Will we have a super bloom this year? Given the mix of sun and rain we’ve had recently, a lot of people are wondering.
The good news: The flower-heads at DesertUSA predict a vibrant 2024 wildflower season in some desert regions. They have a very informative up-to-date Wildflower Guide that includes reports on wildflower season, as well as the best spots for wildflower viewing. You can find the Wildflower Guide at www.desertusa.com/dusablog/desertusas-wildflower-guide.
According to DesertUSA, one of the most frequently asked questions about desert wildflowers is, “When will the wildflowers bloom?” That’s also one of the most difficult questions to answer.
I’ve been seeing various wildflowers blooming throughout the Coachella Valley since December, and as of this writing (in mid-February), I’m finding patches of desert sand verbena (Abronia villosa), hairy desert sunflower (Geraea canescens) and brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) to be most prominent.
Now for the bad news: Although we have a vast array of color flowing across the desert floor right now, I’m going to predict that we will not see a super bloom this year, due to the heavy rainfall and cooler weather we have had in recent months. I hope I’m wrong!
My reasoning: While rain is needed throughout the winter, it is needed in small doses, because too much rain can rot or wash away the seeds. Temperature plays a vital role as well; a full blooming season needs warm days that aren’t too hot, as stated by DesertUSA. If the temperature is too cold in certain regions, we may not see blooms in those places at all.
Parts of Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park have all endured recent flooding, as well as flooding during Tropical Storm Hilary back in August. Some of these places have even had recent snowfall. Some areas may still be closed due to storm damage; Whitewater Preserve and Big Morongo Canyon Preserve have had some trail-section closures as well. (Consider this your fairly normal reminder that it’s always a good idea to check the current forecasts before venturing into the desert areas; a great resource is the Friends of the Desert Mountains Open Trails page at www.desertmountains.org/open-trails.)
In and around Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, wildflowers seem to be most prominent near the entrance of Coyote Canyon and along Henderson Canyon Road, just outside of Borrego Springs. (Herds of bighorn sheep have been seen along the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail recently, too!) Mid-March is often the peak time for wildflower blooms for this area, according to the Wildflowers page at Anza-Borrego Foundation (theabf.org/experience-anza-borrego/wildflowers).
Here are some popular and easily accessible spots around the Coachella Valley to view wildflowers, super bloom or not:
• Indian Canyons: Just a short drive south of Palm Springs at the end of South Palm Canyon Drive, you’ll find the entrance to Andreas Canyon, Murray Canyon and Palm Canyon (one of the largest natural desert palm oases), all known for their lush vegetation, various flora and numerous hiking trails. The Indian Canyons are on tribal land managed by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The nature preserve is open for day visits from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last vehicle in at 4 p.m. Ranger-led interpretive hikes are offered from October through June. Visitors pay a modest entrance fee. Dogs are not allowed. Learn more at www.indian-canyons.com.
• Oswit Canyon: Another great place south of Palm Springs where you can catch a variety of early blooms is Oswit Canyon, located at Bogert Trail and South Palm Canyon Drive, just before Indian Canyons. This is a moderate, 4-mile, out-and-back hike, with an elevation gain of around 900 gradual feet. It’s most majestic, and if you make it far enough, you may get to see an amazing waterfall this time of year. Dogs are not allowed.
• Randall Henderson Trail: A scenic and well-marked trail loop, nearly 3 miles with an elevation gain of just more than 400 feet, this moderate trail is a part of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. You may see a beautiful display of various wildflowers and blooming cacti when the timing is right. You may even be lucky enough to see some bighorn sheep along this trail. It’s located near the Visitor Center and Friends of the Desert Mountains, just off Highway 74 (on the east side), about 3.5 miles south of Highway 111, as you’re heading out of Palm Desert. Dogs are not allowed on this trail.
• Art Smith Trail: This is a longer and more difficult out-and-back trail that’s also a part of Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument; it features beautiful wildflowers and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The trailhead is located almost directly across (but just before) the entrance to the Randall Henderson Trail, on the west side of Highway 74. This trail is a little more than 16 miles with an elevation gain of more than 3,000 feet, but you can make it what you want and turn around at any point. You may also catch a glimpse of the bighorn sheep here as well. Dogs are not allowed on this trail, either.
Even a drive around the desert backroads—Varner Road, Indian Canyon Drive, Dillon Road, Thousand Palms Canyon Road, etc.—can offer nice views of desert wildflowers.
Learn about snakes
Snakes are out! If you’re interested in learning about the diverse snake species found throughout Joshua Tree National Park, why they are important, and what to do when you see one on the trail, join Paisley Ramstead, an avid desert naturalist, at 3 p.m., Friday, April 5, at Black Rock Nature Center in Joshua Tree National Park. This will be an all-ages, classroom-based course about “all things snakes,” with a short hike/field excursion around the Nature Center. The fee is $35, and pre-registration is required. Get your ticket at Eventbrite.
Hiking With T: Whether or Not This Is a Super-Bloom Year, You Have Plenty of Opportunities to Enjoy Wildflowers is a story from Coachella Valley Independent, the Coachella Valley’s alternative news source.