California wildflowers at Anza Borrego Desert Park, CA

Wildflowers Anza Borrego Desert Park

I spent spring break in California photographing wildflowers at Anza Borrego Desert Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Walker Canyon near Lake Elsinore. The flowers were spectacular in spots this year. All that winter rain paid off. After years of drought, caterpillar plagues, and weed infestations, the flowers finally had their turn this year. Anza Borrego was particularly pretty as fields of flowers were blooming. Interestingly, Joshua Tree just to the north was not nearly as vivid although the Palm Springs area had plenty of flowers.

Anza Borrego Desert Park

The crown jewel of my trip was Anza Borrego Desert Park, about a two-hour drive from San Diego. I had been wanting to come here for a decade to see wildflowers but haven’t had the chance to make it out. I picked the right year to come. The flowers were exploding in color and size this year. Huge fields of desert sunflowers, sand verbena, and desert primrose graced the area around Borrego Springs this year. Other parts of the park were;t as vivid but were still pretty, too. I spent most of my time between Arroyo Solado campground and Borrego Palm Canyon. This area in the northern part of the park seemed to have the biggest concentration of wildflowers. I drove up the Coyote Canyon road and saw several fields of flowers as well. Palm Canyon was also a nice respite. I even saw a herd of desert bighorn on a hike to the palm grove.

Lake Elsinore

I hiked a trail off the Walker Canyon had, which is just north of Lake Elsinore, about 65 miles southeast of L.A. This area had fields of poppies growing all over the hillsides. About a mile down the trial was particularly beautiful as people had not damaged the fields like they had closer to the road. I had fun getting low in the fields and pointing the camera up. This made for some cool shots with poppies framed against the blue sky.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park had one area of good wildflowers right at the park entrance on the Cottonwood entrance to the south. The Cholla garden looked like it had almost been completely killed by drought and was just starting to recover this year. The Joshua trees and mojave yuccas were blooming as well higher up in the park. I also found the largest beavertail cactus I have ever seen which must’ve had over 100 buds on it. I wish I could go back in a week and get a picture of it fully in bloom.

Art Smith Trail

I hiked the Art Smith trail near Palm Desert. This trail was full of wildflowers such as brittlebush, lupine, and beavertail cactus. It was a steep but rewarding hike. Great views of Indian Wells open up below you as you climb higher.