My friends and I embarked on a delightful adventure to Carrizo National Monument on March 12th, 2023, to witness the wildflower blooming. Our journey led us through the Elkhorn Road, which wound its way through the upper ridge. The region was overflowing with lush greenery, signaling that there had been abundant rainfall this year. Wildflowers of all sorts sprouted across the landscape, but green was still the dominant color.As we trekked up the hill, we came across numerous fiddlenecks, but they had not yet bloomed entirely. We halted our SUV and proceeded on foot. The hillside was filled with flowers, and the tranquility and beauty of the place made me feel like I could have a picnic there.Further down the road, we drove through Carrizo Plain, where the ridges were painted in vibrant shades of yellow and orange. As California’s largest grassland, the road stretched on endlessly. Eventually, we arrived at Soda Lake Road and beheld a colossal expanse covered in yellow flowers. We took a few minutes to revel in the breathtaking scenery and capture photographs of the flowers before driving to Traver Ranch, which still had a few remaining structures and farming equipment.My favorite road in Carrizo Plain is the side road leading to Caliente Ridge, where I found vast fields of wildflowers. I stumbled upon this place about five years ago and have visited the ridge every year since. The sight of the brilliant purple Pascilia flowers blooming amidst a sea of yellow wildflowers resembles a picturesque movie scene. Inhaling the sweet scent of spring and listening to the birds sing, I feel as though I am in Utopia.We decided to have a picnic on top of the ridge, where we could gaze out over a vast area of Carrizo from above. The sun was shining, and it was a perfect spot to unwind and share stories over wine, cheeses and crackers, salsa and chips, and kimbap.After our delightful picnic, we proceeded to the Soda Lake overlook. The lake was brimming with water, but it was barely visible, with a gray color. The Soda Lake was blue in 2020, and it was completely dry in 2021 & 22. Although there were not many wildflowers in sight, we did come across a patch of baby blue eyes blooming on the hillside.

Our next destination was Shell Creek Road, which was a thirty-minute drive to the west, but we didn’t spot much blooming. We only saw patches of baby blue eyes and yellow flowers.

As we drove back to Carrizo Plain on Highway 58, at the junction of Highway 58 and 7-Mile Road, we finally caught a glimpse of the signature yellow hill of Carrizo Plain. The entire hill was blanketed with yellow and purple flowers. Fiddlenecks and Coreopsis contributed to the yellow hue, while Phacelia added the purple accent.

Overall, Carrizo Plain appeared to be approximately 50% bloomed, but it was undoubtedly displaying the signs of a super bloom. I believe that the peak season will occur in early and mid-April.Carrizo Plain is a remote place devoid of gas stations or convenience stores, so it is essential to fill up your gas tank and pack enough food and water. If you intend to drive to higher ground, ensure that your vehicle has high clearance.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed reading about my trip to check out the super bloom at Carrizo Plain National Monument.