Many travelers pack their passports in search of some of the world’s best natural phenomena.
Maybe it’s a trip to Scandinavia to bear witness to the otherworldly Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) or perhaps the stunning Blue Hole of Belize.
The world is full of wonders, but a passport isn’t needed to witness them all. In spring, a wildflower ‘superbloom‘ sometimes occurs in the U.S., but it can be challenging to predict when and where.
The colorful flower blooms are so massive they can often be seen from space! Astronauts and UFOs may have a unique out-of-this-world view, but there is nothing like seeing this phenomenon at ground level.
The West Coast appears to be your best bet this spring, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
An hour and a half east of San Diego lies a stunning park in the desert with over 600,000 acres of incredible landscapes of high peaks and low valleys.
Popular for day hikes, spring is one of the best times to visit not only to avoid melting in the desert summer heat, but to take in the incredible sites of vast fields and rolling hills illuminating wildflowers.
As of March 1st, reports say the golden blooms are already popping up in the center of Borrego Springs.
Follow along Henderson Canyon Road and into the lower dunes of Coyote Canyon, as well as Agua Caliente County Park, to see what is already blooming.
Although other areas are ‘late bloomers’, they are expected to pop in color soon. June Wash, Arroyo Tapiado, and Fish Creek are a few areas highlighted as the next hotspots for the superbloom of phacelia, primrose, and wooly sunflowers.
If going deep into the park via Highway S2, it’s highly advised to take a vehicle with four-wheel drive on any unpaved roads.
Make sure to make a stop in the nearby charming town of Julian, too. This small former mining town is packed with delightful shops, a thriving beer scene, and locals’ favorite Julian Pies.
Antelope Valley
To spare a mouthful, we’ll go with “Antelope Valley” over its proper name of Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve.
Lying north of Los Angeles is a small yet eye-popping park in the springtime. From March to May, this beautiful park outside the small town of Lancaster will explode in color.
Sporadic patches of flowers are teasing visitors already, but the park will soon hit it’s prime as the spring weather comes into full effect.
Of course, the weather is fickle, and it can’t be fully determined how fierce the superbloom will be this year. However, experts are predicting a stronger showing than last year.
This area is mostly known for vibrant poppies, but is also home to large quantities of fiddleneck and red stem filaree.
The park is such a draw, in fact, there is a live camera feed known as the PoppyCam, in case you can’t make it in person this year.
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Not to be confused with Denver’s incredible outdoor music venue, the ‘Red Rock’ of California has a whole different vibe.
This unsuspecting park not far from Antelope Valley is set to flip a switch from barren land to sprightly fields full of life with a superbloom of wildflowers, such as the rightly named Red Rock Poppy.
@brizeidaygarcia Beautiful day in Red Rock Canyon 05/23/2023 #springcolors #thedesert #redrock #thereismoretovegas #springflowers
From mid-March to May, visitors should be able to explore the vast park with plenty of opportunities for awesome photos.
Located a couple of hours from Los Angeles off Highway 14, Red Rock Canyon is open from “sunrise to sunset”.
Disclaimer From State Park Officials
California is predicting a strong showing of blooming flowers this spring. Tourists from all over will visit the state for incredible views and photo ops.
Understandably, State Park officials are asking visitors to stick to the trails and to remember these parks are shared for public use.
While it’s certainly acceptable to take as many pictures as you’d like, officials are reiterating the importance of staying on marked trails and not taking flowers with you, as tempting as it may be.
Credit: Source link
