Here’s where you can see wildflowers near L.A. this year (2024)

1.Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Located west of the Salton Sea, and about a three-hour drive from L.A., this sprawling state park mostly known for its rough terrain and dry lakes has become an oddly reliable wildflower destination over these past few wet winters. As of late March, it’s the placesee wildflowers—and has expectedly brought big crowds to the remote area.

In a typical year, you can expect to see desert gold poppies, phacelia and a variety of tiny “belly flowers.” Of all the locations,Henderson Canyon tends to be the easiest to reach, though each canyon(right now notably Coyote Canyon) offers different varieties of flowers. Check the park’s Instagram forthe most up-to-date bloom news and trail information as the season progresses, as well as this remarkably helpful interactive map.

2.Point Dume

3.Chino Hills State Park

Chino Hills may not achieve full-blown super bloom status, but the state park pretty much looks like the Shireafter a wet winter (it was so wet this year that the trails were even closed temporarily). As oflate March, the hills have largely turned green, with only small patches of wild radish and black mustard so far (with a few baby poppies here and there). The park expects more to bloom in the coming weeks.

When that does finally happen, follow the lone park road, and just before it turns toward its terminus, you’ll find a dirt parking lot where Bane Canyon Road turns into Telegraph Canyon Road. Follow the signs for the Bane Ridge Trail and—if they’re blooming—you’ll likely encounter poppies within 10 minutes. You’ll need to pay topark ($10 for the day of $3 per hour), though it’s free in the residential area near the entrance—but you’ll be tacking two to three hilly, shadeless miles onto your trek.

4.Carrizo Plain

This sprawling grassland in southeastern San Luis Obispo County may stretch past what we’d typically consider Southern California, but the three-hour trip is often well worth it after a wet winter. Make no mistake: On most days you’ll find an arid, dry lake bed at the center of this national monument. But if the conditions are just right—as they memorably were in 2017—you may spot a couple of weeks where the hillsides turn into rolling carpets of daisies, goldfields and other yellow, orange and purple flora.

As of late March, the hillsides here have suddenly started to bloom withhillside daisies and goldfields. But according to theCarrizo Plain Conservancy,recent grass growth may outcompete those yellow and orange patches, leading to what might be a good but not great year for wildflowers. Just a heads up if you take the trek that some roads are wet and muddy, and no towing services are readily available in the relatively remote area.

5.Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

Poppies are beautiful when they cover the desert hillsides in orange flowers. But poppies are also fickle: If there’s too much rain, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve can only expect a moderate poppy season. Too dry? Not a great bloom either(but you could still see some other wildflowers).

So far, 2024 is shaping up to be similar to last year’s peculiar season, in which lots of rain and cool temperatures caused brome grasses and fiddlenecks to outcompete poppies at much of the reserve. As of late March, the hillsides there have largely turned green and there aresomeflowers to see so far, but not really any poppies—you can find out more inour full guide to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.

In a typical year, peak poppy season isusually from March to mid-April—a short window if you want to catch the blooms at their height. Check the park’s website for the latest bloom status or tune in to the livestream.

6.Diamond Valley Lake

WhenWalker Canyon closedlast year, Diamond Valley Lake’s 1.3-mile seasonal wildflower trailemerged asa fair substitute.The typically dry terrain was turned a lush green and covered with patches oforange poppies, purple lupines and goldfields.

Though the trail is now open for the season(Wed–Sun), you likely won’t see much for another few weeks still. If and when a brilliant bloomdoes arrive, expectthick crowds and no shade. You’ll want to arrive early with cash for the entrance fee ($4 per person) and prepare to wait in a line of cars. Parking ($11) is available at the marina(2615 Angler Ave); from there follow the Lakeview Trail for about a half mile andyou—and the crowd in front of you—will reach the wildflower loop.

7.Death Valley National Park

After a wet winter,you may find this iconic desert environment spottedwith globemallow, desert sunflower,desert sand-verbena, brown-eyed primrose and more. If you don’t want to take the five-hour or so trek out there unknowing of what you may see, we suggest checking out the wildflower report online to be sure it’s worth your time, and where to go to find the best flora.

Though crowds flocked here after the February rainfall for the temporary lake that took overBadwater Basin, that has since mostly evaporated—and as of lateMarch, you won’t really find any notable flower displayseither, aside from some patches near the eastentrance (Dantes View Rd) and Panamint Valley (west side of the park).

8.Palos Verdes Peninsula

9.Point Mugu State Park

10.Malibu Creek State Park

11.Idyllwild Nature Center

Marked by traffic nightmares, brief closures and the crush of thousands of visitors, Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinorewas a super bloom sensation in 2019. The hillside trail was covered witheye-poppingly beautiful carpets of poppies and other colorful flowers—with Disneyland-sized lines of people snaking their way through them.

It caused such a nightmare for locals that the City of Lake Elsinore flat-out closed the area by the canyon to both cars and pedestrians in 2023 in anticipation of the bloom’s return. That’s the case again this year. The City of Lake Elsinore really doesn’t want you to come visit: Walker Canyon Road and Lake Street are closed to car traffic, there’s no parking allowed nearby either and the city’s mayor is saying that the canyon is closed. Though the city first said itwent ahead and procured shuttle service for the area, if needed, it’s become clear that therewon’t be any public shuttles to the area.

So far these steps are entirely preventative: The hills are green with no signs of poppies yet, and the city doesn’t expect this year’s bloom to measure up to the 2019 one anyway. (Youcan see for yourself on this stream of the empty trail.) Otherwise, if you’re simply looking for a floral backdrop in that general direction, consider a trip to theFlower Fields in Carlsbad.