Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

I went years ago with the kids and it was in full bloom at the time. As soon as you see a bloom, I recommend going. I don't see any on the live cam yet which is too bad since it's late March already.

Very beautiful place, and it's a very good place for families to visit and walk around. Beautiful flowers all over the place and the trails are very clean and easy to follow. Overall loved it

We were unable to find any information about the best time to visit the park for the flower blooming season. After spending two hours traveling there, we were disappointed to find that the flowers were not in bloom.05/03/2025

It was my first time here. I was very excited to experience. All the poppies, but unfortunately, due to the weather, there weren't very much. It was pretty dry. However, I did try to make the best of it, and I still walked the trails. They had there to check out the views. They were some poppies, but not as it normally would look orange all over the fields. There are different flowers. That you can look at plenty of lizards and birds. But not too many poppies. They had a cool visitor center which sold a lot of items that were very cute. With poppies on them. They do have parking there.You do have to pay an admission.They also have restrooms 🚻. Please be mindful and pick up any trash that you have. Hopefully, next year, the weather will be perfect for the poppies to Bloom. There was no super Bloom this year.

Beautiful place, obviously much better to visit in March-April with all the gorgeous flowers have bloomed on good years. However, I have been hiking here on many occasions outside those days and the scenery is always beautiful.

Not a lot of blooms this year. Still a stunning trip. The gift shop is open and the volunteers are eager to help.

I went here for the first time and we liked it. We loved that the trails lead you back and no chance to get lost. Though cold, there are flowers especially on the side that does not have much wind. It’s beautiful. Fresh air. Greatfull to experience nature.

I overall enjoyed this place. The hikes were not very long. The incline was about 2% grade. Now to see the poppies in Bloom, it would depend on the weather. The poppies are sensitive. When I went, just before Spring, in late March, It had rained a lot causing the poppies too Suffer, due to lack of oxygen. So, as a warning look on their live webcam first or ask the ranger station if you can get a live person and ask them the conditions. The staff mini ATV vehicles riding around, but they seem to have missed many holes on the pathway that need filling in regularly. Good luck. 🙌🏼😅👍🏼🌅

We Californians are so lucky to have endless places of beauty to visit, & the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve is definitely one of them! I'm only kicking myself for having visited for the first time in 2019 after living here the majority of my life. It's not far outside of LA, 56 - 60 some miles depending on where in LA you live. We were so lucky the first time we visited was after a super bloom. According to a couple employees we spoke to while there, other life-long patrons commented that 2019 was the best many had ever seen. I really wish we would've gone after all the rain we had in 2023, but we definitely have added this to the list of day excursions we're taking this spring of 2024! The main visitor center (check website link below for their seasonal hours) has a lovely gift shop & all of their staff were wonderful & had so much information to share when we asked questions. The views are unlike any I've seen, breathtaking just doesn't cover it! The different colors that blanket the hillsides / mountains looked like heaven on earth, we took hundreds of photos & each one looks spectacular. So if you're going to take a trip there, make sure you have your phones & cameras charged & your eyes ready to be blown away by the beauty of it all... & please take care to abide by the reserve's rules & signage of where to not walk so flowers aren't damaged- there are so many areas you can be "in" the flowers just outside the reserve, so try to save those photo ops for those areas. :) You can check via their live cam on the conditions of the poppies so you can decide when you'd like to visit at: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31189 Here's some other links to help- https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/antelope-valley-california-poppy-reserve/ https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627 There are other places to visit in the area as well that they recommend on the Visit CA site, that we still need to check out ourselves. Have a great 2024 exploring CA!

Spring has sprung. Poppies are in bloom!!! Have time to visit before they are gone. Visitors are swarming to take photos of the vibrant colors. And I joined them too. I am local and I don't get tired coming to this place. It is beautiful and I love the view of never ending blooms. Fields and fields of flowers are so much. As far back as your eyes can see.

