The superbloom is in full swing. Here are the best viewing spots on the Central Coast

Haven’t made it out to see the wildflowers yet this spring?

The superbloom has been spreading across California since late March, dusting its rolling hills and fields in giant swaths of gold, orange and blue flowers. And here on the Central Coast it’s been no different.

According to the Theodore Payne Foundation, which manages the popular Wild Flower Hotline where people can learn the weekly status of California’s blooms, the superbloom is in full swing across the region, with a variety of flowers on display.

From the massive, viewable-from-space bloom at Carrizo Plain National Monument to Santa Barbara County’s emerging bloom, here’s a list of some of the best places to spot wildflowers on the Central Coast this spring, according to the Foundation.

Before you head out, make sure to check out our tips and advice here on how to responsibly enjoy the superbloom.

Carrizo Plain National Monument

First things first: If you want guaranteed flowers and a grand spectacle, a trip out to the Carrizo Plain National Monument in eastern San Luis Obispo County is just the ticket.

This bloom is so large, in fact, that it’s been photographed by satellites, as seen in recently released images from NASA.

Visitors to the Carrizo Plain can expect to see a huge range of flowers, including yellow hillside daisies, goldfields, San Joaquin blazing stars, Great Valley phacelia, chick lupine, Valley larkspur, baby blue eyes, red maids, thistle sage and fire-red wind poppy, according to the Foundation.

You’ll want to visit Carrizo Plain soon, the group warned, because the region is beginning the downside of peak bloom.

Shell Creek Road

This is a beloved spot for most San Luis Obispo County residents. As you make your way down Highway 58 toward the Carrizo Plain, make sure to stop along Shell Creek Road for a hyper-local superbloom.

Here goldfields, lupines, poppies, tidytips and baby blue eyes line property nestled along the roadway, making a perfect not-too-far-of-the-way destination for those wanting to check out the blooms.

The land is private property, however, and owner Daniel Sinton urges visitors to be respectful of that when taking in the flowers. At the start of this year’s wildflower season, Sinton told The Tribune he keeps the property open for people to enjoy the natural beauty, but asked for visitors to be conscientious when out there by obeying all signage. That includes reminding people to park off the road when they stop for a spell.

Like Carrizo Plain, this area also appears to be in the downswing of the bloom, so make sure to stop by soon to take it in.

For alternate viewing spots in the same area, check out Bitterwater Road and La Panza Road.

Figueroa Mountain

If you’re looking for an area that’s just getting started on its bloom, look no further than Figueroa Mountain in Santa Barbara County.

According to the latest Wild Flower Hotline update on April 14, the wildflowers are just now emerging below the ranger station on Figueroa Mountain Road, while higher up have not yet begun flowering because of cool temperatures.

Visitors can expect to see California poppies, California golden violets, yellow buttercups, blue fiesta flowers, sky lupines, pink canyon peas and shooting stars scattered around the region, according to the hotline.

Grass Mountain in the area is a particularly beautiful spot, according to the hotline, where visitors can take in the classic combination of orange poppies and lupines.

Be wary: the road sustained significant storm damage during the winter, but repairs are currently underway. Until that time, much of the higher elevation of the road is inaccessible.

Other Central Coast spots to check out

There are also smaller pockets of flowers scattered throughout the Central Coast, often in the vicinity of the region’s highways, open spaces and recreational trails.

Some other places where wildflowers have been reported are in the Pismo Preserve, the poppy fields on the Pt. Buchon Trail at Montana de Oro State Park, San Simeon and South Hills and Irish Hills natural reserves outside of San Luis Obispo — though these blooms are significantly more sparse.

Know of other good superbloom viewing spots on the Central Coast? Email reporter Kaytlyn Leslie at kleslie@thetribunenews.com to have them featured in The Tribune’s ongoing wildflower coverage.