What's Blooming: Wildflower Updates

What's blooming can change pretty fast. You can get updates on bloom status every Friday from the Theodore Payne Foundation Wildflower Hotline from March through May. There is also the Desert Wildflower Report site, which has daily updates. 

These hotlines maintain general information on what is blooming and where. When interested in a particular location, a direct call or visit to their website is best.

California poppies in all their glory at the Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve. Photo by Gina Ragland 

Best Wildflower Hikes near Los Angeles 

1. Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve — Lancaster 

The California Poppy is the most widespread wildflower here, turning the landscape into a field of orange in good bloom years, but other flowers are also present. The Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center is open during wildflower season. Eight miles of unpaved trails and one paved section are available for strolling. 

Parking costs $10 (they only take cards or exact cash). Arrive early, as entrance lines can get long during peak season. Dogs are not allowed at the preserve. Note that there is no shade at Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve. Restrooms with changing tables are available at the interpretive center. Please stay on the trails, and don't step on the flowers! 

A look at the live camera on the fields or the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve Instagram account is a great way to gauge the bloom before heading out. And don't forget about the Annual California Poppy Festival, which runs for three full days in April. 

2. Chino Hills State Park — Chino Hills 

This day-use state park 10 miles northwest of Corona offers Angelenos a variety of landscapes without driving too far from home. It's $10 per vehicle to enter the park. There's a great Discovery Center, and spring usually brings a colorful variety of plants and flowers like poppies, offering a home to plenty of nesting birds (watch for red-winged blackbirds).

Also, watch for bobcats and coyotes, both of which have been spotted by hikers along the park's many trails. Be prepared for some steep climbs and no shade. Check the Chino Hills State Park Facebook page to get a sense of current conditions.  

3. Weir Canyon Trail — Anaheim 

This moderate 3.8-mile trail offers families a picturesque escape with its winding paths and diverse flora and fauna. This scenic trail provides excellent outdoor recreation and exploration in the heart of Orange County. It often has beautiful poppies that pop up in the springtime, making this one of the great wildflower hikes near Los Angeles. 

4. Arroyo Verde Park — Ventura 

The sprawling green hills are usually teeming with wildflowers in the spring. The 2.3-mile loop trail is a moderate hike, ideal for families seeking outdoor adventure and relaxation. In addition to a rewarding hike in Ventura with kids, there are two children's playgrounds, including a new inclusive play area, and picnic areas. 

5. Point Mugu State Park — Malibu

Don't let the Malibu address confuse you; arriving at this park requires driving up the PCH until you cross the county line into Ventura. Point Mugu has lovely beaches, camping, and trails up into the mountains above the coast. The wildflower display along the Backbone Trail is breathtaking. There are parking fees to access Point Mugu State Park. 

6. Diamond Valley Lake Widlflower Trail — Hemet 

What's not to love about a hike that's literally called a wildflower trail? The Diamond Valley Lake Widlfower Trail has vibrant wildflowers and picturesque lake views during the spring season. It's an easy and stunning trail, suitable for all levels. There is a parking fee to access the trail. 

7. Saddleback Butte State Park — Lancaster 

Saddleback Butte has a campground, picnic area, vault toilets, and miles of hiking trails. A good year brings out fields of sweet-smelling yellow coreopsis, tidy tips, fiddleneck, and desert dandelions among the Joshua trees and creosote bush. Saddleback Butte's wildflower season generally ranges from late February through May. 

A 1-mile easy unpaved trail from the picnic area to Little Butte goes through fields of flowers. Older kids can handle the hike to the peak—there are different flowers at that elevation, but no large displays among the rocks. A short paved nature trail leaves from the picnic area but does not go to the wildflower areas. Check the park's Facebook page for wildflower updates before you go.

8. Hungry Valley SVRA — Gorman 

Hungry Valley SVRA is open for self-guided tours of the prime viewing areas, with road and hiking options available. Access to the park is $5. Wildflowers on Gorman Hill (the large hill you see from I-5) are best viewed from Gorman Post Road, immediately north of the freeway at the Gorman exit. Gorman Post Road offers no hiking access. 

9. Point Dume — Malibu 

Point Dume, situated along the Malibu coast, boasts breathtaking displays of wildflowers during the springtime, painting the cliffs with vibrant hues. Enjoy leisurely walks along the trails while admiring the stunning coastal scenery adorned with colorful blooms. 

Point Dume is one of the many fun things to do in Malibu with kids. Hike from the beach to the top of the Point Dume Nature Preserve. There are parking fees to access Point Dume. 

RELATED: Hiking in Los Angeles with Kids: The Best Hiking Trails for Families

 
Griffith Park blanketed in green hills and wildflowers. Photo by Gina Ragland 

10. Griffith Park — Griffith Park 

While Angelenos typically opt for day trips for wildflower hikes near Los Angeles, sometimes we overlook our own backyard. In the springtime, the Griffith Park hills are awash in green, with wildflowers blooming across multiple trails. There are ample opportunities to marvel at the colorful blooms against the iconic Los Angeles skyline. You don't even have to venture out of LA for this one. 

