California poppies at Walker Canyon

Eschscholzia californica

California poppies usually bloom from early February to early May at Walker Canyon, with the best color from early March into early April.

early February – early May Best: early March into early April Out of season

The show usually starts around early February. Check back closer to the season.

Based on reports from iNaturalist naturalists. 426 flowering reports from Riverside County shape this curve. The shaded band marks the best weeks; the dashed line is this week.

Where to see them

The 2019 superbloom made these hills world-famous and nearly loved them to death. In big years the city has closed access entirely — check before you drive, and stay on the trail if it's open.

Walker Canyon Ecological Reserve (check City of Lake Elsinore access notices first)

We name public reserves, parks, and roads only — never exact pins, never private land.

Nearby on the calendar

California poppies at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve — best late March into early April

Updated August 14, 2026. Bloom timing varies with the year's weather — the curve shows the usual rhythm, and in-season updates sharpen it.