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Wildflowers draw crowds of visitors to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Who wouldn't want to see the desert come alive with vibrant tapestries of colors? At peak bloom, which lasts just a couple of weeks, the desert floor transforms into a dazzling tableau with carpets of yellow, red, and purple. The bloom typically climaxes in early march, but the intensity and timing of the bloom varies... Read more.

Located just west of downtown San Luis Obispo, the 1,292-foot Cerro San Luis (or San Luis Mountain) offers sweeping views of the Santa Lucia Mountains and other peaks in the Morros, the chain of mountains that Cerro San Luis is a part of. The Morros, or Nine Sisters, are a line of prominent volcanic peaks between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. These beautiful peaks set the postcard-like... Read more.

Along the bluffs of the Big Sur Coast protected by Los Padres National Forest is a scenic and easy ocean-view hike. Jade Cove and Plaskett Rock Point are just south of Plaskett Creek Campground on the west side of Highway One. Visited together, they form a 1.5-mile hike. This hike has two trailheads. Both are unmarked a somewhat difficult to spot. From Plaskett Creek Campground drive a... Read more.

Wildflowers in the Santa Monica Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains and other open areas of Los Angeles County bloom each spring adding splashes of color along the area's trails. Some flowers can be seen into the summer and fall. Below are some examples of common wildflowers that appear beside Los Angeles hiking trails. The flowers are listed alphabetically with a link to the trails where they... Read more.

People head out to Paradise Creek in Sequoia National Park with one thing in mind: swimming in the relaxing pools. This easy 0.5-mile round trip hike leaves from the east side of Buckeye Flat Campground near site 28. The trail follows the north side of the Kaweah River along a flat track before descending to a wooden bridge. Cross the river here above a wide and mesmerizing section of the... Read more.

Marble Falls Trail begins from Potwisha Campground in the foothills region of Sequoia National Park. The 8-mile round trip trail is the perfect spot for a spring hike. Follow a flower-lined path up a mountain canyon to a powerful waterfall. In April and May, much of the trail is colored with flowers, giving hikers plenty to look at on the way to Marble Falls. The trail starts near site 14... Read more.

Sullivan Ridge rises between Rustic Canyon and Sullivan Canyon east of Will Rogers State Park in a region of the Santa Monica Mountains aptly named the Big Wild. A 6.3-mile long fire road runs along the ridge, accompanied by a single-track trail that diverges from the road to explore more of Sullivan Ridge. A prominent lone-standing live oak along the road makes a natural turnaround point... Read more.

In the 1950s, San Vicente Mountain served as a mountaintop military installation to defend Los Angeles from soviet missile attacks. Today, the 1,960-foot peak provides visitors with a look back at this chapter in the city's history, along with a great view of West LA and the Santa Monica Mountains. Westridge Fire Road leads to San Vicente Mountain and is a popular path for mountain bikers,... Read more.

Stunt High Trail begins with a gentle walk along Cold Creek, and then ascends through meadows and chaparral up the northern slope of Saddle Peak to offer great views of the Santa Monica Mountains. Stunt High Trail ends at a road, 2.17 miles from the start, which is a rather anti-climactic high point. From there, pick up the Backbone Trail and hike to the top of Saddle Peak, the sixth... Read more.

Spring is the perfect time to visit Joshua Tree National Park. The temperatures are accommodating and the desert comes to life with wildflowers. The desert in bloom is something any outdoor enthusiast in California should see. Most of the wildflowers below were photographed near Eagle Mountain and Lost Palms Oasis in April of 2008. Photos from other areas of the park taken in April of... Read more.