Each spring, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive with the seasonal surprises of the Mojave Desert Grassland habitat. The duration and intensity of colors and scents vary from year to year. The wildflower season generally lasts from as early as mid-February through May, with a variety of wildflowers creating a mosaic of color that changes daily.

~CA State Park Service

The California Poppy

"The California Poppy was named the State Flower in 1903. Prior to that time great fields of poppies were found throughout the State. Today, while poppies grow in many areas, the only large fields left are here in the western Antelope Valley.

La Sabanilla de San Pasqual (The Altar-cloth of St. Pascal) is the name Spanish sailors gave the glorious fields of poppies which blanketed the California shores in the late 1700's. They were referring to the shepherd saint who tended his flock far from church and village and knelt in fields of wildflowers to commune with God. It seems to be no coincidence that the area in which the most spectacular fields of poppies grew came to be known as Rancho San Pasqual which is now known as Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre. Spanish sailors described these fields as rivers of gold which flowered some 25 miles toward the ocean.

Other names for the California Poppy have been Copa de Oro (Cup of Gold), Amapola and Dormidera (meaning the "sleepy one," because the flowers close up at night, when it is cloudy or when the cold wind blows). The botanical name Eschscholtzia was given to the plant by poet-naturalist Adelbert Von Chamisso of the Russian scientific expedition which visited California in 1816. The name honored his lifelong friend and surgeon to the ship, Dr. Johann Eschscholtz.

Eight miles of trails through the gentle rolling hills, including a paved section for wheelchair access, make the park a wonderful place to hike and explore any season. Get away from the city and relax in the quietude of the countryside, with the birds singing and hawks gliding silently overhead. Benches located along the trails make good places to sit quietly and watch for wildlife, such as meadow larks, lizards, and gopher snakes. If you're lucky, you may spot a coyote or bobcat. Numerous burrows around the trails may shelter mice, gophers, kangaroo rats, beetles, scorpions, or others."

Facilities

"The Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center is open March 1st through Mother's Day, with wildflower and wildlife exhibits, an orientation video, a gallery of Jane's botanical watercolor paintings, and a gift shop benefiting our non-profit association. The Interpretive Center is only open during the spring wildflower bloom and for special events.

Shaded picnic tables are available on a first-come/first-served basis year-round, with an interpretive display and a serene view over the valley to the San Gabriel Mountains."

Visiting the Poppies

The poppies were gorgeous. Normally, I wouldn't feel the need to post the rules for a State Park, but after watching countless people break them, and the malicious joy I felt watching Park Rangers issue citations, I'm going to post the park rules.

The poppies are fragile! Staying on the paths means they will be there for the next selfie taker, but more importantly, when you trample the poppies you damage the soil for numerous years in the future. Your selfie, or that perfect Instagram photo, might mean poppies won't bloom in that exact location for the next super bloom. So don't be selfish and follow the rules. All of the photos I took were taken from the well-maintained paths.

Stay on the Official Trails Only!

"Getting a picture of one really nice wildflower off the trail will crush all the plants along the way and compact the soil, leaving lifeless bare dirt for the next few years or longer. 

If someone else has started a trail, do not add to the damage. Follow the trail map to avoid compounding damage to illegal trails. Please be a responsible park user and leave the park as nice as you found it."

Do Not Pick the Wildflowers!

"Everything is protected, from the tiniest wildflower to the rocks on the trail. Damaging or collecting anything from the park is prohibited. Poppies wilt immediately after being picked, and they hold the seeds that we need for the next year's wildflowers."

Do Not Bring Dogs

"Dogs are NOT allowed, with the exception of trained service animals. Comfort animals are not trained service animals, and are not permitted. Pets cannot be left alone in cars; there is no shaded parking and vehicles quickly heat to fatal temperatures. We request, but do not require, that trained service dogs wear distinguishing markers to avoid misleading other visitors."

No Drone Zone

"Drones are prohibited in the airspace above the reserve for several reasons, including the visual threat to wildlife and intruding on visitors' experience."

Be Prepared for Wicked Strong Winds!

"Spring is normally very windy. Mornings can be calm, but check the weather report first for general conditions. Poppies also curl up if it's too cold out for pollinators. You can also check our weather station for real-time wind speeds, rainfall, and temperature updated every hour. The desert temperatures can vary widely and change suddenly, so wear layers for unpredicted changes in weather.  

Also, remember to bring twice as much water as you think you'll need, and drink a lot of it! The reserve is a cleverly-disguised desert and you don't feel how rapidly you lose water into the dry air. As the weather gets warmer, dehydration can suck the energy out of you quickly."

Enter Only Through the Front Gates

"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."

Drive with Caution on Lancaster Road!

"Where flowers are blooming near the road, watch for car doors swinging open, erratic driving as people take pictures out the windows, and children and dogs dashing out into the road. Drivers may slow down suddenly to find a place to pull over, or stop in the middle of the road to take pictures, or are just not looking where they are going. Please be patient and watch for the unexpected!"

Rattlesnakes are in the Fields!

"Mojave green rattlesnakes are active in the daytime when it's warm, and in the evenings on hot days. They are not aggressive and will not attack unless startled or threatened; they rattle their tail to alert you of their presence and avoid a confrontation. If you encounter one on a trail, give it space and it will most likely move out of your way. Alert staff if it is curled up adjacent to the trail. Rattlesnakes are an important part of the food web and are also protected; without them, rodents would overpopulate and consume the flowers that you came to see.

Safety outside the reserve: 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. Rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs is highly recommended. Be aware that all lands adjacent to the Poppy Reserve are private property."

Do Not Litter!

"There are no trash cans on the trails, so pack out your trash. Wind can be strong and sudden so hold onto cups, napkins, and wrappers. Please help us to keep the trails and all other areas litter-free."

"The Antelope Valley is located in the western Mojave Desert at an elevation ranging from 2600--3000 feet, making it a high desert environment. 

This State Natural Reserve is located on California's most consistent poppy-bearing land. Other wildflowers: owl's clover, lupine, goldfield, cream cups, and coreopsis, to name a few, share the desert grassland to produce a mosaic of color and fragrance each spring. As unpredictable as nature - the intensity and duration of the wildflower bloom varies yearly. California State Parks does not water or use any other means to stimulate the flowers; the land is preserved to only be influenced by the natural forces that had once influenced all of our surroundings. The broad views of this landscape provide eyefuls of brilliant wildflower colors and fragrance. Whether you most enjoy expansive fields or the close-up study of a single flower, this is the place to visit."

One Last Reminder

"The Antelope Valley is aflame with poppies, so for the first time I decided to go see some. For those of you not here, the entire west end of the valley is a gorgeous shade of orange (what isn't being used for solar power is, anyway). It's so pretty and when you get close it smells amazing, anyone within driving distance should come check it out.

However you might want to get out there early. A) it's getting warmer and warmer with each day, and b) people are flocking here and clogging roads out to see the bloom.

If you do come out, pay attention to what you're doing. Pay attention to the small two lane road out to the poppy reserve. Pay attention to pedestrians trying to get out and hike near the flowers. And for the love of all that is holy, PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOU STEP! Don't ruin these flowers to procure "the perfect selfie", don't smash and ruin these because you want a spectacular shot. You're not the last person to see them, others will be here this year, so don't be selfish and ruin their experience just because you want to be surrounded by the flowers, or your kids surrounded by flowers.

And if you ignore my pleadings please remember, the flowers are flourishing because of the rains, which allow the insects to flourish, and that in turn allows the mice and lizards to thrive. All those little things feed big rattle snakes, and if you ruin the flowers, I hope one photo bombs your picture mid strike."

~Jimmy Miller