. 17495 Soda Lake Rd, Santa Margarita, 93453, map. Flower Type: Goldfields, California Poppy, etc but differs year-to-year based on conditions.
- The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, 92008, map. What: Tecolote Giant Ranunculus (also is known as a Persian Buttercup or Ranunculus Asiatic)
- Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. 15101 Lancaster Rd, Lancaster, 93536, map. What: Various Poppies (Primarily California Poppy) Season: Late February to May, Check site for Bloom Status.
- Betsy Malloy
- Anza-Borrego Desert (January – March) Address. 200 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, CA 92004, USA. Phone +1 760-767-4205.
- Death Valley (February – April) Address. Airport Rd, Furnace Creek, CA 92328, USA. Phone +1 760-786-3200. You've maybe seen news stories about out-of-this-world Death Valley super blooms, but be sure to check the date on those headlines before driving out there.
- North Table Mountain (February – April) Address. 2488 Cherokee Rd, Oroville, CA 95965, USA. Phone +1 916-358-2869. In the northern half of the state, North Table Mountain is an ecological reserve that was formed millions of years ago from ancient lava flows.
- Valley of the Oaks (March – April) Address. 1 Mission Creek Rd, Fort Hunter Liggett, CA 93928, USA. Phone +1 831-385-4478.
Mar 30, 2024 · San Luis Obispo is one of the closest major cities here and there’s plenty to see and do after you’re done exploring the wildflowers. March 11, 2024: Reports of lots of colorful spring blooms! Just 85 miles outside of San Diego, this sprawling state park is home to one of the best spring blooms in California. Being that it’s a desert just ...
Mar 13, 2024 · “In recent years, California has been lucky to see spectacular wildflower blooms in many public lands, including in state parks,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “We welcome all Californians and visitors from around the world to experience this natural phenomenon and ask all to keep the ‘Beauty in the Bloom’ by staying on designated trails and taking only photos, not ...
