Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
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Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve - by Pamela Heckel on Unsplash
Description
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is located in northern Los Angeles County, in the Mojave Desert climate zone. It harbours the most consistent bloom of California poppies with other wildflowers also there in numbers: lupine, goldfields, owl's clover, cream cups and coreopsis. The wildflower bloom generally occurs from mid-March through April, but varies slightly each year. The reserve has and interpretative center (open March 1st through Mother's Day) and 11km of trails including a section paved to enable wheelchair access.
Access & Transport
The reserve is located in the rural west side of Antelope Valley in northern Los Angeles County, 15 miles (24 km) of Highway 14 near the city of Lancaster. The visitor center is located 1/2 mile north of the intersection of 150th St W & Lancaster Road.
Instructions & Recommendations
1- Visitors must stay on official trails. DO NOT walk where others have already crushed plants; it will increase the damage - and do not bring dogs. 2- Where flowers are blooming near the road, watch for car doors swinging open, erratic driving as people take pictures out the windows, and children and dogs dashing out into the road. 3- Mojave green rattlesnakes are active in the daytime when it's warm, and in the evenings on hot days. They are not aggressive and will not attack unless startled or threatened.
Environmental & Social
Infrastructure is kept to a minimum and proper rules are in place - not the park's fault if visitors ignore them :-(
Conclusion
If you happen to be road-tripping between the Central Coast and L.A. in March and April then by all means, it would be wasted opportunity not to enjoy nature's gift. Easier to time and schedule for LA residents, clearly.
Key positive
Beautiful landscape during blooming season
Good infrastructure
Key negative
Short season
Can be busy
Suitability
The interpretive centre and a section of trail are accessible for visitors with reduced mobility
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
August 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:1h
est. visit time:1h 30m
Sunrise / early morningOk
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightNo
Night – aft. midnightNo
Max number of travellers:8
Min. Child age:3
Max. child age:11