Hi there!

It's been feeling like spring in Los Angeles the past few days, and I am so ready for the wildflowers to start blooming in Southern California.

To get in the spirit of the season, I’m sharing four of my go-to flower spots to inspire your next springtime day trip.

Keep in mind that bloom status can be difficult to predict – every year looks different! These spots may or may not have a good bloom this season, so do some research a few days before you go to decide whether it’s worth a visit.

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve (Lancaster)

The Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve is easily one of my favorite wildflower spots in California. After a good rainy season, the (normally dry and brown) hills get covered in bright orange California poppies.

The reserve has about eight miles of trails, so there’s plenty of space to walk around and take in the views of the poppies.

You’ll see patches of these flowers as you drive around Lancaster, as well! Sometimes the blooms outside of the reserve are better than what you’ll find in the reserve – that was the case when I last visited in 2023.

I’ve just updated my Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve guide for the season. It goes into everything you need to know before your visit!

Chino Hills State Park

This is a great idea for an easy springtime day trip from Los Angeles (the park is only about a 45-minute drive from LA!). During a good wildflower season, the beautiful rolling green hills are peppered with colorful flowers, including mustard flowers, California poppies, wild radish flowers, and arroyo lupines.

The best way to see the wildflowers in Chino Hills State Park is by hiking – I recommend the Bane Ridge Trail.

If you aren’t up for hiking, you can also drive through the park via Bane Canyon Road and stop along the way to take in the views.

The wildflowers are typically in bloom from mid-March through early May. The park’s Instagram is a great resource for getting up-to-date info on the blooms so that you can plan your visit!

The Carlsbad Flower Fields

Ok, these technically aren’t wildflowers…but it’s worth mentioning this popular Carlsbad spot! This seasonal attraction features over 50 acres of ranunculus fields – there are close to 80 million flowers in bloom at the peak.

The Instagram-worthy flower fields officially open on March 1st this year, and will close mid-May. Time slots do occasionally book up, so make your reservations in advance online!

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

(Superbloom Unlikely This Year)

​Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is unlikely to see a huge flower bloom this year, as there hasn’t been much rainfall.

That said, if you live nearby and want to make the trek, it may still be worth a visit to see some plants on the desert floor! If nothing else, you’ll get a chance to see more resilient desert plants, such as yellow brittlebush, agave, and bright red ocotillo flowers.

​Anza Borrego Foundation has a really cool interactive wildflower map. The crowdsourced map shows reports of different blooms throughout the park.

Happy almost spring!

Kyra, Sea to Sequoia​

Follow along on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, & Pinterest