Riverside County residents and visitors seeking an up-close look at rich flower blooms as winter loosens its grip can get a glimpse this weekend around Diamond Valley Lake, where the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California just opened the “Judy Abdo Wildflower Trail.”
“Thanks to the late fall and early winter storms, colorful blooms are already dotting the hillsides above the reservoir,” the MWD said in a statement this week. “Visitors can typically expect to see vibrant California poppies, deep blue arroyo lupines, purple Canterbury bells, yellow rancher’s fiddleneck, delicate white popcorn flowers and pink red maids.”
The poppy blooms are enormously popular. In 2019, blossoms carpeting hillsides around Lake Elsinore triggered so much attention that Interstate 15 became a virtual parking lot over several weekends.
The trail, abutting Diamond Valley Lake, is part of the Southwestern Riverside County Multi-Species Reserve, encompassing 9,000 acres of protected space.
It officially opened to trekkers Friday morning. Going forward, the 1.3-mile path will be available for use Wednesdays to Sundays, from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. However, starting March 8, access will be permitted until 5:30 p.m. Rangers do not permit use of the trail on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Trailhead parking passes run $11, and the trail access fee is $4.
The pathway runs in a loop configuration and can be accessed from the DVL Marina parking area, near the intersection of Domenigoni and Searl parkways, according to the MWD.
“It’s rated as an easy-to-moderate hike with some rugged terrain,” MWD stated. “Along the route, visitors are treated not only to seasonal colors but also panoramic views of the Southland’s largest drinking water reservoir.”
The agency emphasized that hikers must obey all the rules of the preserve.
“Wildflowers must not be picked, and guests are asked to remain on designated trails to protect sensitive habitat and wildlife,” the MWD said. “Rattlesnakes are common in the area, particularly during warmer months, and hikers should remain alert.”
Additional information is available at dvmarina.com.