Every spring, California’s hills, mountains, and even deserts transform in a whirlwind of brilliant colors. Vibrant pinks, purples, blues, and, of course, the iconic oranges of California poppies cascade over the state’s landscapes, from San Diego to San Francisco and beyond. Seeing wildflowers in the Golden State is nothing short of breathtaking.

Though the conditions haven’t lined up for one of California’s famed “superblooms” in 2026, ample rainfall in late December and early January has set up what promises to be a gorgeous spring wildflower season. As a SoCal resident who travels hours in search of these stunning sights every year, I can attest that there are countless different spots around the state worth visiting just for the flowers—but some, of course, are better than others.

Here are the seven best places to see California wildflowers this spring.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Wildflowers in Anza-Borrego State Park.

JannHuizenga/Getty Images

One of my favorite wildflower viewing destinations, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, is just a couple of hours’ drive from both San Diego and Los Angeles, making it a convenient day trip or weekend getaway. As its name implies, the park has a hot, typically dry environment. But in the rainy winter and spring months, the park becomes a showcase for a diverse, colorful array of blossoms. 

Time your visit right, and you’ll be able to see ethereal varieties like the desert lily, brown-eyed primrose, Bigelow’s monkeyflower, and many more spread across the desert floor (before you go, check the Anza-Borrego Foundation’s website for a peek at what’s blooming). You might also catch a glimpse of native fauna, including kit foxes and iguana-like chuckwalla lizards, among the flowers.

Carrizo Plain National Monument

A field of yellow wildflowers in Carrizo Plains.

Luc Mena / 500px/Getty Images

From March to April, bright-yellow goldfields, purple phacelia, orange poppies, and pinkish stalks of owl’s clover carpet the rolling green hills at Carrizo Plain National Monument, a more than 200,000-acre open space in eastern San Luis Obispo County. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (read: free to enter), the monument’s grounds include sprawling grasslands and alkali wetlands, a diverse ecosystem rife with different species of wildflowers.

You can admire the blooms up close on several hiking trails, including the Soda Lake Overlook. Be advised, though, that many of Carrizo Plain’s roads are dirt and become all but impassable in wet weather.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

A field of poppies in California’s Antelope Valley.

Sundry Photography/Getty Images

Located some 60 miles north of Los Angeles near the city of Lancaster, California, Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve draws crowds from mid-February through early May to marvel at this state park’s California poppies. These golden blooms carpet the hillsides in a dazzling show of color that defies belief, even when you’re there in person. Hike through the poppies on a short series of moderate trails that run just a few miles in length, affording views of the poppy fields and surrounding buttes.

A word to the wise: Before you set out, check the park’s online live camera to make sure the blooms will meet your expectations. Once there, you can also swing by the visitor center to learn more about this floral phenomenon.

Joshua Tree National Park

Yellow wildflowers in Joshua Tree.

Kijung Sung / 500px/Getty Images

Even the famously dry deserts of Joshua Tree National Park come to life during spring, when rainwater collects in the park’s basins and valleys, creating just the right conditions for flowers to burst through the sandy surface. Though a major bloom isn’t guaranteed every year, you can typically spot at least a few patches of colorful species like the desert globemallow, Indian paintbrush, and desert Canterbury bells, all of which stand out in a stunning contrast against Joshua Tree’s otherworldly environment.

If you’re lucky, you might even see the park’s namesake trees themselves in full flower, a display that, in my opinion resembles a large, lacy white egg.

Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area

Lupines growing in Figueroa Mountains in Los Padres National Forest.

Denise Taylor/Getty Images

This Santa Barbara County peak rises roughly 4,500 feet above sea level, providing panoramic views of the surrounding Los Padres National Forest. However, the real show takes place right on Figueroa Mountain’s slopes. During spring, fields upon fields of California poppies, sky lupine, chocolate lilies, and other blossoms erupt across the mountain’s grasslands, which are best explored via a moderate, four-mile hiking trail.

If you’d rather stay in the car, you can also soak up the sights from the comfort of your vehicle as you drive along Figueroa Mountain Road. Bring a picnic from the nearby California small towns of Solvang or Los Olivos and enjoy lunch surrounded by the idyllic wildflower fields.

Death Valley National Park

Wildflower bloom in Death Valley.

Christopher Cleveland / 500px/Getty Images

Despite its name, Death Valley National Park hosts one of the most stunning springtime displays of life in all of California. During the park’s rare, world-renowned superblooms, thick carpets of flowers appear throughout the valley. But even in a typical, drier year, the desert blossoms are more than worth the trip.

The vivid hues of wildflowers like mariposa lilies, desert five-spot, and lilac sunbonnets transform Death Valley starting in mid-February, although blooms can last well into the summer months in the park’s higher, cooler elevations. Death Valley rangers publish updates on wildflower conditions on the park’s website, so read up before you go.

Russian Ridge Preserve

Two people on bikes going past wildflowers in California’s Russian Ridge.

PamelaJoeMcFarlane/Getty Images

You didn’t think we’d forget the Bay Area’s blooms, did you? Just west of San Jose, Russian Ridge Preserve has one of the region’s best wildflower viewing opportunities. A series of moderate hiking trails cross through Russian Ridge, allowing for up-close-and-personal views of flowers like poppies, lupine, and mule’s ears throughout the spring and early summer. 

You’ll also be treated to vistas of the neighboring Santa Cruz Mountains and, of course, San Francisco Bay. Just make sure to stick to the marked trails, and be back in your car by dusk—Russian Ridge closes half an hour after sunset.