I've learned (the hard way) that poppy season can be very fleeting. We recently drove up to the Bay Area for a long weekend. On the drive we saw the beautiful coastal hills covered in luxurious green grasses. Many poppies, lupines, and assorted other colorful wildflowers were part of the scene. Before that trip, I'd been watching to see when the Antelope Valley poppy season would be starting. Apparently, we missed it! We drove out on 4/23/23 and the bloom was already off the rose, er, poppy. We even turned around while in the queue for the Poppy Reserve parking / Visitor Center because we could see that the stunning orange display we'd experienced in mid-April 2019 was already over in 2023. To the point of "nothing to see here". It wasn't a completely wasted trip, because there were other stands of brilliant poppies in other areas outside the reserve. Not what we had hoped for, but we have the memory of our previous visit, plus what we'd enjoyed on our drive up and down the 101 the weekend before. The 2022/23 winter lasted so long that I was hoping that poppy season would do the same. Lesson learned - you should check in on social media postings and be ready to go when people are posting about abundant blooming happening. It takes some patience to visit the Poppy Reserve, because lots of other folks want to be in the same space, too. Traffic is a big factor to getting into the park to hike among the California state flowers.

What a wonderful and beautiful trip to the Poppy Reserve. I have always heard and seen pictures, but finally made it happen in person and glad I did! It's one of those things that is simply better in person than pictures. Pictures never justify sunsets, the Grand Canyon, and add the poppy reserve to that list! My daughter and I who love our flora really enjoyed the scenery. Plenty of people buzzing around with the pollinators but with acres of open land that's okay. Plenty of ample areas to take a beautiful picture and take it all in. It is in the middle of the high desert so plan accordingly.

Highly recommend taking a field trip to the Poppy Preserve! A beautiful experience! Probably the most beautiful thing you'll find in Lancaster... There's plenty of trails to walk on, some a little more difficult if you want to get to the high peaks and take in the views!! I'm pretty sure the full bloom is yet to come so head out there! *Tip - the drive is beautiful coming in the back way from Santa Clarita through San Francisquito Cyn. through Lake Elizabeth!

Such a large area and so lovely to see it in the full blooming spring! We visited on a Wednesday in mid-April '23. Approximately a 1.45hr drive from LA/SGV area and so worth it! You get to see fields covered with golden yellow and orange poppies, tiny yellow Goldfield flowers, and some lupine and owl's clover purple flowers. You'll find these blooms for miles all along the road before you get to the actual marked destination area, so don't feel like you have to drive the extra 15min as it will be the same or in my experience fewer flowers when you get there. Either way, you won't be disappointed with the nice scenic drive. TIPS: Go on a weekday before 3pm as it tends to get very crowded otherwise. Take plenty of water and fuel - you're in the middle of nowhere, with no businesses only fields. Be cautious of rattlesnakes, especially on the hotter days. If you sit on the floor/dirt, just know it is likely you'll be left with a lot of little thorns on your clothes or hair - so definitely no good for the doggies (we had to comb the doggo before getting in the car). Do expect lots of bugs, it is normal. Most importantly enjoy and be respectful of the space and others.

INCREDIBLE & the perfect day trip! My wife and I went on a Sunday - took about an hour from LA and it was gorgeous! Breathtaking mountain views, the tulip fields are unparalleled & so amazing to experience. Only costs $10 per car and I love that it's supporting the CA parks! Also there's owl's clover & goldfields everywhere! Truly a remarkable creation & such a fun annual experience. Plenty of parking, bathrooms, etc. FYI: BRING A JACKET/SWEATER (it's surprisingly cold - probably because of the intense 24/7 wind). Great for pictures, etc. P.S. RESPECT THE PARK & NATURE/WILDLIFE (take pictures but DO NOT walk into the fields, trample on the flowers, etc.). Dead flowers = No flowers.

While visiting, keep in mind you need to stay on the trails and not trample the poppies for any other flowers. As you're driving in, there are a lot of areas that you can pull over along the way and see the flower fields if you didn't want to wait in the long line to get into the park. The line to get in can be very long and very slow moving. I think this is the time of year that they're typically in bloom, but of course with all the rain we've had this year is a super bloom.

Easy trail and beautiful views!!! A must see right now during spring. Pack a lunch or grab fruit from the fruit stands and just pull off and the side of the road and enjoy the views.

The poppies were closed on the reserve but nearby they were open. Poppies close up at night, and when it is windy or cloudy. It is still beautiful and has great trails. Line was about 20min to pay the $10 fee and park on a Friday. Visitor center closes at 4pm. We went to 2 view points: Tehachapi vista point (on the accessible trail) and Valley Vista point (on the moderate trail). There are 8 miles of trails to enjoy with picnic trails. They do have restrooms at the visitor center with running water and non-flushing toilets by the parking lot with extra porta-potties for peak poppy season. I would avoid the weekends during poppy season as the wait would be longer to enter the reserve.

