Best Wildflower Viewing in the South Bay

Every year after the rain, the golden hillsides of the Santa Clara Valley burst to life. Green grass blankets the land, accompanied by bright, colorful displays of iconic California wildflowers. Whether you’re a local, or new to the area, these seasonal viewings rarely disappoint, but there are a few things you’ll need to know before hitting the trails to find them.

Check out Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority's wildflower-finding tips, places to view them this spring and download a bonus wildflower guide HERE.

Respect the land, the wildlife, and each other:

• Don't go off the trail. Protect wildlife and their sensitive natural habitats by taking photos from the trail. 
• Bee kind and NEVER pick wildflowers. Bees, butterflies and other native pollinators depend on wildflowers as a source of food. 
• Leave nothing behind! Keep nature wild and beautiful and pack out ALL your trash, food scraps and belongings.
• Respect and protect wildlife on the trails. NEVER handle, harass, feed or remove wildlife from parks or open space preserves, where they belong. 

RANCHO CAÑADA DEL ORO OPEN SPACE PRESERVE

Address: 4289 Casa Loma Rd, Morgan Hill

Hours: 7:00 a.m. to sunset (Sept. 16 through April 15); 6:00 a.m. to sunset (April 16 through Sept. 15)

What to look for: Lovers of lupine - a vibrant purple wildflower - won't want to miss Rancho Cañada del Oro's Llagas Creek Trail, a paved, 0.5-mile loop that circles a meadow full of this native wildflower. Along the Mayfair Ranch Trail, look for globe lilies and Pacific hound's tongue in the shade and California poppies in the sun. Mariposa lilies and mule ears start to appear later in the season. Learn more about this preserve.

COYOTE VALLEY OPEN SPACE PRESERVE

Address: 550 Palm Ave., Morgan Hill

Hours: 7:00 a.m. to sunset

What to look for: If you want to see a beautiful display of California poppies, you need go no further than this preserve's parking area! Look at the rocky hill next to the staging area for a sea of brilliant orange. Venture further into the preserve along the Arrowhead Loop Trail to find buttercups, shooting stars, baby blue eyes and California golden violets. Learn more about this preserve.

SIERRA VISTA OPEN SPACE PRESERVE

Address: Sierra Road, San José 

Hours: 7:00 a.m. to sunset (Visitors already in the preserve before sunset will be allowed to stay until 30 minutes after sunset)

What to look for: Blazing star, a brilliant yellow flower, appears along the Sierra Vista Trail from late spring through early summer (this flower only opens in the late afternoon/early evening, so plan your trip accordingly!). Keep an eye out for other species, like blue-eyed grass–a blueish purple flower with yellow center. You can also see some California poppies and lupine in this area, though they are not as numerous here as they are at Rancho Cañada del Oro and Coyote Valley. Learn more about this preserve.

Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve

Address: 9611 Malech Rd., Morgan Hill

Hours: Hours for this preserve change seasonally and are dependent on weather. Visit the Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve page for information on visiting.

What to look for: The nutrient-poor serpentine soils of Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge make this preserve a hotspot for stunning displays of wildflowers such as goldfields, tidy tips and lupine. The rare habitat here also hosts rare flowers, like the Most beautiful jewelflower and Mount Hamilton thistle. If you're visiting Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge, make sure you get a free Butterfly Pass to enjoy most of the trails and the most beautiful wildflowers! Learn more about this preserve.