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The Three Best Places To See The Super Bloom This Weekend
The super blooms across the Southland show no signs of slowing down, so here are a few more options for prime flower exploring this weekend.
FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN
About three and a half hours from downtown L.A.
Up north on the edge of Los Padres National Forest is Figueroa Mountain, one of the peaks in the San Rafael Mountains about an hour and a half north of Santa Barbara. During most of the year it's a regular hike, but, during wildflower season, the slopes are in full colorful splendor. Right now it's covered in poppies, fiddlenecks, milk maids, buttercups, and others, with more to come for the rest of wildflower season.
Figueroa Mountain is 50 miles north of Santa Barbara. At Los Olivos on CA-154 take Figueroa Mtn. Rd. 12.5 miles northeast.
CARRIZO PLAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT
About three and a half hours from downtown L.A.
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Carrizo Plain National Monument has burst into full springtime color this year. The park is about as far from downtown as Anza-Borrego, but you head north instead of south. Carrizo is always a reliable spot for flowers, but that's not the only reason to visit — it's a beautiful and historic national monument in and of itself. The almost 247,000 acre region is the largest native grassland remaining in California. The San Andreas fault cuts straight through it, with Soda Lake sitting right at the center of the grassland. The Lake is shallow, white, and alkaline, with no external drainage, making it a strikingly dystopian geographical formation. Visiting Carrizo not only fulfills the seasonal need for beautiful flora, but it also engages a deep curiosity for the unfailing weirdness of West Coast geography.
Carrizo Plain National Monument is located at 17495 Soda Lake Rd, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.
TEJON RANCH
About an hour and a half from downtown L.A.
Tejon Ranch is the largest private tract of land in California, and it's also one of the best spots to see wildflowers. The conservancy researches the biodiversity of the area and works to protect and preserve its natural ecological state, so it allows for a truly incredible super bloom experience. Because it's a private area, though, there are strict rules around public visitation. Check our their calendar for accurate information about when the super bloom is accessible to the public.
Tejon Ranch is located at 4436 Lebec Rd., Lebec, CA 93243.
Honorable Mention: (Unfortunately, the trail is closed through April 2nd, because too many visitors have been getting into the wildflowers)
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DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE
A little over three hours from downtown L.A.
Diamond Valley Lake is a man-made reservoir about 27 miles northeast of Temecula. It's a perfect place to hike, with trails both lining the lake itself and traversing the wildflower areas. The region is covered in poppies and Canterbury bells, and the entire hiking experience is set up to expose you to as many flowers as possible. The Metropolitan Water District is taking extra measures to enforce visitor rules, so check back on their website for updates on when it reopens to the public.
The Diamond Valley Lake visitors' center is located at 2325 Searle Parkway, Hemet, CA, 92543.
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