Don't go until April. I went last week and there weren't an abundance of open poppies yet. Most were still growing or still closed. Parking is $15, but to be honest, you can just pull off the side of the ride (there are some) just before and after the reserve you can enjoy closer.... And, for free! Being at this location, you must stick to the trail where everything is roped off. Regardless of the weather, make sure you bring a jacket. It can be quite chilly and windy there.

V pretty. A major hike to the poppy fields but worth it, or so I hear, cause I didn't make it. Too many knee surgeries :3.

It's in full bloom! Poppies every where. We enjoyed the hike and picture taking. The line to get inside is quite long and slow. I wish they can find a faster system to get the cars inside faster. It took us almost half hour to get in and on our way out we saw very long line of cars barely moving. It's worth the wait though!

Always a great place to go and hike among the fields of flowers. You can explore / hike this place for hours if you want to. The grounds are well maintained. They now have roping along the pathways so to really discourage anyone from walking into the fields. Walking outside the pathway destroys the plants. The $10 parking fee is worth it. If the lot is full you may have to park on the street and walk in. No food or beverage sold on the preserve. TIPS: bring water bottles during your hike. Wear hiking or sturdy shoes with good non-skid soles. Wear SPF. There's no shade anywhere.

Beautiful area, the driving distance is worth the time, besides, it's only once a year that we get to enjoy this beauty that nature has provided for us.

One of my favorite things to do during spring is to visit all the wildflower spots in California. Antelope Valley poppies reserve is one of must visit places for me. Only one and a half hour drive from LA, this wildflower spot is a beauty. With well preserved poppies in a State Park, visitors can feast on the natural beauties of the California native flowers. This year, the poppies bloom in several hills and mountain within the park. The best time to see the full bloom is during morning hours between March to early April. The whole area for poppy viewing is about 2 miles loop. At times, the hills are very windy. But it's a very nice hike. Besides poppies, there are other California native flowers that are blooming along. Dipterostemon is another flower with purple color that's popular in this region. Getting here from Los Angeles is easy, just take the 5 and then they off on Magic Mountain Parkway to get there. Parking is $10, no entrance fees though.

Sadly, I never got to go BUT this review is for the management of the area. I also wanted to share this awesome hack for anyone not familiar. The fact that they have a constant live stream of the area is fantastic. You can visit this page (https://www.parks.ca.gov/live/poppyreserve) and hit play and you see the reserve as it appears at this very moment. This is really awesome and somewhat of a rare commitment to exceptional public service. Really helps people plan their visit. Huge thanks to the CA Department of Parks and Recreation for setting this up.

$10 parking. Opens at 830am- sunset. The loop around the reserve is 5.5 miles. Theres several trails that are between 1-3 miles. Theres a visitor center open 9am-4pm. Theres bathrooms at visitor center and porta potties in parking lot. Theres not much/if any shade so bring water, hats, sunscreen, umbrellas. No dogs allowed. They have a few picnic tables by the parking lot that have a bit of shade. Bring a lunch bc it's out of the way. If your going to see the bloom, check weather for warm days with minimal wind, as the poppies don't open if it's cold or windy. Fun hiking park with cool views, lots of critters. Highly recommend.

With all the cold weather we have been having lately, I was told i was too early, but didn't even bother to go into the reserve...No poppies at all in April 19th...The fields around them on the other hand were beautiful

This reserve has blooming poppies at the moment. All the other flowers you see on the pictures have either not bloomed yet, or will in the the begging of April or in the last week of March and so far the best spots to take some portrait pictures with the poppies is actually out side of the reserve , just about near the entrance of the road that takes you to the reserve. If you'd like more of a scenery picture, then the reserve would be the best option right now in the last week of March ( that is if you only want poppies as the main star of the pic)

There may not be any poppy's at the reserve during winter time, but it sure is a beautiful walk anyway! We explored 3 miles of the vast trails and were not disappointed. The wind keeps the heat down and the the scenery is picturesque. If you look hard enough, you can even find some beautiful plants. If it's this beautiful during the off season, I can't wait to come during the blooming season. Happy walking Yelpers!

