Where can I see wildflowers in Northern California? Here are your best bets this spring
A generous amount of water dropped over Northern California this winter, and rolling green hills adorned with wildflower blooms have arrived to the Golden State.
Previous superblooms, or an unusually high number of wildflowers, have drawn large crowds to California state parks.
This year “the wildflower bloom is expected to be good to better-than-average” in parts of California, said Jorge Moreno, a spokesman for the California Department of Parks and Recreation, in an email to The Bee in February.
Wildflower season typically starts at the end of February and lasts until early May.
Central California’s San Luis Obispo County has already reported a superbloom. In Northern California, there have been flower sightings this year, too. Santa Clara County, released a statement on April 10, that parks throughout the area will see a superbloom after this year’s winter storms.
Though Northern California doesn’t experience wildflower blooms in the same way that Southern California does, there have already been some spottings of natural wildflowers in some the region.
If you want to witness the breathtaking super bloom in Northern California this spring, here are some tips and places to look:
Where to spot wildflowers in Northern California
Colorful flowers are popping up throughout the state.
Sonoma County regional parks compiled e -brochure with possible flowers that bloom in the spring. The manual makes it easy to distinguish flowers and what month they usually blossom.
Here are some parks to consider as wildflower season gets rolling. You’ll want to double check to see if flowers have bloomed yet before heading out:
▪ South Yuba River State Park, in Nevada County, is hosting wildflower walks.
▪ Stevens Trailhead, in Colfax, is another popular location for flower sightings, however the park doesn’t start seeing flowers until around May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
▪ North Table Mountain near Oroville.
▪ Jepson Prairie near Vacaville.
▪ Hidden Falls, known for its California poppies, in Auburn.
▪ Russian Ridge Preserve, in San Mateo County.
▪ Sagehen Creek Loop near Truckee in Tahoe National Forest.
The California Department of Park and Recreation has a Wildflower Bloom page that is updated as parks begin to see flowers. As of April 3, it has listed four locations in Northern California, and seven in Southern California.
Northern California flower locations:
▪ Mount Tamalpais State Park
▪ China Camp State Park
▪ Trione-Annadal State Park
▪ Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Tips for wildflower viewing in California
The sight of colorful flowers is breathtaking, but it’s important to be mindful of nature when on the trails. Below are some quick tips from the California Department of Parks and Recreation:
▪ Stay on the trails.
▪ Don’t trample the flowers.
▪ Remember to pick up after yourself and not leave trash behind.
▪ Take photos and don’t pick flowers.
▪ Locations for superbloom sightings are often in rural places with no cell service, prepare in advance.
▪ Arrive early to beat crowds.
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