How to See a Super Bloom

You may have noticed it’s been raining a lot lately in California. That atmospheric river was no joke.

For the nature-inclined among us, though, there is a bright side to all this weather. And that is the strong likelihood that the state’s desert parks will soon be awash in vibrant, Instagrammable color.

That’s right: Another “super bloom” is probably upon us.

In 2017, wildflower blooms in Southern California were so massive that they were visible from space. This year, experts say, a combination of fires to clear out competing flora, and rain mean that conditions are shaping up to be optimal for a similar display.

I asked Casey Schreiner, founder and editor of the website Modern Hiker about the best ways to enjoy the flowers.

The short answer? “Research and flexibility,” he said.

In California, Schreiner said, because there are so many different microclimates, it’s tough to predict (and plan for) peak blooms.

“Everyone wants to know: ‘When should I book my campsite? When should I book travel?'” he said. “The reality is that’s not really how this process works.”

If you’re truly committed to experiencing the height of a wildflower bloom in any given park or region, you’ll need to be ready to head out quickly.

“It may look like something is going to be amazing, and then some dry Santa Ana wind comes in and then there’s a hot weekend with direct sun,” he said.

Fortunately, Schreiner said, plenty of organizations track wildflower blooms and can offer “very educated guesses on when things are going to pop.”

Schreiner said he often relied on the Theodore Payne Foundation’s wildflower hotline — although its season officially kicks off in March, so it hasn’t started putting out weekly reports.

Of course, the flip side to all this flexibility is that in places like Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which has come to be known as the super bloom epicenter, reservable campsites might already be booked up. Lodging in Borrego Springs, too, is most likely to be jammed.

The nice thing about Anza-Borrego, Schreiner said, is that as long as you follow certain guidelines, you can “pretty much camp wherever you want,” within the park.

Alternatively, you can always plan to hike a great wildflower trail whenever you’re available to camp and appreciate whatever you see.

No matter what, Schreiner said, be a responsible user of the outdoors. It may be tempting to plunk down right in the middle of a vast blooming field for the perfect shot, but don’t crush the flowers. And stay as close to established paths as you can.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.