11. Corriganville Park — Simi Valley 

We know and love Corriganville Park from its Faery Hunt shows. In the springtime, hike out and enjoy the fields of California poppies. Once a Western movie set turned amusement park, it's now a lovely spot to choose for wildflower hikes near Los Angeles with kids. 

RELATED: Spring Fun Guide: Best Things To Do with LA & OC Kids in Spring

 
Desert blooms on the Fortynine Palms Oasis trail in Joshua Tree. Photo by Gina Ragland 

12. Joshua Tree National Park — Joshua Tree

Not only is springtime an ideal time to visit Joshua Tree National Park before the desert gets too hot, the park also teems with desert wildflowers. The 3.1-mile Fortynine Palms Oasis trail particularly stuns with desert blooms against the breathtaking vistas. Start the hike early in the day, before the parking lot fills up and the sun shines strong. 

This trail is also technically not in the park, which means you don't have to pay the national park fee, but you drove all that way, so other trails in Joshua Tree National Park will be too hard to resist. A vehicle entry-free is required to go into the national park. 

13. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — Borrego Springs

Like Joshua Tree National Park, Anza-Borrego is another Southern California desert known for seasonal wildflowers. The park's diverse terrain offers prime viewing opportunities for visitors to marvel at the blooming desert flora. These wildflowers sometimes bloom earlier in late February than other popular wildflower locales. 

Check wildflower updates on the Anza-Borrego website, which also has an interactive map and wildflower hotline. There's also a printable or downloadable wildflower map on the Anza-Borrego Foundation website. There is a day-use fee to enter the park. 

14. Channel Islands National Park — Ventura 

Channel Islands National Park boasts stunning displays of wildflowers, especially during the late winter and spring months when the islands come alive with vibrant colors. Explore the scenic trails and coastal bluffs to witness the breathtaking beauty of the native flora against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. This one will take some planning as it requires booking a boat ride to the islands. 

15. Idyllwild Nature Center — Idyllwild-Pine Cove

It's a bit of a drive, but Idyllwild Nature Center in the San Jacinto Mountains is another excellent place to view colorful wildflower blooms. This park is one of the more developed places to see the flowers bloom, with restrooms, picnic tables, and a gift shop. The Nature Center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm. 

RELATED: Hidden Gem: Ferndell is an Outdoor Oasis in the Middle of the City

Walker Canyon during a superbloom. Photo by Gina Ragland 

16. Walker Canyon Ecological Reserve — Lake Elsinore

If you were lucky to see the mesmerizing 2019 superbloom at Walker Canyon, then you witnessed something spectacular. Unfortunately, the superbloom brought too many crowds of people trampling the flowers and traffic congestion nightmares to Lake Elsinore. As a result, Walker Canyon has been indefinitely shut down for the public to access. Parking violations are also heavily enforced.

While you won't be able to access Walker Canyon for wildflower hikes, we're keeping it on the list in case anything changes. There is talk that Lake Elsinore may set up a live cam so the wildflowers can be seen virtually. 

17. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains are not known for their large fields of colorful blooms. However, if you are looking for a variety of flowers or riparian (creekside) flowers, this is the perfect place to hike. Wildflowers are still heavily dependent on winter rains, so check the website to see what's blooming and where. 

Even without a magnificent bloom, the pockets of green buds and playing "I Spy" with beautiful flowers along hikes make for a memorable and beautiful outing with kids. 

18. California Botanic Garden — Claremont 

Don't want a long drive, or your party can't go hiking on dirt trails? The California Botanic Garden in Claremont bills itself as California's Native Garden. Plants bloom as they do in the wild, just alongside trails that are easy for strollers and little legs. The gardens are closed on Mondays, and non-members are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance. 

19. Carrizo Plain National Monument — Santa Margarita 

It's a bit of a drive for a day trip, but the wildflower fields at Carrizo Plain National Monument make a fantastic option for a weekend family getaway from LA on the Central Coast. Carrizo Plain is between the 5 and 101 freeways—the fastest way to get there is to head west on 166 after you pass through the Grapevine. That route is about a three-hour drive from LA. 

However, if you're looking for a more scenic route, take the 101 up past San Luis Obispo and head east on 58. Mid-March to mid-April is the best time to catch the blooms. Call the wildflower hotline to confirm if the flowers are blooming before making the drive. 

Wildflower Hikes near Los Angeles: Know Before You Go 

• Since large-scale wildflower displays typically occur in the high desert, bring sunscreen, hats, water, snacks, and good walking or hiking shoes. 
• Please tread lightly! Don't pick the flowers or go off paths. 
• Be prepared for most wildflower hikes to have no shade. 
• Confirm if wildflowers are in bloom before making long drives by checking website updates and calling the Theodore Payne Wild Flower hotline. 

Post originally published March 26, 2014, and updated annually

Top photo by Bob Wick/Bureau of Land Management/CC BY 2.0