Wildflower season is juuuuust starting to hit its stride here in Southern California. Whether it’s a field blanketed with California poppies, or yellow blooms carpeting a hillside, or a desert lily snaking its way alongside a sandy hiking trail, we’re here for it.
Are you?
Blink, and wildflower season will be over in L.A., all those breathtaking flowers husking up, a life cycle in motion.
So LAist has put together this guide to the best places to view wildflowers this spring, and what you need to do when you get there. (Yes, there is an etiquette to wildflower hunting, mainly: Do not pick flowers, do not walk on flowers, do not lie down in a field of flowers for selfies. Just don’t.)
This wildflower season is potentially shaping to be up to be distinctive for plenty of beautiful blooms, combined with a relative lack of wildflower diversity, said ecologist Sarah Kimball, an associate professor in residence and director at the Center for Environmental Biology at University of California, Irvine. That's because we're coming off two wet winters in a row, which is unusual, she said, and those conditions can favor heartier flowers and plants elbowing out some of the more delicate species.
As for whether it’s going to be a super bloom year, get ready to hear lots of debate and discussion on that front. "'Super bloom' is not a scientific term," said Kimball said with a laugh. "But there will be a lot of flowers, so I guess you can say that's super."
First up, consider your schedule. Some of the best wildflower viewing in Southern California most likely involves a drive, so you need to start planning now to get out there. (There are only so many weekend days, after all.) We have some options for hunting wildflowers closer to L.A. as well.
The simplest path to wildflowers is a trip to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve when the poppies hit full bloom. There will be crowds and traffic on the weekend, so go on a weekday if possible. But you are guaranteed a look at the California state flower. There is a live cam to help you time your tripfor the best blooms. The park is located about 90 minutes from DTLA. Open daily from sunrise to sunset. There is a $10 parking fee, no dogs allowed.
If you have more time to invest, consider stalking wildflower reports. DesertUSA, the Anza Borrego Foundation and many others all offer online updates so you can best plan your trip, or just enjoy from your digital devices. On DesertUSA, there’s also a fever graph showing you the “wildflower status” and visitor reports, all designed to help you time your trip for the best wildflower viewing. Here are links to the Joshua Tree National Park Wildflower Watch, the Death Valley Wildflower Watch, the Theodore Payne Foundation’s weekly wildflower report, and the California State Parks Flower Bloom Updates.
The Theodore Payne Foundation, dedicated to raising awareness about native plants, has a wildflower hotline, updated each Friday about the best locations for viewing spring wildflowers in Southern and Central California: (818) 768-1802, Ext 7. (Bonus: You might recognize the voice. That’s Emmy Award-winning actor Joe Spano, of NCIS, Hill Street Blues fame.) Anza Borrego also has a Wildflower Hotline: (760) 767-4684.
Find a park you’re most likely to visit, and then start stalking it. Chino Hills State Park is active on social media, offering the latest wildflower updates on the park. The Anza Borrego Foundation has a newsletter to keep you posted on blooms in the desert state park. There’s also a Desert Wildflowers & Wildlife Facebook group to join.
One of the best ways to get out and see wildflowers is to take a hike. One Orange County favorite is Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, parking is $3. LAist's Megan Botel put together this guide to great places in and around L.A. to hike and look for wildflowers, including Zuma Canyon Trail and the Escondido Falls Trail, both off the coastline.
Ok, so you made it to the land of wildflowers. Let's tread lightly, as these are is fragile natural habitats. Here are some tips for making the most of your adventure.
Can’t believe this one needs to be said, but it does: Do not pick the wildflowers. It’s tempting, we admit. But, for one thing, poppies are so delicate they wilt almost immediately after plucking. For another, those flowers hold the seeds that we need for the next year’s wildflowers. Plus, bees rely on these plants for pollinating. Just don’t pick the wildflowers! If a trip to see the wildflowers makes you want more, the Theodore Payne Foundation has everything you could possibly want to create your own superbloom.
As in, the actual trails. Not the trails some knuckleheads made trampling through the wildflowers. (People doing just that congributed to Lake Elsinore shutting down access to its wildflower areas back in 2019.) Let’s all agree to preserve the natural beauty around us and just stick to the trails, even if you don’t see a sign telling you so. And, please, no lying in the fields for selfies.
This is not just a scare tactic to keep you on the trails. “Rattlers are common in wildflower fields throughout the valley, and people running into fields for a picture among the poppies encounter rattlesnakes every year,” according to the Antelope Valley reserve website, which adds: “Numerous burrows around the trails may shelter mice, gophers, kangaroo rats, beetles, scorpions, or others.”
Enter parks and protected areas only through designated gates and roads. Each year there are reports of people going offroad in bid to get the best vantage point on the wildflowers, to avoid paying for parking, to jump the line of traffic, and so on. Don’t be that person. Sure, the lines might feel like Disneyland when it gets busy, but just look out the window and enjoy it all. Enter the parks and protected areas only through the entrance gate and designated areas.
Nearly every park we mentioned here urges you to share your photos and flower finds to help out the next wildflower hunter. The Anza Borrego Foundation also urges you to upload your wildflower photos to their map to help out the next wildflower hunter. DesertUSA asks that you submit photos to their site as well, including the date, location, and photo credit info. The iNaturalist.org app is a must have for many who like to share their finds.
Traveling to see wildflowers can be a bit of a haul. Planning ahead can make it more of an adventure, and something to remember. Plus, you want to avoid any pitfalls. Here's how:
SoCal weather can be unpredictable. Temps can soar unexpectedly. Winds can pick up. So check the local weather for your destination, and plan accordingly. For example: Expect highs between 80-86 and lows in the 50s in Anza-Borrego at this time of year.
Wildflower hunting takes us out into the wilderness. Possibly, far from fuel. So fill up before you go and top off the tank along the way. (See next item for why that is an especially good idea.)
While you’re at the gas station, make a pit stop for everyone in the car. You have no idea where your next rest stop will be — or whether it will be a nasty portable toilet.
The Antelope Valley Reserve website warns that driving on the main route, Lancaster Road, can get hairy: “Please be patient and watch for the unexpected!” But the same goes for every other park, too. Watch for drivers slamming on the brakes to take a photo, car doors swinging open, people dashing across the road to see the wildflowers, and so on.
Many parks have picnic areas, so check before you go. Lunching while gazing out at the wildflowers would be a meal to remember. But remember, to clean up after yourself and "leave no trace." Want to level up? If you see some litter, pick it up. The land will thank you.
Many parks have trails so you can get away from it all (including other people), so wear comfortable shoes so you can explore a bit. The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve has eight miles of rolling trails, and a paved section for wheelchair access.
Bring water, and drink it. Make sure others in your party are doing the same. “The reserve is a cleverly-disguised desert and you don't feel how rapidly you lose water into the dry air. As the weather gets warmer, dehydration can suck the energy out of you quickly,” according to the parks websites.
Many parks are free. But parking might not be. Parking at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is $10 a vehicle, and the website notes that exact change is appreciated. Other parks may offer kiosks for credit card payments, but they can break down. (Ask us how we know.)
Many parks will not allow dogs. And many parks do not offer much shade. So even if you manage to sneak your pet past a park ranger, you shouldn’t leave it in a hot car. Leave dogs at home.
Did we miss a tip? A park? Or a great wildflower resource? Let us know and we may include it.