California poppies are beautiful. My recommendation check the live forecast before arriving. Then you have an idea what to expect - or don't waste your time if their isn't anything to see. Parking is $10 a car just to let you know. They have multiple trails you can check out . Wear tennis shoes or closed toes. Enjoy ! Must see if you love flowers .

Eschscholzia californica. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but if you're a Californian, a botanist, or a fan of general cladistics, you should know that this binomial nomenclature should be somewhat familiar to you. Yes, that's the Latin name for our beloved California poppy, a hardy seasonal wildflower that seems to do best in poor, rocky soils where other plants have a hard time establishing a footing. The pretty little bloom became the state flower on March 2, 1903, and has been synonymous with the Golden State ever since. Like the flowers it protects, the Antelope Valley reserve is modest and unassuming. The reserve has a few interactive displays, a parking area, restrooms, and the like. But the real show stopper, of course, is the seasonal superbloom of several square miles of poppies. At its peak, the vast expanse of golden orange flowers blowing in the wind is breathtaking, and worth the time it takes to drive here. At the time of our visit in late April, the reserve was closed due to the coronavirus; however, the public land on the outskirts of Lancaster, just beyond the boundaries of the reserve are equally covered with the beautiful flowers. Most of the roads in this area are dirt, but they are well-maintained. Coming from Arcadia, we took the scenic route through the mountains east of I-5, up through Green Valley and Lake Elizabeth. Beautiful country, and a lot more fun than the 14 (just my opinion, of course). Along the way, there were small stands of poppies (particularly very close to Lake Elizabeth), but the real draw is the massive fields of these beautiful flowers on the valley floor. Be sure to bring a camera, water, and maybe check the weather. The desert landscape can be bitterly cold or aggressively hot in April when the bloom seems to peak. Honestly, just look at the pictures; they tell the story better than any review. This is a MUST DO for every Californian, as far as I'm concerned. Thankfully, the desolation and the beauty of this place, mostly devoid of people, was the kind of social distancing I needed after several weeks of being safer (and bored-er) at home.

I've always loved this place. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Just to get away and clear your mind and soul. Springtime poopies. But with this covid pandemic going on, it's not the same. Taking all precautions with mask and distancing ourselves from other, we were able to still capture what nature has to offer. Right from the start, exiting the fwy. Signs were posted saying that the reserve was closed. Due to what's going on and to avoid group gathering. At this point, just driving by and seeing it off the road was still beautiful. Right before the entrance of the reserve, security was rerouting everyone to uturn back. Instead, you were able to park on the side of the road and wander through the fields. This wasn't the main reserve but off the road. Cars were parked on the road. People did keep their distance from each other. Which was nice. There's roads that goes through the fields so you could drive through and enjoy them from afar. But like any nature center, be courteous and respectful. Don't pick the poppies and trample through the fields. We took pictures for course, but only followed and sat where there was no poppies that were damage. Respect what Mother Nature gave us.

Such a magical place. Mother Nature will never disappoint you. If you are driving from Los Angeles, ride is easy and green surrounding will make it even more beautiful. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve was closed due to Covid-19, but we could still visit poppy fields nearby. You can stop by the rode and enjoy colorful scenery. What I would ask anyone who is visiting, please, please, please, do not step over poppy's. Respect their beauty, don't leave trash behind, have fun and leave as it was before you came to visit. Let's respect our Mother Nature and leave it beautiful and clean for other to enjoy it.

This review is long overdue especially now that poppies are no longer in season. With anticipation, perhaps, we'll get another Super-Bloom in 2020. Direction: The Reserve is located 15 miles west of Lancaster at 15101 Lancaster Road. You won't miss it when you get closer, lot of people just parked along the roadside and enjoyed the patch of poppies that's the beauty of the wildflower, untamed and free. However, I didn't mind parking in the designed lot and paid $10 fee to get a trail map (can also be download online) as it's part of supporting the CA Park and Recreation. Here's my tips: -Both Visitor center and parking lot have restrooms -It's super windy on the day I went, don't wear anything that will be blown away (hat, skirt...) -The reserve is in the climate of Mojave Desert zone, the weather was dry plus windy though it wasn't hot, I still felt dehydrated and finished the water I carried sooner than I had expected . -Some part of the trails are quite steep, comfortable shoe is preferred but hiking shoes ain't required. The further away from the parking lot, the more tranquil you would feel. -Parking is $10 per vehicle, took a while to get into the parking lot as there's only one lane and one ticketing booth. Surprisingly the lot wasn't full, guess most people parked outside the preserve and walked. -The weather could change dramatically, generally, I think morning is usually better than afternoon for the area. It certainly was one of the most memorable spring days of 2019 that I fell in love in the sea of orange.

