Tag: Superbloom

  • These Are The Top National Parks For Your Chance To See The Spring Superbloom

    These Are The Top National Parks For Your Chance To See The Spring Superbloom

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    As the common saying goes, there are only two guarantees in life – death and taxes. Traveling the world can be a blast, but it can also be a big letdown.

    Perhaps you take a trip to Alaska, Iceland, or Canada in hopes of seeing the mesmerizing Northern Lights but come up empty-handed.

    Not every place is always as it appears, and it becomes even more unpredictable with natural phenomena.

    These Are The Top National Parks For Your Chance To See The Spring Superbloom

    Let’s be real – how often is the weather report wrong? A lot! When it comes to gorgeous wildflower superblooms, very specific conditions have to be met.

    California is one of the most reliable states in terms of giving visitors these out-of-this-world colorful photo ops, but stretches throughout the Southwest as well.

    We have buzzed with the bees, Rain Danced for the gods, and stuck our fingers to the wind to compile our best guesswork of giving travelers their best shot to witness one of the most scenic natural sights at U.S. National Parks.

    Lassen Volcanic National Park

    pink flowers blooming Lassen Volcanic National Park

    California may make headlines for all the wrong reasons but she sure is a beaut! Home to stunning National Parks, some more popular than others, you can’t go wrong immersing yourself in nature in this state.

    Not a household name, Lassen Volcanic Park in Northern California is among your best bets to witness a superbloom.

    Known for spectacular wildflowers, visitors tend to see them bloom in the summer months. However, California has been receiving more rainfall and may start to see vibrant fields and hills full of blue lupines, orange and yellow monkey flowers, and of course, the California poppy.

    Channels Island National Park

    flowers blooming channels island national park

    Those ready for an adventure should look no further than Channel Islands National Park off the California coast between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

    These standalone islands may not be a household name either, but you’ll be telling all your friends about it should you time your visit right to witness a superbloom.

    Home to amazing landscapes incomparable to any other park on this list, even if you do miss the ‘bloom you won’t be that upset.

    This park consists of 5 separate islands, all home to wildflowers consisting of seaside daisies and beach primroses blooming through winter and spring.

    Big Bend National Park

    field of bluebonnets in big bend national park

    Let’s give California a breather for a minute and go deep, deep, deep into Texas away from all the major cities.

    Big Bend National Park is tucked away in West Texas near the border of Mexico and has been trending on social media due to its beautiful scenery for selfie-takers.

    Despite its remote location, it’s one of the best places to see the state flower explode in color – the pretty Lupinus subcarnosus, otherwise simply known as bluebonnets.

    While it’s all but guaranteed to see these blue beauties lining desolate West Texas highways, bluebonnets transform hillsides into an otherworldly blue hue through the end of March in the right conditions.

    blooming pink flowers in big bend

    Many species of wildflowers thrive in the park, giving the usual green landscape a new light of color.

    Pinnacles National Park

    An hour and a half south of San Jose, California lies a phenomenal National Park with wondrous sites perfect for wildlife spotting, cave exploring, and rock climbing.

    Wandering this vast park will make you feel as if you’re on another planet with its wild landscape of gnarly rock formations.

    Wildflower season only adds to the allure with its already stunning scenery. Here, however, outdoor lovers can experience the rare Yellow mariposa lily and California jewelflower in addition to more common colorful wildflowers like lupines, poppies, and monkey flowers.

    field of flowers in pinnacles national park

    Joshua Tree National Park

    This quirky side of California isn’t just upscale desert towns and world-famous music festivals. Joshua Tree National Park, just outside of Palm Springs, is one of the best gambles to witness a superbloom.

    Commonly a Spring destination given the great weather, eye-popping flower blooms are just another excuse to visit.

    Named after the odd-looking Joshua trees, nature lovers have found the right place with endless sights for photo-ops given the additional 250 species of wildflowers to see, including the California poppy.

