Favourite Routes Home in the West
Winter rains have created conditions for brilliant displays of wildflowers in state parks throughout California, Oregon and Washington.
Thanks to the return of heavy winter rains, wildflowers will be blooming in many California State Parks by the time Canadians make their way back to British Columbia and Alberta.
“After four years of drought, we expect to see lots of green grassy hillsides and plentiful wildflower displays this spring,” said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, which hosts Camp-California.com, the travel planning website.
Sipe noted that campgrounds are located near most state parks and serve as excellent base camps for snowbirds with time to take a scenic drive home.
Clusters of California poppies and other wildflowers are often spotted along some of California’s most scenic highways, such as State Route 1 between Morro Bay and Carmel and State Route 49, which traverses the Sierra Nevada foothills as it passes through historic mining towns.
Many of California’s state parks also provide excellent opportunities for spring wildflower viewing. Here are some of the best locations, going from south to north, according to state officials:
Southern California Low Desert
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, east of San Diego via Highways 78 and 79. For the latest wildflower reports, visit http://theabf.org/wildflowers.
Southern California High Desert
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, 24 kilometres west of Lancaster, generally features its greatest blooming period in March and April, depending on rain. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627