Where to Camp During the 2026 Superbloom.

California’s 2026 Superbloom Forecast

We analyzed over 150,000 research-grade iNaturalist observations from 2021 to 2025 to map when and where wildflowers appear across California. The pattern is consistent: blooms start in the low deserts in February and move north and upslope through spring. Here’s where to go, when to visit, and where to camp nearby.

The Desert Wakes Up First

Two hours east of San Diego, Anza-Borrego is consistently the first place in California to bloom. Look for desert lily — tall white trumpets rising from sandy flats — alongside spreading mats of pink-purple sand verbena and large white evening primrose along the washes. Henderson Canyon Road and Coyote Canyon are the best viewing spots.

February to Mid-March · Free day use · Arrive early on weekends

The Desert Floor Lights Up

Death Valley doesn’t bloom every year, but when winter rain is sufficient, the lower elevations along Badwater Road come alive. Desert gold — a small, bright yellow sunflower relative — covers the gravelly fans in dense patches. Purple phacelia lines the wash margins, and gravel ghost sends up translucent white flowers on nearly invisible stems.

Mid-February to Early April · $30 vehicle entry · Best at low elevations

Fire Followers on the Coast

The Santa Monica Mountains stretch along the coast northwest of LA, spanning Malibu Creek, Point Mugu, and Topanga state parks. Recently burned slopes produce “fire follower” species that emerge from long-dormant seed banks — including fire poppies, small orange flowers with dark basal spots found almost exclusively in scorched soil. Mariposa lilies and lupine fill the coastal grasslands and oak woodlands.

Early March to April · Free (most areas)

Peak Poppy Season

An hour and a half from LA on the edge of the Mojave, Antelope Valley is the most reliable poppy destination in the state. When conditions align, entire hillsides turn solid orange with California poppies, the state flower. Bright yellow goldfields fill in the gaps between. Poppies open in the warm morning sun and close in the afternoon wind, so visit early in the day.

Mid-March to May · $10 parking · No dogs on trails

Native Grassland Flowers

Carrizo Plain National Monument is remote — three hours from the nearest city, gravel roads, no cell signal. It’s also the largest remaining native grassland in California with spectacular wildflower displays. Bright yellow hillside daisies stack up the eastern slopes. Goldfields carpet the valley floor. Owl’s clover — pink-purple spikes — grows in alternating bands with other species, creating a striped pattern across the plain.

Late February to Early April · Free · High-clearance vehicle recommended

Waterfalls and Wildflower Meadows

North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is a volcanic mesa near Oroville, about two hours from Sacramento. In wet springs, seasonal pools feed dozens of small waterfalls off the mesa’s edges. Between them, meadows fill with sky lupine — short blue-purple spikes — bright yellow goldfields, and dense mats of yellow carpets growing right up to the seasonal pools. It’s unlike any other bloom site in the state.

Late March to May · $5 CDFW Lands Pass (buy online) · Unfenced mesa edges

2026 Superbloom Hotspots

Five years of data, one consistent pattern: desert floors bloom first, inland valleys follow, coastal ranges and northern meadows close the season. Every dot on this map is a real iNaturalist observation. Below are all the destinations we’re tracking for 2026.