I love it here!! If you're coming from Downtown Los Angeles it may take an hour and a half or so depending on traffic and such. Once you get here it is completely worth the drive. I highly suggest not going to somewhere where there are a lot of people around or somewhere near phone lines. Find an open area where you can spend 30 minutes taking pictures. Really make your time worth it because you drove all this way to witness Mother Nature.

I went yesterday (trying to bless my Mom pre-mother's day). Of course it is still closed due to COVID. But so dried out compared to 3-4 weeks ago. Very few poppies left. - I am referring to the adjacent roadside areas, as the Calif State Park is still closed. When I was there in April 15th it was 5 stars, lush, like carpeted acres of poppies (that's where most of the photos are from). - What a difference a few weeks makes

If you haven't been, just go. Pictures and videos cannot capture the experience of walking thru a sea of poppies. It's surreal and if you happen to be in the area when they're in bloom - You're welcome! Follow the GPS directions. When you get close, you'll see others on the side of the road; parked and taking in the scenery. You can do the same however, if you go to the actual reserve, there are restrooms and an information center. Paths that'll lead you to elevations so you can see patches of orange as far as the eye can see. You don't see that every day unless you grow pumpkins. Bring comfortable shoes but don't step on the poppies. Don't be one of those people trying to get the shot for the Gram. Bring water to be hydrated. There are water fountains but I don't know how many flushes before it reaches the spigot. If you choose to park in the reserve, know it's not free. I don't remember how much but they accept both cash and cards. It's a surreal experience and if you want to encounter areas where it looks like you're walking in a sea of poppies - go right. Just keep going right.

This place was difficult to get to, and it was brown when I arrived. It's a pretty high parking fee just to get out to use the porta pottys. Like someone mentioned previously, the best poppies during season are just off the road before, instead of here. The guy who lets you into park is very nice in a booth. There's really not much to do but kind of hike up a hill.

I finally made it to Lancaster to see the Poppy Reserve!!! I wanted to do this for a few years and this spring is the spring for me to see in person this sea of orange hills spreading around, painted by nature! It's breathtaking, beyond beautiful, a great, unique place to visit. Wherever you look around, there are fields full of beautiful poppies. We're lucky to have a place like this close to LA! About an hour and half outside the city, off the 14 freeway, in Lancaster. They do have signs once you exit freeway, stay straight and follow them. You start seeing fields of poppies on the road, beautiful sight! I went on a weekday, and there were lots of people! A line to get inside the parking lot ($10), it wasn't moving so we turned around and parked on the main road for free. It's plenty of of parking on the highway, right outside the reserve! If you're in good shape, it's a cool walk, not that long to the reserve, so don't even try to park inside. Unless you have older family members with you, people with injuries, babies, etc, don't stay in line to park. It's so slow... You can get out and see the poppies if you park outside!!! Parking taken care of, there are restrooms and portable bathrooms inside the actual reserve, here and there before you even get to the Visitor's Center. You can stop by the center, grab a map, shop (they have a small gift shop), learn about the Reserve or start exploring the reserve, it's easy to do. There are many trails, easy to hike (wear comfy shoes, bring a jacket, it's windy, sun tan lotion, water), stay on the trails, don't step on the poppies, don't grab any, dogs aren't allowed, be considerate to others. I haven't seen rattle snakes, but there were a lot of people around. I haven't seen anyone inconsiderate while exploring the trails, everyone followed the rules, was nice, happy to be there, kind people who offered to take photos of us. On the road, people do stop and get in the middle of the fields, sad to see that. We need to preserve the fields outside the reserve, also! The poppies open up after 11 am and it's better to go on sunny, warmer days! Check their sites for updates re. the blooming process, tips before going- to plan your trip, they're good at it! A nice tip that my Yelp friend, Cris I gave me! Thanks Cris! Besides beautiful poppy field's, you'll see cute birds, Joshua Trees in bloom (right outside Visitor's Center), purple, white, yellow desert flowers everywhere. It's great to hike, to see the breathtaking views from above. The whole area screams SPRING! It's relaxing, a joyful experience, you leave this place a happy person! There are picnic tables on the property, bring food, snacks, it's nothing around in terms of restaurants. Can't eat on trails, though, but a picnic outdoors surrounded by orange hills full of poppies could be great! Loved the place, I took hundreds of photos and enjoyed every minute of being there. Heaven on earth?

