Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
What: Hugging the California coast north of Malibu and easily accessible from Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is expecting to have a super bloom, of sorts, with a wide variety of flowers, including white popcorn flowers, cream chaparral yucca flowers, purple lupines and more.
When: Blooms, including poppies, sunflowers and Mariposa lilies, are already popping up amid the mountains, which are lush and green from the extensive rains. Expect flowers to peak this month and into May, with some higher elevation areas blooming into the summer months. Check the What’s Blooming newsletter from the park for updates.
Chino Hills State Park
What: Tucked in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains just east of Los Angeles, and about an hour’s drive away, Chino Hills State Park is a much-photographed destination for hills lush with orange California poppies, plus black mustard, school bells, Canterbury bells and arroyo lupine.
When: The park is in bloom. Expect flowers through early- to mid-May. Check the park website for flower news and park updates; recent storms have caused extensive trail closures.
Cabrillo National Monument
What: San Diego’s Cabrillo National Monument, which commemorates where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo first stepped on the West Coast of the United States (the first European to do so), is also a bona fide flower destination. It perches on the tip of the Point Loma Peninsula, and visitors to the park can look for bush sunflowers, Indian paintbrush, sea dahlias and more.
When: Blooms are approaching their peak. Study up using the park’s plant field guide, or download a dedicated app. Passionate wildflower enthusiasts can become a park volunteer and help with native plant preservation and propagation (email to learn more).
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
What: California’s largest state park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, is two hours east of San Diego and is a frequent destination for wildflower viewing. The desert climate allows for some of the earlier blooms in California, including desert primrose, desert sunflower and blooming cactuses.
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