Where to Find Spring Flowers in California
Originally published March 2022
Wildflowers are gorgeous and always a treat to find, but they can be unreliable depending on the weather that year and sometimes require a bit of hiking to see.
Spring in California is a beautiful time to visit as all the flowers are blooming throughout the state. This is a guide to both the wildflowers and flower fields you can find in California!
Please remember to stay on trails and do not walk through the flowers. It’s easy to get great photos that still look like you’re surrounded by flowers with the right angles.
Unsure what to wear for photos? Visit my Spring Dresses blog post for my favorite picks!
This post contains affiliate links that earn me a commission. For more information, read my disclaimer.
Best Time to See Flowers in California
Spring flowers bloom at different times depending on elevation and seasonal climate. The first flowers will bloom in the lower elevations in the desert around March.
From April to May, they will continue to bloom at increasingly higher elevations, and bloom as late as June and July at the highest peaks.
It can be tricky to time it right with all the variables that go into a wildflower bloom — especially if you’re hoping and searching for a superbloom. The California Parks official site posts regular updates as spring approaches so you can keep tabs on current wildflower blooms throughout the state!
Tips for Taking Photos in Flowers
Be Patient: Everyone else is also there to take photos so you may need to exercise some patience to wait for a spot to open up or wait until people move out of your frame.
Pick the right spot: You do not need to and should not step into flower beds or off trails to get photos. Find an area of a path where there are flowers on either side and have the photographer stand far away from you.
Work the angles: Once the photographer is far away with flowers between you and them, they can squat down to ensure they get lots of flowers in the foreground, with you behind them and more flowers behind you.
Shoot with a long lens: A long lens on your camera will make the fields of flowers behind you look even closer and allow the photographer to stand farther away.
Recommended Camera Gear
Canon R5 (Professional)
28-70mm f/2 RF mid-length lens (Professional)
70-200 f/2.8 RF long lens (Professional)
Peak Design Tripod (Professional)
Canon Rebel T7 (Beginner/Intermediate)
85mm USM Lens (Beginner/Intermediate)
Amazon Basics Tripod (Beginner/Intermediate)
Potrero Hill Wisteria
Similar to London, wisteria blooms throughout San Francisco in spring. In Protero Hill you can find a massive wall of wisteria at the front of a private house in April and May!
Wisteria doesn’t bloom for very long, so you have to time your visit well to catch it at the peak blooming period.
Location: 194 Connecticut St, San Francisco, CA 94107
How to Get There: Protero Hill is on the east side of San Francisco and is relatively easy to reach if you’re coming from the east over the Bay Bridge (Highway 80).
What to Bring:
Know Before You Go:
This is someone’s home. Be respectful by keeping noise to a minimum, don’t stay too long, and don’t trespass in any way.
There are public restrooms at Jackson Park one block over on Arkansas St. if you need them!
Lastly, parking is only street parking and can be difficult to find on weekends.
Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden
The tulips at Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden in San Francisco bloom throughout April and May, but are usually at their peak in April. This is one of my favorite spots in San Francisco because it also has a large, authentic Dutch windmill!
It’s a great photo spot that makes it look like you are in Europe without having to leave California. Some of the tulips grow to be as large as my hand and there are large grass areas so it’s easy to get incredible photos that look like you’re surrounded by tulips with the right angles.
The garden is close to Ocean Beach if you want to walk down and spend some time enjoying the ocean views after visiting Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden.
Location: 1690 John F Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94121
How to Get There: Head to the northwest corner of Golden Gate Park and park in one of the parking lots nearby. You can then walk a short distance to the garden.
What to Bring:
Know Before You Go: It gets packed on the weekends, so I recommend visiting early morning on a weekday if you want it to be empty!
Conservatory of Flowers
The Conservatory of Flowers is a greenhouse and botanical garden in San Francisco. It does cost a small fee to enter, but they also have flowers planted out front that are free to access!
Inside you’ll find incredible plants within the Victorian greenhouse. It’s such a beautiful spot to take photos and admire plants year-round, but the blooms out front are best viewed in spring.
There is also a separate Dahlia garden next to the Conservatory of Flowers that blooms in June and a Camellia garden a bit further away on the other side of the Dahlia garden. Fun fact: Dahlias are San Francisco’s official flower!
Location: 100 John F Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
How to Get There:
The Conservatory of Flowers is in the northeast corner of Golden Gate Park. Park in the parking lot on Stanyan St. within Golden Gate Park and walk to the Conservatory of Flowers.
You can also park at the Music Concourse parking lot under the Cal Academy of Sciences and walk 0.4 miles to the conservatory.
