Beginning Saturday March 13, the Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve will be open from 10 am - 4 pm weekdays and 9 am – 5 pm weekends for the duration of the wildflower season. The visitor center, staffed by volunteers, offers wildlife and wildflower displays, a gallery of Jane S. Pinheiro’s detailed watercolor paintings, an orientation video, and gift shop featuring unique wildflower-themed items. Guided tours about the wildflowers and cultural history of the reserve will be offered daily.
Due to state-wide budget cuts, the park was closed to vehicle traffic during the off season and maintenance services were halted but access was still available for walk-ins. The park will reopen to vehicles and park services will resume from March 1 until May 31 or the end of the wildflower season.
An accurate bloom prediction is still difficult at this time due to the late rains this year and consequential late start to poppy plant germination. Several wildflower species have already started blooming, but there has been only a moderate number of poppy plants seen so far and their flower buds are just beginning to form. The possibility of late frosts and early heat waves also make any predictions tentative, but the forecasts of more rain will likely have a positive impact. Wildflower updates will be posted regularly throughout the season at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.parks.ca.gov">www.parks.ca.gov</a><;!-- w -->, or call (661) 724-1180 for recorded updates.
The Reserve is open year round from sunrise to sunset but the visitor center and activities are only available during the spring. The visitor center closing date will be determined later in the season.
Where: Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, 15101 Lancaster Road. From Hwy 14, go 15 miles west off Avenue I exit. Avenue I becomes Lancaster Rd., reserve is on the right. From Hwy 138, go south on 170th Street West and turn left at the end onto Lancaster Road. The Reserve is on the left.
Fees: $8 per vehicle $7 with senior (62 and over) on board $4 with Disabled Discount Card
Due to state-wide budget cuts, the park was closed to vehicle traffic during the off season and maintenance services were halted but access was still available for walk-ins. The park will reopen to vehicles and park services will resume from March 1 until May 31 or the end of the wildflower season.
An accurate bloom prediction is still difficult at this time due to the late rains this year and consequential late start to poppy plant germination. Several wildflower species have already started blooming, but there has been only a moderate number of poppy plants seen so far and their flower buds are just beginning to form. The possibility of late frosts and early heat waves also make any predictions tentative, but the forecasts of more rain will likely have a positive impact. Wildflower updates will be posted regularly throughout the season at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.parks.ca.gov">www.parks.ca.gov</a><;!-- w -->, or call (661) 724-1180 for recorded updates.
The Reserve is open year round from sunrise to sunset but the visitor center and activities are only available during the spring. The visitor center closing date will be determined later in the season.
Where: Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, 15101 Lancaster Road.
From Hwy 14, go 15 miles west off Avenue I exit. Avenue I becomes Lancaster Rd., reserve is on the right.
From Hwy 138, go south on 170th Street West and turn left at the end onto Lancaster Road. The Reserve is on the left.
Fees: $8 per vehicle
$7 with senior (62 and over) on board
$4 with Disabled Discount Card