Santa Monica Mountainswildflowers
National Recreation AreaThe Santa Monica Mountains' peak flowering season, per National Park Service biologists (2019 news release): usually typically occurs in March and April. Its usual window for this year has passed.
Checked against 8 official sources · How we check →
About the Santa Monica Mountains
- What it is
- A National Recreation Area in California
- What you'll see
- Wildflowers · usual peak Mar–Apr
- Before you go
- Fees: National Park Service sites charge no entrance fee, but some parklands run by other agencies do.
- Protect it: No picking wildflowers, so they can set seed; stay on the trails and off the plants.
- Parking: Most parking lots close at sunset and open at 8 a.m.
Next 7 days at the Santa Monica Mountains
Last checked Fri, Oct 2: our daily Weather Service update hasn't come through since. Check weather.gov before you go.
Your guide to the area
- Pin color, each place's season now or next:
- Winter
Visitor points on this map: Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center (14.9 mi)
Places on this map (2)
Best spots around Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Paramount Ranch
Best spot
Named by the park as a good wildflower spot; several miles of easy to moderate trails through chaparral and valley oak savannah, including the Medicine Woman Trail over open grassland. 2903 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills; dogs on a 6-foot leash
Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons
Best spot
Also named by the park's biologists as a good wildflower spot (2019 news release)
Around the Santa Monica Mountains
The year at the Santa Monica Mountains
- Peak flowering season, typically March and AprilMar–Apr
- Baja California treefrog breedingNov–Jul
- California newts begin breeding migrations, depending on rainfallDec–Feb
The Santa Monica Mountains in pictures
Questions people ask
When is peak wildflowers in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in 2027?
Usual peak: typically occurs in March and April. The Santa Monica Mountains' peak flowering season, per National Park Service biologists (2019 news release).
Is it blooming in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area right now?
Not now: its usual wildflowers window for this year has passed. Next time: typically occurs in March and April, usually.
Is there an entrance fee for the Santa Monica Mountains?
Not at National Park Service sites. Many parklands here belong to other agencies, and some of those do charge entrance fees.Source: National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains: Fees & Passes ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where does the wildflower bloom start in the Santa Monica Mountains?
On the coastal slopes, then it moves inland and upward. Different flowers peak at different times, so repeat hikes through the season show the most species.Source: National Park Service, Field Season Beginning for Mediterranean Coast Plant Monitoring Teams (March 15, 2017) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can you pick wildflowers in the Santa Monica Mountains?
No. It's a national park and regulations prohibit picking wildflowers, so they can set seed. Stay on the trails and off the plants.Source: National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains news release: Destructive Fire + Steady Rains = A Spectacular Wildflower Season? (2019, archived) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When are the Santa Monica Mountains parking lots open?
Most open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Trails are shared with mountain bikers, horses and runners, and cell service can be unreliable in the mountains.Source: National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains: Basic Information ↗ (opens in a new tab)
What are fire followers in the Santa Monica Mountains?
Flowers that normally bloom only after a fire, such as the orange-to-red fire poppy, which grows below 2,500 feet in recently burned chaparral and woodland.Source: National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains news release: Destructive Fire + Steady Rains = A Spectacular Wildflower Season? (2019, archived) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area?
The best spots are Paramount Ranch and Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons. Paramount Ranch: named by the park as a good wildflower spot; several miles of easy to moderate trails through chaparral and valley oak savannah, including the Medicine Woman Trail over open grassland. 2903 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills; dogs on a 6-foot leash. Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons: also named by the park's biologists as a good wildflower spot (2019 news release).
What is Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area like through the year?
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has something to see in 9 months of the year. Peak flowering season, typically March and April: Mar–Apr. Baja California treefrog breeding: Nov–Jul. California newts begin breeding migrations, depending on rainfall: Dec–Feb.
How we know · Sources (8)
How we know
National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains: Baja California Treefrog (opens in a new tab) (Oct 3) · National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains: California Newt (opens in a new tab) (Oct 3) · National Weather Service forecast and alerts (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains news release: Destructive Fire + Steady Rains = A Spectacular Wildflower Season? (2019, archived) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains: Fees & Passes (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · 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, Santa Monica Mountains: Basic Information (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains: Paramount Ranch (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.