What to Bring:
Know Before You Go: The conservatory is closed on Wednesdays, some holidays, and annually for maintenance for two weeks in January. It is also free on the first Tuesday of each month!
Where to Stay: Stanyan Park Hotel
Moss Beach
You can find yellow mustard wildflowers all over the Bay Area — even the East Bay is covered in them in spring! While you can find them in many places, Pillar Point Bluff in Moss Beach has tons alongside the walking trail that are easy to access and have the beautiful ocean as a backdrop.
Moss Beach is a small coastal town north of Half Moon Bay and Mavericks Beach. The day we went was particularly foggy (expected for this area), which made the yellow flowers pop!
You can also walk out to the bluffs here to get above views of Mavericks Beach and watch the surfers on the famous waves.
Location: Airport St, Moss Beach, CA 94038
How to Get There: You can access them from the Pillar Point Bluff Trailhead and the Jean Lauer Trail.
What to Bring:
Know Before You Go: There’s a small parking lot at the trailhead that can fill up quickly. You can also find parking along Airport St. if the parking lot is full.
Where to Stay: Seal Cove Inn
Filoli Historic House and Gardens
One of my favorite places in the Bay Area is filled with flowers year-round! Filoli Historic House and Gardens is a large property with an estate and many different blooms throughout the property.
Spring is by far the most popular time to visit because of all the flowers that bloom throughout the gardens this season!
While you can find flowers all seasons at Filoli, spring has by far the most. It’s filled with colorful tulips, flowering trees, camellias, daffodils, wisteria, and many more types of flowers.
Visit my Guide to Filoli Historic House and Gardens for more information and photos.
Location: 86 Cañada Rd, Woodside, CA 94062
How to Get There: Filoli is in Woodside, California, near San Mateo. It is on Cañada Rd., which is accessed via Highway 280.
What to Bring:
Know Before You Go: Cañada Rd. is partially closed on Sundays for bikers. You will be re-routed to the other end of Cañada if you’re coming from the north.
Where to Stay: Hyatt Place San Carlos
San Mateo Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden in San Mateo’s Central Park is free to visit and has more than just beautiful greenery! They also have lovely white flowers that were blooming when I visited in May.
There is also a nearby rose garden, although the roses usually don’t bloom until summer. You may be able to catch both the white flowers in the Japanese Tea Garden and the roses if you come in late spring or early summer.
San Mateo downtown is within walking distance from the Japanese Tea Garden and is a lovely area to stroll, grab lunch, and shop. I highly recommend Sweet Green for delicious salads!
Location: 50 E 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401
How to Get There:
The Japanese Garden is off Highway 82. If you’re coming from the east, you will take either the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge (Highway 92) or the Dumbarton Bridge (Highway 84).
If you’re coming from the north or south, you will take Highway 82 until you reach the garden.
What to Bring:
Know Before You Go: There is not a parking lot, so you need to find parking on the surrounding streets. No pets are allowed in the garden.
Where to Stay: The Catrina Hotel by Kasa
Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve
Sunol Regional Wilderness is part of the Diablo Range. There are a few trails throughout this area, all of which get wildflower blooms!
It is beautiful in all seasons, but blooms in spring. There were a few patches of California Poppies blooming when I hiked the Flag Hill Trail at the end of February.
In April, the trail near Little Yosemite Trailhead was blooming with thousands of tiny, light purple flowers all over the hills we walked through. It was beautiful! There are also some yellow flowers that the cows were roaming around in when I was there.
Location: 1895 Geary Rd, Sunol, CA 94586
How to Get There: Head down Calaveras Road until you reach the turnoff for Geary Road on the left. Follow Geary Road and go through a ticketing stand (it costs money to enter on weekends).
For Flag Hill Trail, continue until you reach the first or second parking lot.
For Little Yosemite Trailhead, continue on Geary Road, pass the parking lot on your right, and park in either the next parking lot on your left or continue further to park in the lot at the end.
What to Bring:
Know Before You Go: There is wildlife on these trails! We’ve seen snakes, mountain lions, cows, lizards, birds, and more. Just be aware of your surroundings.
Where to Stay: Sonesta Silicon Valley
Shark Fin Cove
Shark Fin Cove is a beach in Davenport, just north of Santa Cruz, named for the shark fin-shaped piece of a cliff that rises out of the ocean. It’s one of the coolest spots in Davenport and a unique thing to do in California!
At the top of Shark Fin Cove there are gorgeous mustard wildflowers along the sides. The trails along the bluffs of the beach also have large patches of these flowers.
Shark Fin Cove is also a great spot to spend a day at the beach! Pack a picnic lunch, bring your beach towels, and set up for the day.