Came to Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in early April. Pictures do not do this place justice!! This place can best be described using any synonym of the word BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Is it beautiful year round? Probably not because the poppies do not bloom year round. There are about 8 miles of trails to hike, and PLEASE stay on the official trails!! That way no damage is done to the habitat. We want to witness this beauty of a park for years to come.

This place is a state protected reserve area with the most consistent blooms of the state flower poppies, and it is located in the rural west side of Lancaster. It was near ten years ago I came to the area for the flowers, gracefully we had it again due to a very rainy winter season. The gorgeous blooming came back, which is visible from the space, and the desert is covered with a canopy of yellow wildflowers and orange blooming poppies. The park opens from sunrise to sunset, $10 entrance fee for the parking spot inside the park. Every flower and other plants that exist are currently blooming, the peak has been reached though the bloom is expected to last through April. There's few easy hiking trails, with flat or slight elevation, and Antelope Butte Vista Point is the highest point, where you could enjoy the most breathtaking view while expecting the least crowds.

With record rains bringing California out of its drought this season, this meant Super Blooms bursting out all over the state. And this year at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve was no exception. The most blooms Jackie and I have seen here in some years, and definitely better than our last experience several years ago. Weekdays are the way to go if you can manage it. I hear they sold out last Saturday and I've never seen that before. Spacious parking lot and all. But you will still find long lines getting in. It took us approximately 1 hour from the front entrance to the pay booth, an improvement of about an hour from several years back on a Sunday. If you're planning to visit this season, remember, poppies are only in bloom on average from March through mid-April here. Then it gets quite spotty. A Few Essential No No's: No trying to beat the long lines by flying and landing your private helicopter in one of the park's nearly 1800 acres of large fields! This actually happened this past weekend with one couple and is illegal. Stay on the pedestrian trails and stay off of the poppies! Did you know that stepping into a field of poppies can stunt future growth for several years? Plus you my step right onto a rattlesnake and get bitten. No untrained service dogs or pets of any kind, and leaving them in the car in the parking lot unattended is strictly prohibited! Yes that means your "little lap babies" too. Wear comfortable shoes! Today Jackie and I walked 3 1/2 miles and you can go many more if so desired; this place is that big. And altitude levels are 2400 to 3000 feet so the terrain can get quite steep. We reached the highest level. Follow those rules and you're pretty much set. Parking for cars is $10.00, $9.00 for seniors 62 and older. The reserve is open 7 days a week, all year, Sunrise to Sunset.

Whoaaaaaaa! Insane amount flowers everywhere on the floor of the Antelope Valley. Get here between 8.00am to 9.00am on weekends and you should be able to find a spot to park within the reserve. Many people have opted not to go to the preserve and hang out on some flats outside of the preserve. Even though the blooms were spectacular outside of the preserve, you will miss the rolling terrain of the preserve and some of the densest patches. The blooms don't last forever, come as soon as you can! This year is another super bloom year. We may not see one for another for ten years.

Such a beautiful place! Nature's beauty is truly incredible. Not too long ago California was inundated with wild fires. Over the months, rain storms pelted the areas that were once ash. Now close to Spring a Superbloom has arose from the ashes. The Poppies are in full bloom and co wrong the mountain side. Take a hike on one of many trails that lead you through great vistas of the Antelope Valley. Make sure not to be an a-hole and respect the beauty before you. There is no need to pick the poppies, roll around them, or trample them. Be respectful. Take your candids and keep moving. Leave the flowers as is for many others to enjoy as well!! Btw. There is not enough parking for everyone visiting. Make sure to get there early and secure your spot or you run the risk of parking in tow zones.

