Natural History Wanderings

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR reports

As of April 24th, a few patches of poppies are still blooming across the western slopes but most other wildflowers have faded to a brown background. The beavertail cactus in front of the visitor center is in bloom and Acton encelia and buckwheat are beginning to bloom on Kitanemuk Vista Point.

Visitors may park on Lancaster Road and walk in for free, but must stay along the entrance road and enter at the kiosk; visitors entering the park through the fenceline or by walking across the open fields from the road will be fined.

Stay on OFFICIAL TRAILS only. Walking in the poppies crushes all of the wildflowers and will result in a ticket. DO NOT walk where others have already damaged plants or there is only bare dirt; it will compound the damage and leave a scar for years to come. No dogs, bikes on trails, drones, or picking flowers.

Poppies open up in mid morning, and curl up in the late afternoon or if it’s cold so check the weather forecast before arriving.  The weather can change suddenly and it is frequently windy here during the spring.  This is a DESERT grassland, so drink water often.  Note that it can be very windy here in the spring.

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