Where To See California’s Super Blooms
By: Sona P.
Ever thought to stop and smell the flowers? California’s super blooms are the ideal colorful displays to enjoy the wonders of nature. Observe mountain ranges transforming into surreal orange canvases—floral brushstrokes of yellow, green, and purple paint the landscapes and illuminate the panoramas. You’ll discover that the hot orange of the poppies in contrast to the browns of desert bushes yields a blissful sight to see. Pair that with the dramatic blue of the clear skies above and you got yourself a pretty paradise.
Wondering where to experience the most eye-catching wildflower blooms in California? Feast your eyes on these vibrant areas in the Golden State.
MURRIETA
What could be more captivating than the palm-dotted avenues and brilliant sunshine of Murrietta? Imagine adding to that beauty with a vivid explosion of colors thanks to the seasonal wildflower bloom.
Come spring, Murrietta transforms into a vibrant canvas painted by Mother Nature herself. The blend of seasonal rains, gentle breezes, and the area's natural flora orchestrates a spectacular display. From the glow of evening primroses to the vibrancy of verbenas, poppies, desert lilies, and a multitude of other colorful blooms, you're invited to witness the majesty of the natural world.
For those wishing to experience this natural spectacle at its peak, plan your visit to Murrietta around late March, though April and May also offer splendid views. This period promises the freshest and most vivid floral displays, with blooms basking in the springtime sunshine.
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
Wildflowers in Joshua Tree are one of the park’s most beautiful sights. During each spring—given the right conditions—this national park explodes in a burst of color as the super bloom season in California begins. Reds, yellows, purples, and blues splash across the majestic Joshua Tree desert landscape, adding a magical feel to the park. What most people don’t expect to find in the desert park is the orange California poppy.
Delicate and ephemeral, California poppy super blooms don’t last very long here. These stunning wildflowers only bloom for a few weeks before wilting away in the summer heat. Given the harsh nature of the desert, the blooms appear only when conditions are favorable for their survival. After rainy winters, wildflowers at the state park flourish for a few weeks in spring—just long enough to produce seeds for the next generation. Seeds then bloom into breathtaking hedgehog cactus, sand verbena, purple mat, ocotillo, and sand blazing star.
Northern California Wildflower Blooms
CALERO COUNTY PARK
Calero stands out as Santa Clara County's most varied park and recreational haven, offering an unforgettable display of super blooms in Northern California. This beloved county park draws visitors with its extensive network of 18.9 miles of trails through its more secluded areas. A visit in late March opens up a breathtaking display of colors with California gilia, narrowleaf flaxflower, and smooth cat’s ear adorning the trails and pathways of Calero County Park. Wander over the grass-covered hills and enjoy the picturesque views of vibrant wildflowers along the Javelina Loop Trail within the park.
BRIONES REGIONAL PARK
The San Francisco Bay Area is a treasure trove of biodiversity, home to over 2,000 species of wildflowers. Springtime in Briones Regional Park offers a visual feast with a palette of reds, yellows, and purples painting the landscape. Known for its premier hiking trails in the East Bay, the park presents a vivid display of the area's most colorful wildflowers.
Spring visitors will be delighted by a tapestry of flora including Himalayan blackberry, California saxifrage, brass buttons, yellow Jonny-tuck, red-stem filaree, baby blue-eyes, and arroyo lupine. For enthusiasts seeking the quintessential wildflower viewing spot, Briones Regional Park is unmatched.
Super Blooms In The Bay Area
SUNOL REGIONAL WILDERNESS
The expansive 6,580-acre Sunol Regional Wilderness is a marvel for those seeking the vibrant super blooms of the Bay Area. Wander through its numerous trails for hours and be greeted by a diverse array of wildflower species. With over 30 pathways meandering through fields adorned with seaside heliotrope, California buckeye, Western Virgin’s bower, and cow parsnip, the park is a botanist's dream. For those drawn to the warmer hues, the park is dotted with yellow and red blooms such as Lindley’s blazing star, common fiddleneck, rattlesnake weed, California lotus, and mountain garland.
