Trailblazing
Wildflower walks After After a a good good winter winter of of rain, rain, these these Central Central Coast Coast spots spots show show off off their their spring spring colors colors STORY STORY AND AND PHOTOS PHOTOS BY CAMILLIA CAMILLIA LANHAM BY LANHAM
Carrizo Carrizo Plain Plain
Between Between Highways Highways 58 58 and and 166, 166, Carrizo Carrizo Plain Plain National National Monument Monument runs runs along along Soda Soda Lake Lake Road Road through through a a valley valley with with mountains mountains on on both both sides sides and and the the largest largest remaining remaining alkali alkali wetland wetland in in Southern Southern California. California. This This remote remote stretch stretch of of Bureau Bureau of of Land Land Management-managed Management-managed grasslands grasslands can can be be a a place place for for solitude, solitude, but but when when the the goldfields and phacelia blanket the monument in yellows and purples, the crowds goldfields and phacelia blanket the monument in yellows and purples, the crowds follow. follow. Head Head out out with with a a full full tank tank of of gas, gas, plenty plenty of of water, water, and and snacks. snacks. Check Check the the BLM’s BLM’s website website for for flower flower updates updates in in the the spring. spring.
Famous Famous for for its its poppy poppy and and lupine lupine displays, displays, Figueroa Figueroa Mountain Mountain Recreation Recreation Area Area is is about about 30 30 minutes north of Los Olivos in the Los minutes north of Los Olivos in the Los Padres Padres National National Forest. Forest. A A winding winding drive drive along along Figueroa Figueroa Mountain Road or Happy Canyon Mountain Road or Happy Canyon Road Road means means the the views views hold hold more more than than wildflowers, wildflowers, with with vistas vistas showcasing showcasing the the San San Rafael Rafael Wilderness, Wilderness, Santa Santa Ynez Ynez Valley, Valley, and and hills hills full full of of color. color. Find Find a a good, good, safe, safe, parking spot (you’ll also need an Adventure Pass from the Forest parking spot (you’ll also need an Adventure Pass from the Forest Service) Service) and and follow follow a a well-tread well-tread trail trail up up the the hillside hillside and and through through the the flowers. flowers.
Figueroa Figueroa Mountain Mountain
6 Get Outside SPRING 2022
Highway Highway 166 166
When When the the hills hills along along Highway Highway 166 166 are are green green with spring, Los Padres National Forest’s with spring, Los Padres National Forest’s Willow Willow Springs, Springs, Adobe, Adobe, and and Gifford Gifford trails trails have have flowers flowers and and more more in in store store for for those those willing willing to to venture venture onto onto paths paths with with fewer fewer visitors. visitors. Grass-covered Grass-covered slopes, slopes, iconic iconic oaks, oaks, and and meadows meadows of of pink pink shooting shooting stars stars will will greet greet those those who who don’t don’t mind mind climbing climbing for for it. it. Find Find the the trailheads trailheads on on the the left left and and right right sides sides of of the the highway highway between between 20 20 and and 30 30 minutes minutes from from Santa Santa Maria, Maria, and and don’t don’t forget forget your your Adventure Adventure Pass. Pass.