Definitely coming back!!! (Just not during the weekend!) I went on Cesar Chavez day, Monday. Majority of the kids/families had the day off, so it wasn't too extreme as the weekend (many of my friends went on Saturday and Sunday and said it was not fun at all). I got there around 2pm. Though busy, I listened to some of the reviewers and sucked it up and waited in the line of cars to pay for parking. Totally do that! Yes, you'll be tempted to pull over like everyone else because you see these beautiful flowers on the side of the road, but don't! You can always do that on the way back. But, the reserve is where it is for a reason. The reserve has the highest hills and wonderful views in comparison to the side of the road. Pack a lunch/snack so you can enjoy the poppies at the picnic benches, and have water with you during the hike. Wear appropriate shoes and wear a hat! You can walk for miles surrounded by the beauty of nature. Oh, and of course, stay on the trail!

Everyone knows it's gonna be a great year for the superbloom, so as others have already mentioned, if you want a parking spot that's near the trails, you gotta get here by 8am, otherwise don't bother driving up. Parking is free by the dirt roads outside the reserve if you want to avoid hassle and paying. I took a star off for the fact that the parking situation got a bit hectic - it seemed like for a while, people could still drive into the lot after paying $10 when it was apparent that the lot was full. I got lucky to snag the last spot after circling for a bit, otherwise I could see myself needing to drive back out for a spot even after paying my $10 for parking. If you time it right, actually around mid-morning, it seemed like most people decided to park outside the reserve and do the half mile hike, so the lot actually had a decent amount of spaces left if you didn't want to walk that far and wanted to come a little later. This place was larger than I thought, and you can easily spend a good half day if you decide to hike all the trails, with endless poppy fields to check out. The trails are well kept and overall the place is quite clean. There are bathrooms in the visitors center if you don't want to deal with the portable toilets and don't mind a wait for the women's bathroom. PSA to enforce what others have already said: The flowers are amazing and very exciting, but please don't step outside of the trails to get that Instagram picture and risk damaging the flowers for the future. There are plenty of spots that are great at the right angle without needing to get in the field.

Amazing hike came here with my sister on an early Sunday morning weather was perfect. Hikes are pretty easy when you get too the top it gets pretty windy ended up leaving around noon and it seems to be like there rush hour long line to park

This is a State park, not Federal so no military discount. Seniors aged 62 & over get $1 off the entrance fee. There's restrooms on site & a visitors/information center that closes a bit earlier than the actual reservation. Lots of T shirts, magnets, informative videos & posters to look through. As far as the poppies go, they're beautiful! Please remember to stay on the trails, don't pick the poppies, and don't walk/lay on them for the purpose of instagram worthy photos. Don't bother coming if that's your intention. Just stay home & don't ruin nature for the rest of us. Admire from afar, there's plenty of opportunity to get beautiful shots without damaging the flowers.

Absolutely breathtaking!!! I came here to see the Super Bloom and it the poppies were everywhere. All throughout the fields and the mountains were poppy heaven. It's quite a bit of a drive, but it's sooo worth it. We came here on a weekday and it wasn't busy at all. Also, there are plenty of poppies leading up to the reserve if you don't feel like driving up the whole way. Note: Make sure to stick to the paths to avoid destroying the flowers and/or snakes.

One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Pictures don't do justice. I tried taking hundreds of pictures just to capture the beauty of this place but I couldn't. You have to go see it with your own eyes to believe it. Go early in the morning to avoid traffic and to be able to find parking. The flowers are at full bloom right now, go and see it. Weekdays will be better than weekends. Stay in the trails please and don't step on the flowers. It is too beautiful and precious to destroy it. Take water and hats, it gets hot and there is no shade. We drove from Los Angeles and let me tell you it was worth the drive. Can't wait to go back and hike again. Lovely trails.

Such a cute date spot! Parking was super easy and the trail map given to us by the ranger allowed us to explore the trails without getting lost. The nature was beautiful and there are several lookout points along the trail paths where you can get beautiful photos! Be sure you stay on the paths and be kind to the plants and animals. Don't forget to check out the little shop and grab a souvenir to support the park!