Yet, it’s the stunning array of blue and purple wildflowers that often steals the show in Sunol Regional Wilderness. The sight of royal larkspurs, dove lupines, Persian speedwells, and blue fiesta flowers set against the natural backdrop is truly breathtaking, showcasing a spectacular palette of colors that nature has to offer.
MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK
Mount Diablo State Park is a photographer's paradise in February, with more than 400 species of California wildflowers bursting into bloom. Whether you're traversing the trails of Mitchell Canyon, exploring the Waterfalls of Mount Diablo Loop, or taking in the sights along the Mary Bowerman Interpretive Trail, you'll be enveloped in breathtaking super blooms. This natural spectacle offers some of the most picturesque scenery in the Bay Area, perfect for capturing the beauty of the season.
Marvel at Bermuda buttercups, California barberries, checker lilies, and yellow oxalis as you explore the depth of the state park. You’ll also come across bush anemones, butterfly tulips, chaparral peas, crimson clovers, and arroyo lupine. You don’t even have to download a California wildflower identification app for this state park— the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association has a comprehensive guide to help you better understand the flora.
Southern California Super Blooms
ANZA BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK
It goes without saying that most sensational displays of wildflowers in the Golden State are found in the desert. So, if you're searching for a Borrego Springs super bloom, look no further than this desert state park.
A chart-topper among stargazing destinations, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is home to some weird desert art, undulating vistas, and mind-blowing super blooms. Every summer, the landscape becomes electrified with colors, as wildflowers, cacti, and lush bushes come into bloom.
Hike the Cactus Loop, Hellhole Canyon, and the Borrego Palm Canyon Trails to witness unmatched floral displays. Desert marigolds, Bigelow’s monkeyflowers, lupines, and desert dandelions—you’ll find Southern California's super blooms in all their striking glory. You might even spot desert apricots and sand verbena. No matter which wildflower you stumble upon, one thing’s for sure, this state park is bound to leave you with a lasting impression.
WALKER CANYON, LAKE ELSINORE
Drive an hour from L.A. to Lake Elsinore to see an unbelievably epic bloom at Walker Canyon. The orange poppy-covered mountains result in a spectacular scene that you can’t help but fall in love with. Just about everything—including freeway dividers and shoulders—is filled with patches of orange poppies, bright purple ice plant flowers, and yellow hillside daisies. When you want to see super blooms near San Diego, head to Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore and prepare to feast your eyes on that first glimpse of fiery orange.
Super Blooms Near Los Angeles
ANTELOPE VALLEY CALIFORNIA POPPY RESERVE
Does a place like Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve even need an introduction? The stunning state-protected reserve is basically a shrine to California poppies, the official flower of the Golden State. Come here in late winter or early spring to see the California poppy's super bloom, which carpets the area in kaleidoscopic hues.
While this naturally occurring California reserve is the most persistent poppy-bearing land in the state, it doesn’t necessarily mean that other wildflowers don’t grow here. Catch a glimpse of owl’s clover, lupine, cream cups, coreopsis, and colorful goldfield while taking a walk among the super blooms in Los Angeles. It’s easy to satisfy all of your interests at this state park.
POINT DUME NATURAL PRESERVE
While many people visit Point Dume for its white sand beaches, it’s the super blooms in Los Angeles that make us want to go there. Blankets of coreopsis, bush flowers, and California poppies carpet the headlands each spring. Yellow tickseeds line the trails at Point Dume, reminding you of the yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz.
Spectacular vistas of the Pacific are always the bonus at Point Dume—coastal hikes are worth the trek, even if they’re uphill. Keep an eye out for sand verbenas, morning glory, and evening primrose.
CHINO HILLS STATE PARK
The most impressive Southern California super blooms are found in Chino Hills State Park—that’s just a fact. Much like Antelope Valley, this area hits you with poppy fields that look like visions straight out of a dream. The poppy season typically lasts from February to September, so March is the perfect time to marvel at orange-gold beauties.
Besides California poppies, you’ll most likely spot violet owl clovers, silver lupines, and bush sunflowers. Not every state park can stir up emotions with its beauty, but Chino Hills manages to do that again and again.
** This article was originally published by California.com. CLICK HERE to view the full article.