Just 68 miles North of Los Angeles and 15 miles west of Lancaster is the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. From Mid- February through Mid-May the grassy landscape fills with a dreamscape of orange blooms of the California State Flower. It will remind you of the Poppy field where Dorothy fell asleep in the Wizard of OZ.
On a visit, frolic in the eight miles of rolling hills for hiking, exploring, and spotting wildlife including coyote, bobcat, rattlesnakes, mice, gophers kangaroo rats, and many others. Throughout the open landscape you can also see other wildflowers with spots of diverse colors and fragrance including owl’s clover, lupine, and goldfield. At the preserve there are a few Joshua Trees that may be blooming too.
The intensity and duration of the wildflower bloom changes yearly. The reserve is open year-round the Interpretative Center is open from March through Mother’s Day. If you have the time just seven miles away is another State Park, the Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland where you want walk through an impressive preserve of Joshua Trees.
Tips for your visit:
- Spring mid-morning is the best time to visit. They tend to be warm and calm but as the day progresses it can become cold and very windy. If it is too cold the flowers won’t open or will close. Check the local weather station for a full report.
- Wear layers of clothing. The weather can change quickly.
- Bring twice as much water as you think you will need.
- There is a day use fee to enter the park. It could get very crowded at peak bloom and parking fills up.
- Call the reserve hotline for the latest news on the wildflower bloom at 661.724.1180. There is often a peek week where you will see the most blooms. However, if you wait until too late in the season a heat wave may shrivel the blooms.
-Typically, the town of Lancaster has a Poppy Festival in April.