If you’re looking for more to do, spend some time in Santa Cruz (I recommend staying in Santa Cruz) and check out Wilder Ranch State Park!
Location: 2R47+8Q2 Davenport, California
How to Get There: Take Highway 1 North from Santa Cruz and it will take you directly to Davenport. If you’re coming from the north bay, like San Francisco, take Highway 1 south until you reach Davenport.
What to Bring:
Know Before You Go: Davenport is a tiny town and parking can be tricky on more crowded days. For Shark Fin Cove, parking is along the side of the road in a small lot.
Where to Stay: Dream Inn Santa Cruz
Death Valley
For some epic wildflower displays, Death Valley National Park is a great spot. Different flowers bloom at different times, depending on elevation and weather conditions.
During my trip to Death Valley in April, I didn’t spot any blooms myself, but I wasn’t in the right places! Visit the National Parks Service website for a guide on when and where to find different types of flowers throughout the park.
Location: Airport Rd, Furnace Creek, CA 92328 (Furnace Creek Visitor Center)
How to Get There: Follow Highway 190 to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. There is one fork in the road where you will turn right to continue down Highway 190.
What to Bring:
Water bottle (or two!)
Light Clothing
Know Before You Go: Death Valley, as expected based on its name, gets extremely and dangerously hot. Even in spring, it was over 100ºF by midday. Dress accordingly, wear sunscreen, and bring lots of water!
Where to Stay: The Inn at Death Valley
Figueroa Mountain
North of Santa Barbara, in Santa Ynez, there was a massive superbloom of flowers along the hillsides of Figueroa Mountain in 2019.
I can’t say for certain if the bloom will be as incredible when you go, but it’s still worth a visit to find out! If you’re lucky on your visit, it will be covered in wildflowers — lupine and poppies.
There isn’t much nearby since you’re deep in the mountains, but the surrounding areas are great spots to spend a day or get lunch! Check out the Danish town of Solvang, go wine tasting in Los Olivos, or explore the small town of Los Alamos.
Read my full post about our visit in 2019 for more information about this wildflower spot!
Location: 34.73696° N, 119.99498° W
How to Get There: Drive down Figueroa Mountain Road until you pass Tunnel Road on the right. Just past Tunnel Road, you’ll come upon a hillside on the left. You can park along the right shoulder.
What to Bring:
Snacks/water
Know Before You Go: During the superbloom, traffic along Figueroa Mountain Road was backed up and took about two hours. Give yourself enough time, be patient, and bring snacks/water in the car!
Where to Stay: Hotel Corque in Solvang
Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
North of Los Angeles are amazing poppy-covered hills in Antelope Valley. During superbloom years, the hills are a sea of orange California Poppies.
The blooming time can vary depending on the weather and climate each year. You can stay up to date with the flower bloom status on the official California State Parks website. They have a live webcam and post regular updates about the bloom status from February through May.
Spring can be hot in Los Angeles, especially in the valley. Check the weather so you can dress for the heat if needed!
Location: 15101 Lancaster Rd, Lancaster, CA 93536
How to Get There: “The reserve is located 15 miles west of Highway 14 near Lancaster. The visitor center is 1/2 mile north of the intersection of 150th St W & Lancaster Road.” Source: CA State Parks website
What to Bring:
Know Before You Go: This spot understandably gets flooded with influencers and photographers, especially because of its proximity to LA. Be patient, share the space, do not step on the flowers, and nicely ask people to stay on the paths if you see them stepping on the flowers.
Where to Stay: TownePlace Suites by Marriott Lancaster
Photo by Steve Wiesner via Unsplash
The Flower Fields in Carlsbad
If you’re able to make it down to Carlsbad in North County San Diego between early March and early May, these flower fields are a must-see!
These fields are filled with blooming ranunculeses of all different colors that are meticulously maintained. They also have a wide variety of attractions — an orchid greenhouse, a butterfly garden, and even food stands!
It’s more touristy than hiking to a field of wildflowers, but they are worth the visit. The flower fields extend far throughout the property. Most people stop at the ones near the entrance, but if you walk further in you can find full fields without many people.
Check out the plant shop on your way out where you can buy seeds, flowers, and plants!
Location: 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008
How to Get There: You can reach the flower fields via Highway 5 and exit at Palomar Airport Road. There’s a large parking lot that can get crowded at peak times/days and carpooling is encouraged.
What to Bring:
Know Before You Go: You must book tickets online in advance and select a time slot to arrive. Be sure you arrive during your time slot as you could be turned away if you arrive too early or too late!
Where to Stay: Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach
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