Just about an hour drive north from Los Angeles, in Antelope Valley, lies the Poppy Reserve. I went for a hike there a couple of weeks ago and was lucky enough to still catch the poppies. In this very dry Southern California weather it is quite a miracle these pretty flowers manage to adapt and bloom. As far as I can remember we had rain maybe 3 times this year. Best time to visit is in April but before you go you should check their website at www.parks.ca.gov , they update it often with the most current conditions.
In 1903 the California Poppy was named the State Flower, it used to grow on extensive areas, all the way from what is now-days Pasadena to the shores of the Pacific. Unlike the red poppies growing across Europe, California poppies are orange/golden.
A few things to know:
*Admission into the parking lot is $10 per vehicle, only cash is accepted;
*You get a detailed map with your admission and there is a toilet at the tiny welcome center. Other than that you should come prepared with water, snacks, sunblock, because you won’t be able to purchase them there;
*If you have questions, do stop by the visitor center, the staff is well informed and very helpful;
*It is extremely windy. This made the nearly 80F weather very pleasant however taking good shots was a task because of the wind blowing so strongly.
*Trails are mostly easy with a few moderate patches, you can feel confident bringing along kindergarten aged children and older;
*There are lots of rattlesnakes, you will hear them, so for your safety and for the protection of the poppies just stay on the trail.
Here it is in pictures:
