Wildflowers in bloom
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Peter Zuehlke
The wildflowers are in "superbloom" at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve.
As of March 21, the poppies are in full bloom on the east side of the park and blooming or starting to bloom in the rest of the park. Along the Lightning Bolt Trail you can also see evening snow, wild parsley, blue dick, lacy phacelia, pygme-leaved lupine, western forget-me-not, fiddleneck, filaree, slender keel fruit and goldfield blooming. Along the Antelope Trail you can find hairy lotus and mustard in bloom, and along the Poppy Trail North Loop you can find phlox and fringe pod blooming (with some of the other flowers mentioned). The Joshua trees are blooming, too. We are expecting the bloom to be best through April. Park Hours are from Sunrise to Sunset daily year-round.
Please remember, visitors must stay on OFFICIAL TRAILS only; photos in the flowers are not allowed in the park. Walking in the poppies creates dirt patches and may result in a ticket. DO NOT walk where others have already damaged the habitat; it will compound the damage and leave a scar for years to come. Commercial and student filming/photography requires a permit. No dogs, bikes on trails, drones or picking flowers.
Poppies open up in mid morning, and curl up in the late afternoon/evening or if it's cold, so check the weather forecast before arriving. The weather can change suddenly and it is frequently windy here during the spring. This is a DESERT grassland, so drink water often. Weekly bloom updates will be posted on our website http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627 through Mother's Day.
NEW THIS YEAR: Cell Phone Tour! Smartphone users can go to http://www.PoppyReserve.oncell.com and watch for notifications along the trails. Learn about the natural and cultural history of the reserve, with photos and audio stops.
Peter Zuehlke
Parking is $10 for most vehicles. Entry through any other area along the boundary is prohibited; citations are given for fence jumping. Parking is allowed on Lancaster Road beginning 100-feet from the entrance (see signs), and visitors may walk in through the entrance gate only, staying on the roadway to the entrance kiosk. Carpooling is recommended to maximize parking availability.
Rattlesnakes are in the fields! Rattlers are common in wildflower fields throughout the valley, and people running into fields for a picture among the poppies encounter rattlesnakes every year. Walk slowly in fields to give rattlers a chance to alert you, and watch where you step. Be aware that all lands adjacent to the Poppy Reserve are private property.
The Reserve is located 15 miles west of Lancaster at 15101 Lancaster Rd. From Highway 14: Take the Avenue I exit and head west 15 miles. Avenue I becomes Lancaster Rd.