    Flowers tend to bloom in early spring in lower elevations, rising to higher elevations into the summer months.

    blooming arizona lupines at joshua tree national park

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  • The Best National Parks To See The Spring Superbloom This Year

    The Best National Parks To See The Spring Superbloom This Year

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    Spring is upon us, and forecasters are predicting a rare superbloom throughout the U.S. Southwest and California.  Although California saw its last superbloom in 2019, this phenomenon typically only happens every 10 to 15 years due to the very specific conditions required. 

    The best national parks to see the spring superbloom this year

    Superblooms occur throughout grassland and desert regions, which generally don’t get much rainfall.  More rainfall than usual in the fall and winter seasons, paired with mild temperatures and lack of wind, can cause dormant seeds to hydrate and sprout, resulting in a massive bloom of wildflowers come spring.

    Wildflowers will start to bloom as early as February and can even be seen into June and July, but peak season is March to April.  You can find them in arid regions of California, Arizona, and Nevada, and of course, state and national parks are some of the best wildflower-spotting locations.

    So here are 5 national parks you can visit this spring to see the superbloom:

    Close up of lupines and California poppies in a field of wildflowers

    1. Death Valley National Park

    Death Valley National Park is a spectacular and unique desert landscape on the border of California and Nevada.  It is one of the more famous places to seek out a superbloom, likely because it’s such a rare occurrence. 

    Being the hottest place on earth, this environment isn’t usually conducive to producing blankets of wildflowers.  That makes it an incredible sight to see when conditions are perfect enough for a superbloom to take place here.  In the spring, whether there’s a superbloom or not, visitors can see wildflowers such as desert gold, evening primrose, and desert lilies, as well as a variety of cacti.

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    Field of wildflowers with mountains in the distance in Death Valley National Park

    2. Joshua Tree National Park

    Joshua Tree is another National Park well-known for its spring blooms.  Located in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, the park is named after its unusual Joshua trees, but it’s also home to a diverse array of wildflowers. 

    Here you’ll find the famed California poppy, the state flower of California, as well as 250 other species of wildflowers.  Blooming begins throughout the Pinto Basin in early spring and in higher elevations in late spring and even into June.

    Purple and yellow wildflowers blooming in Joshua Tree National Park

    3. Channel Islands National Park

    Located off the coast of Southern California, Channel Islands National Park is the only seaside park on this list, giving a drastically different landscape and environment than its desert counterparts. 

    This also means a different and distinct variety of wildflowers, including beach primroses and seaside daisies.  Consisting of five islands, blooming typically begins earliest in the southeast. 

    Wildflowers blooming along a coastal cliff in the Channel Islands, California

    4. Pinnacles National Park

    Pinnacles National Park also has a distinct landscape, most notably its jagged rock formations and numerous caves.  Its sprawling grasslands and hillsides are perfect for seeing vibrant poppies, lupines, and monkey flowers in the spring. 

    In this park, you can also find some rare and endangered wildflowers that you won’t see elsewhere, like the yellow mariposa lily and California jewel flower.  The stunning scenery, paired with its unique wildflowers, makes Pinnacles National Park a must for a spring superbloom hike.

    Bluebonnets in a field during sunset

    5. Lassen Volcanic National Park

    In Lassen Volcanic National Park, you’ll find similar wildflowers to the others: the California poppy, vibrant blue lupines, and orange and yellow monkey flowers.  However, you’ll also find yet another distinct and breathtaking landscape that includes volcanic formations, rolling dunes, and tranquil lakes. 

    Multiple trails wind through the various peaks, including the Lassen Peak Trail, which will take you to the summit of the active volcano.  Because of its elevation, the best time to see the wildflowers here will be throughout the summer months, starting in May and ending towards August (and even into September for Mount Lassen).

    Purple and orange wildflowers blooming along a coastal road during sunset

    A Few Extra Tips

    Some other things to keep in mind for your own safety, as well as the sake of responsible travel, are:

    • Watch out for rattlesnakes (and other wildlife).
    • Leave no trace – please don’t pick any of the wildflowers or remove anything from the national parks, and of course, pick up after yourself.
    • Stay on trails – for your own safety and the protection of the wildlife.
    • Bring an EpiPen and/or first aid kit with you on your hikes.
    • Of course, you’ll want to photograph the spectacular fields of wildflowers, but unfortunately, drones are not permitted in any national parks.

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