Early blossoms in Carrizo Plain National Monument have some land managers suggesting that California is on the precipice of a major wildflower year.
Wildflowers in Carrizo Plain in 2023 (Photo: Mimi Ditchie Photography / Moment via Getty)
Published February 11, 2026 01:46PM
Hikers may get to enjoy California’s spring flowers a little early this year. The state’s late season showers and subsequent drought prepared the state for a wildflower season that’s just starting to bloom. The first fireworks show to go off: Carrizo Plain National Monument. The San Luis Obispo County landmark is already covered with orange and yellow pops of color, with more likely to appear.
“The wildflowers on Carrizo Plain National Monument are currently prevalent on the Temblor Mountains, with yellows and splashes of orange, with more sprouting every day,” Johna Hurl, the monument manager of Carrizo Plain National Monument, said in a release.
In addition to visiting Carrizo Plain National Monument to view wildflowers, California State Parks suggested that moderate to strong wildflower spectacles could appear soon in places like the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve, Red Rock Canyon State Park, Chino Hills SP, Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA), Hungry Valley SVRA, Saddleback Butte SP and Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland SP, most of which experienced larger-than-usual spectacles in 2017, 2019, and 2023.
Even as officials forecast a potential superbloom, they are warning hikers and others who come to see the wildflower spectacles to visit responsibly.
In 2019, the wildflower spectacle was so explosive that visitors gridlocked the town of Lake Elsinore, located about a four-hour drive north of current wildflower blooms, leaving the region reeling for days. The nearby poppy fields were similarly overwhelmed after some visitors hiked off trail, crushing the flowers beneath them.
When the valley began showing signs of another superbloom in 2023, the town decided to close one nearby peeping spot in addition to all of the trails that ran through it. It isn’t clear whether the state of California will experience a full-blown superbloom, a phenomenon that has traditionally taken place about once per decade.
“Wildflowers will continue to bloom but displays seem to be earlier this year due to the early rains and warm temperatures. Take notice of road conditions, recreate responsibly, and continue to check our website for updates on the bloom status,” Hurl said.
Those who head to the nearest wildflower fields may see sand verbena, desert poppies, primroses, desert sunflowers, and apricot mallow. The Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve also offers a PoppyCam live feed, which allows flower lovers to admire the spectacle from afar or to check wildflower conditions. (Currently, the feed shows only grass.)
Camping and parking operate on a first-come, first-serve basis in BLM day-use areas, and visitors can expect those areas to fill by 7 am on weekends. At the moment, the majority of the wildflower fields are located in the Temblor Mountains, but visitors can head to the Merced River Recreation Management Area in Mariposa County, the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Lake County, and the Fort Ord National Monument in Monterey County for alternative recreation options. Those who leave their vehicle in ‘no parking’ zones or block the roadway may be towed.