The annual California Golden Poppy superbloom is one of those gifts from Mother Nature that you need to receive graciously. I've been wanting to go for years but timing never worked out. This year, I was determined. And when my cousin told me she went yesterday, I decided that I would go today. You see, the superbloom only lasts a short while and the best time to go is after it has rained quite a bit. The weather is at that point where it's about to just get really hot which is not good for the poppies. I went at the perfect time. There are rolling hills, plains, and meadows for miles covered in golden poppies. This is nothing short of breath taking. Although the park is currently closed, there are lots of places along side the road you can stop and take photos or videos or pictures. If you do take pictures in the Poppyfields, please make sure not to step on them! Five stars and two snaps. Happy Earth Day 2020.

Came here every year for the poppy season in spring, but the fall landscape here is also breathtaking. You can take a glance at the entire Antelope Valley by standing on the vista point or just higher hills. There're barely visitors in fall, so it can be a good news if you're a quiet person and would love to enjoy a peaceful moment on your own. There's no need to worry about getting lost because it's a very small park which is in a flat, approximately 1mi * 2mi area. I'm using T-Mobile and my phone works here perfectly with 4G network. Visiting here in cloudy days is more recommended, and definitely not windy days because the wind can be very hard.

When the rains come at the right time around late November & December to germinate the California Poppy seeds, and there is more rain in January & February to sustain growth, the California Poppy Reserve's hills are ablaze with golden yellow orange as well as patches of blue, purple, pink, & yellow. I witnessed that in 2010. With only about 4 inches of precipitation at the wrong time in rain year 2017-2018, there were only 6 California Poppies in bloom within the immediate gaze of the visitors' center in April 2018. The hills with its 7 miles of trails to wander amongst the flora were barren. Perhaps next year. The Poppy Reserve is the last place to see vast tracts of land filled with these golden flowers although back in the 1700's poppy fields were a common sight in Socal. Rancho San Pasqual, now Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre had the most spectacular show of flowers. There are helpful, informative volunteers at the Visitors' Center. The center also has a gift shop, and interpretive displays of the flora & fauna in the surounding hills.

I went to see the poppies at Walker Canyon as well, but Antelope Valley was special in that there were flat fields of poppies as far as the eye could see. We went on a March 30 around 11am. There were nice trails, and even though there were a lot of people there, it didn't seem like it since the space was so expansive. It was sunny, but a lot more windy there than LA, so I'm glad I brought a jacket. I didn't see any formal parking lot, everyone was just parked along the side of the road. The park was so large that you could drive around and park at different spots to get to different viewpoints.

Just...WOW. I came here during the super bloom this past year on a random Tuesday to avoid the crowds, and while there was definitely still a good number of people at the site, parking was reasonably easy and the actual fields didn't feel overcrowded at all. The poppies and other wildflowers here are ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING. It's a scene that comes straight out of a dream: rolling seas of bright orange and yellow with sprinkles of green, white, purple, and blue throughout. It's a must see and worth the 1.5 hour drive from LA if that's where you're based (like me). The trails immediately surrounding the entrance are relatively crowded, but walk further into the reserve and you'll see more pristine fields with far fewer people. As a note, I actually parked outside of the main parking lot. It looked like there was a pretty long, slow-moving line of cars waiting to get into the lot, so I ended up parking along the street (the one you drive on before you turn into the reserve) instead. Definitely a good decision--the 10 minute walk from my car was far shorter than the wait to get into the lot. Be aware though, it can get super windy here! Being dumb, I wore a dress that I had to literally clamp down with my hands the entire time...a bit of an L but only had myself to blame oops. Largely because of the winds, it also tends to be pretty cold so make sure you bring a jacket!

We visited on April 26, 2020 after hearing about the bloom from a fellow Yelper. While the park was closed, there were plenty of beautiful flowers for miles around. We got there at 10:30 and left an hour later. Weather is already starting to get pretty warm, so I'm not sure how much longer the flowers will be survive. We parked along side the road about half a mile east of the reserve. There are trails in the rolling fields for walking and for cars, but make sure not to venture off. No trampling please. I had never experienced tranquility in this type of setting before. With all that is going on, standing amongst this field of orange- I became calm and still. I could almost hear the stories that the poppies were sharing with the visitors. I'd definitely say this is a bucket list item for sure. This is much more than just a place to take photos for your IG. Make sure to put away the camera and just be in the moment. Let's hope for a rainy winter 2020 so that the superbloom will return again next year in all its glory.