Table Mountain, Oroville
 

• This is a great location to take a guided tour or just wander on your own. There is even a waterfall in the area that you can hike to.
• Access is free and this place gets very busy on spring weekends. Get there early for good parking. 
• Directions: From Hwy 70 in Oroville, exit at Grand Ave (Exit 48). Go East on Grand Ave for 1 mile. Left on Table Mountain Blvd for a tenth of a mile. Right on Cherokee Road 6.3 miles north to the reserve. Official access is through a small parking lot on the west side of Cherokee Road.
• Bloom season: February - April.
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  Kelloggs Clarkia, Table Mountain   Wildflowers, Table Mountain Wildflowers, Table Mountain

Bear Valley, Colusa County
 

• This area doesn't have any formal access but there are groups that organize tours and meet-ups. If you go solo, you can park off the road as you go to check out the different blooms. 
   
• Address / Directions: To get to Bear Valley take the Williams exit from I-5 and drive 18 miles west on Highway 20, turn right and go north on Bear Valley Road for 14 miles.
• Bloom season: late February - April
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California Poppy  
 

Deer Creek Oak Woodlands and Preserve, Placer County
 

• This location is open to the public on specific dates and times so be sure check in advance. There is no entry fee but they do take donations. Its a great spot for an easy hike with lots of spur trails too. 
   
• Address / Directions: From Sacramento – Take Hwy 50 to Bradshaw Exit, turn right onto Bradshaw, turn left onto Jackson Rd (Hwy 16), continue East, past Slough House, turn left onto Latrobe Rd.
• Bloom season: March - May
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Deercreek Oak Woodland preserve Lupine, Deercreek Oaks Woodland preserve  
 

Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County
 

• Yosemite is well known for it's Dogwood blooms but the elevation variations provide many opportunities from Spring - Summer to check out the wildflowers. In May, you can see Dogwoods and waterfalls at their peak flow. 
   
• Address / Directions: From Sacramento, take Highway 99 south to Highway 120 east (Manteca) or Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park.
• Bloom season: March - July
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Dogwood, Yosemite National Park Dogwood, Yosemite National Park Coneflower, Yosemite National Park
 

Hite Cove, Mariposa County
 

• This is a fantastic short hike packed with a wide variety of wildflowers. There is poison oak on the trail through so be cautious through the narrow sections. 
   
• Address / Directions: The Hite Cove trail head is on highway 140, 8.5 miles west of Yosemite's El Portal border and 21 miles east of Mariposa. It's at the site of the historic Savage's Trading Post.
• Bloom season: March - May
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Sequoia National Park, Tulare County
 

• Sequoia is another great spot for dogwoods. I happened to be there during the height of the bloom when an unexpected snowstorm came through. It made for some beautiful conditions. 
   
• Address / Directions: From Sacramento, take highway 99 south 200 miles to highway 198-East. Follow this for 40 miles into the park. 
• Bloom season: May - August
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Lassen National Park, Plumas County
 

• Lassen is filled with meadows, hikes, and lake side wildflowers that bloom into the summer months. An added bonus is that this park is far less crowded than Yosemite - the same distance from Sacramento.
   
• Address / Directions: From Sacramento, take Interstate 5 north for 142 miles, then take CA-44 east, then to 89 south into the park.
• Bloom season: May - September
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Alpine shooting star, Lassen National Park    Skyrocket, Lassen National Park
 

Snowplant, Lassen National Park
 

Spenceville Wildlife Area, Yuba County
 

• Spenceville isn't a well known wildflower spot but there are lots of poppies among oaks here and an easy and great hike. This spot doesn't attract large crowds so its a great spot for peace and quiet too!
   
• Address / Directions: From Marysville take Highway 20 approximately 18 miles and turn right on Smartsville Road for 1 mile to enter the Wildlife Area.
• Bloom season: March - April
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California poppies, Spenceville Wildlife area
 

Hidden Valley Regional Park, Placer County
 

• This is a gem in the Auburn area with hiking trails, a waterfall, ample parking, and it's free. It gets busy on the weekends so get there early.  
• Address / Directions: 7587 Mears Place, Auburn, CA 95603
• Bloom season: late March - May
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South Yuba River State Park, Nevada County

• This park has a lot of hiking along the South Yuba River and offers wildflower walks in the spring. Parking is $5. 
• Address / Directions: I-80 to Auburn, then take Hwy 49 North for 22 miles. In Grass Valley take Hwy 20 West for 8 miles. Turn right  on Pleasant Valley Rd. for 8 miles.
• Bloom season: March - May
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Cronan Ranch, El Dorado County
 

• Cronan Ranch is another great place for hiking and wildflowers. The trails are wide and easy with good access to wildflower displays. Access is free. Parking fills up by afternoon, so arrive early. 
• During my last trip there, I played with zooming and tilting my lens during long exposures to get some different images. 
• Address / Directions: From Highway 50, exit Ponderosa Road for Shingle Springs. Cross over the freeway, then turn right on North Shingle Road. Stay to the left at the “Y” several miles from the freeway and continue on Lotus Road. At the “T” that marks the junction of Highway 49 and Lotus Road, stay left. Follow this road until you reach the signs for Cronan Ranch on your left.
• Bloom season: March - May
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Jepson Prairie Preserve, Solano County
 

• Jepson Prairie is a small preserve in Dixion. It is a good place to view vernal pools. The trail is short and flat and access is free. 
• Address / Directions: From Highway 80, take Hwy 113 South toward Dixon. Travel about 10 miles past Dixon. When Hwy 113 takes a 90 degree turn to the east, exit by continuing straight onto Cook Lane. 
• Bloom season: March - May
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