I’m taking a Flower Power Tour of Southern California! This time, to Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, just 90 minutes outside of Los Angeles (near Lancaster/Palmdale). It’s time to go Poppy Peeping!

 – – Did you know that the Poppy is California’s State Flower? – –

The Poppy Reserve is super easy to find… 1), Because it’s only 2 turns off the highway and 2), you can see the hillsides aglow with speckled orange from miles away. By 11am on Friday, it was already POPPIN’ with traffic, starting about 5 miles out from the Reserve.

ANTELOPE VALLEY CALIFORNIA POPPY RESERVE

There are 8 miles of trails, some of which are even ADA friendly! That sounds like a lot… but it’s basically a huge Figure 8 with some shortcuts in between. It’s easy to navigate, because it’s all out in the open fields. (That said – beware of wind & sun!)  Download the Trail Map Here.

The Santa Ana Winds must have caused a tornado last night, because I seem to have woken up in Oz…

The technicolor hills of orange, purple, yellow & green against a robin-egg blue sky created a very surreal experience. The sun, hanging high in the sky, cast a washed-out Easter hue over the hills. The vast pastel landscape felt like a living painting.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

😺 There is NO SHADE anywhere on the reserve. Bring plenty of sunscreen and water!

😺 It is extremely WINDY. My face was actually wind-burnt by the end of the day!

😺 No Dogs Allowed

😺 No Camping Allowed

😺 PARKING is tricky. It’s $10… if you’re lucky enough to snag a spot in the small lot. Otherwise, you’ll have to hoof it about a mile. Parking is free on Lancaster Road, but be sure you are parked legally. There are several “no parking” arrows right next to the entrance of the reserve.
😺 There are no restaurants or snacks, so pack a picnic.

😺 There are, however, port-a-potties. Yaaaaay.

😺 You MUST STAY ON THE TRAIL for erosion and rattlesnake reasons

Parked a mile away

So many rules!

WHEN IS BEST?

The best time to visit:  Mid-Morning on a sunny day. By afternoon, the winds usually kick up, causing the poppies to curl.

When do the poppies bloom each year? Sometime in mid March – early May. It all depends on the weather. ACT FAST! If you are lucky to catch a bloom, get your Poppy Peeping Party out there ASAP. It could be gone in as little as 2 weeks.

MORE INFORMATION:

-Visit the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve website
–Poppy Reserve Wildflower Hotline: (661) 724-1180
-Address: 15101 Lancaster Rd Lancaster, CA 93536
-Park Hours: Sunrise to Sunset 24/7