Best Places to See the California Super Bloom 2020

The sun is shining and the wildflowers are blooming all over Southern California! A ton of rain this season has lead to a Super Bloom of stunning flowers throughout the SoCal area. Check out this list to see the best places to see them! For more flower love, find out where you can see cherry blossoms blooming this spring.

Carlsbad Flower Fields

Location: Northern San Diego County

Easiest Way to Get There: Driving from San Diego or taking the train from Los Angeles or Orange County.

Found at the top of San Diego County, these fields are open through Mother’s Day every year. Admission isn’t cheap but it’s certainly worth it to get to take beautiful family photos and profile-picture-worthy selfies in the Fields! Check out our guide to the Carlsbad Flower Fields before you go to avoid hassles with parking and learn pro tips!

Death Valley National Park

Location: East of Fresno, near the Nevada border.

Easiest Way to Get There: Driving from the Fresno or Bakersfield area.

You wouldn’t expect the lowest, driest, hottest spot in North America to have pretty flowers, would you? While the park actually received below-normal rainfall for Spring 2019, the flowers are still blooming in a stunning array! Check out the beautiful sunset at Dante’s View but be sure to check their site for the latest road closure info.

Joshua Tree National Park

Location: Near Palm Springs & Indio.

Easiest Way to Get There: Driving from Palm Springs or the Inland Empire.

Despite its recent random snowstorm, Joshua Tree is starting to flourish with wildflowers! Check out the area around the Bajada Trail to see lupine, dessert poppies, dandelions, and brittlebush blooming.

Anza-Borrego State Park

Location: Inland San Diego near the Nevada border & Salton Sea.

Easiest Way to Get There: Driving from San Diego.

Anza-Borrego is a stunning and large state park that’s sure to be easy on the eyes. They even keep an updated flower report on their website! Stop by for a ” sea of golden desert sunflowers, with highlights of purple Sand Verbena and white Dune Evening Primrose.”

Channel Islands National Park

Location: West of Ventura and Oxford and south of Santa Barbara.

Easiest Way to Get There: Public boat or plane. About a 1 hour boat trip from Ventura.

These 5 little islands off the California coast is home to 800 plant species! Check out their site for flower guides and the best places to view each flower type. Our favorite spot is Torrey Pines on Santa Rosa Island where you can see the famous leaning tree! Check out your options for getting to the islands here.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

Location: West of Lancaster.

Easiest Way to Get There: Driving from the Los Angeles area.

We saved the best for last! The Poppy Reserve lives up to its name and is in full bloom from mid-March through April. Poppies are the most open in mid-morning and tend to curl up by evening, so get there early! Find out more info on hours and blooms on their site.

Lake Elsinore

Location: Riverside County, between Corona & Temecula

Easiest Way to Get There: Driving from the Inland Empire, Orange County, or San Diego.

The best spot to see flowers is the Walker Canyon Trail area, which is located near I-15 between Lake Street and Nichols Road. Keep an eye out for beautiful seas of Poppies which flourish along the trail. The city is cracking down on parking on the road’s shoulder, so be sure to park in a designated lot!

Fullerton Arboretum

Location: North Orange County

Easiest Way to Get There: Driving from Los Angeles or Orange County. You could also take the Metrolink train to the Fullerton station.

This Arboretum is located on the Cal State Fullerton campus and is open to the public. Entrance is free year-round and they have a variety of different garden collections. Also, check out their museum and our 9 best things do to there!

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Go See that Super Bloom!

No matter where you go to see the super bloom of wildflowers in Southern California, bring your camera because you’re going to be in for a treat! Most of these parks are free or inexpensive to enter, so take advantage of California’s most beautiful spots.