Let's Visit the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve to See the Poppies in Bloom 

We Like L.A. helps you find the best things to do in Los Angeles! If you like the above trip to the poppy reserve you might also enjoy our video where we tackle the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook: • Hiking the Baldwin Hil...
* * * * *
In this video we take a trip to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. The brilliant orange blooms of the California Poppies are definitely something everyone should experience for themselves. But as you have probably heard before, some years produce a better bloom than others.
Fortunately the rain fall for the winter of 2016-2017 has set up a vigorous bloom, and we had a chance to visit the reserve on March 29, 2017 in the midst of an impressive bloom.
The wildflower fields were most spectacular this year on the eastern side of the park. We took the trail up to Butte Vista Point then wrapped back around a hill on the eastern edge that showcased a gorgeous display of both poppies and some other wildflowers as well.
Our whole journey was probably around 3 miles, and at a leisurely pace, took about 2.5 hours to complete, with plenty of time to stop and take photos.
Some advice if you’re going:
1. Go EARLY and go on a WEEKDAY if at all possible. When the bloom is good it draws big crowds. When we left the park around noon on a Wednesday the line to drive into the park was spilling out on to Lancaster Road.
2. Definitely bring water and sun protection. You'll be hating yourself if you don't
3. Parking is $10 but you need cash and we needed exact change so we could probably deposit the payment for our day pass.
4. Park hours are sunrise to sunset. We got there at 8:15 a.m. and it was already getting a bit crowded. By the time we left at noon-ish it was a madhouse.
DrivingDirections:
The Reserve is located 15 miles west of Lancaster at 15101 Lancaster Road.
From Highway 14: Take the Avenue I exit and head west 15 miles. Avenue I becomes Lancaster Road. It'll be on the right.
From I-5: Take Hwy 138 east and turn right on 170th Street West. Make a left at the end, onto Lancaster Road. Follow the road two miles.
Links:
Official Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve website: www.parks.ca.g...
Modern Hiker trail guide for the reserve: modernhiker.co...
Google Maps link: goo.gl/maps/m7...