Cabrillowildflowers
Peak bloom in the park's coastal sage scrub and maritime chaparral, per Cabrillo's chief of natural resource management (National Park Service): usually typically between late March and early April. Its usual window for this year has passed.
Your guide to the area
Best spots around Cabrillo National Monument
- Bayside TrailA 2.5-mile round trip from near the Old Point Loma Lighthouse through rare coastal sage scrub, with Indian paintbrush, buckwheat, prickly pear and Mohave yucca; open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the uphill return can be a workout
- Old Point Loma Lighthouse groundsA park photo shows spring flowers in front of the 1855 lighthouse; it's a short walk from the main lot by the visitor center, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nearby
- Laguna Meadow48 miWildflower viewing is best in May and June
- Channel Islands160 miby late January through March, during a normal year of rainfall
- Ash Meadows Refuge264 mifrom late MarchSatSunny
- Organ Pipe Cactus264 mibetween February and AprilSatSunny
- Mingus Mountain326 miJuly and August, after the summer rains
- Pinnacles336 miUsually March through MaySatSunny
The year at Cabrillo
- Whale Watch Weekend and Intertidal Festival, late January or early FebruaryJan–Feb
- Jan: Gray whale migration peak: mid-JanuaryJan
- Wildflower peak bloom, typically between late March and early AprilMar–Apr
- Park closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas DayNov–Dec
- Gray whale watching season, late December to mid-MarchDec–Mar
Cabrillo in pictures
Questions people ask
When is peak wildflowers in Cabrillo National Monument in 2027?
Peak bloom in the park's coastal sage scrub and maritime chaparral, per Cabrillo's chief of natural resource management (National Park Service): typically between late March and early April. That's the usual peak in the source's own words, not a forecast.
Is it blooming in Cabrillo National Monument right now?
Not now: its usual wildflowers window for this year has passed. Next time: typically between late March and early April, usually.
Is there an entrance fee?
Yes: $20 per private vehicle or $10 per person on foot or bicycle (groups of up to four walkers or cyclists pay $20 at most), valid for 7 days. A Cabrillo annual pass is $35.Source: National Park Service, Cabrillo: Fees & Passes ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When is the park open?
Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., when everyone must leave through the main gate; it's closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Bayside Trail closes at 4 p.m. and the coastal area at 4:30.Sources: National Park Service, Cabrillo: Operating Hours & Seasons ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Cabrillo: Bayside Trail ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Is every spring a good flower year?
No. The park's annual wildflowers bloom in abundance only in years with plentiful rain; their seeds can wait in the soil for years.Source: National Park Service, Field Season Beginning for Mediterranean Coast Plant Monitoring Teams (March 15, 2017) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Anything to watch for on the trail?
Rattlesnakes can be active along the Bayside Trail in summer, so watch your step, and stay on the path to protect the sage scrub.Source: National Park Service, Cabrillo: Bayside Trail ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Cabrillo National Monument?
Bayside Trail: a 2.5-mile round trip from near the Old Point Loma Lighthouse through rare coastal sage scrub, with Indian paintbrush, buckwheat, prickly pear and Mohave yucca; open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the uphill return can be a workout; Old Point Loma Lighthouse grounds: a park photo shows spring flowers in front of the 1855 lighthouse; it's a short walk from the main lot by the visitor center, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..
When is the festival in Cabrillo National Monument?
Whale Watch Weekend and Intertidal Festival, late January or early February, usually in Jan–Feb.
Are there closures or permits to know about in Cabrillo National Monument?
Park closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day (Nov–Dec).
What is Cabrillo National Monument like through the year?
Wildflower peak bloom, typically between late March and early April (Mar–Apr), Gray whale watching season, late December to mid-March (Dec–Mar), Gray whale migration peak: mid-January (Jan), Whale Watch Weekend and Intertidal Festival, late January or early February (Jan–Feb) and Park closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day (Nov–Dec).
How we know · Sources (8)
How we know
National Park Service, Field Season Beginning for Mediterranean Coast Plant Monitoring Teams (March 15, 2017) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Park Service, Cabrillo: Fees & Passes (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Park Service, Cabrillo: Operating Hours & Seasons (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Park Service, Cabrillo: Bayside Trail (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Park Service, Cabrillo structured park data (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Park Service, Cabrillo: Visiting the Old Point Loma Lighthouse (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Park Service, Cabrillo: Whale Watching (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Park Service, Cabrillo: Whale Watching (nature) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.