April in Bloom: The Best Wildflower Trails in and Around the San Lorenzo Valley
Spring is the best time to explore wildflower trails in the San Lorenzo Valley and nearby hills, where redwood shade, sunny ridges, and serpentine soils create very different bloom patterns. The strongest bets are Big Basin, Fall Creek, San Vicente Redwoods, and a few Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains preserves that usually show a good mix of native flowers in April.
Silvery Lupine Lupinus argenteus, California Poppy Eschscholzia californica, Bigpod Ceanothus Ceanothus megacarpus
Best Wildflower Spots
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park — Redwood and Middle Ridge areas. These areas can produce a mix of redwood understory flowers and sunnier ridge-edge blooms, including native species such as redwood violets, willowherb, bush poppy, California bee plant, and California fuchsia. 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek. Park near the visitor center.
- Fall Creek Unit, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. This is one of the most reliable SLV wildflower outings, especially along creek-side and mixed-forest trails where spring light and moisture support lilies, trilliums, and other shade-loving blooms. 860 Felton Empire Rd, Felton. Open daily 6am to sunset. Arrive early — the lot fills quickly on weekends.
- San Vicente Redwoods — western Santa Cruz Mountains. This large preserve has a strong spring wildflower reputation because of its varied habitat, with open slopes and ridge country often supporting lupine, checkerbloom, poppies, and other seasonal natives. Trailhead: 12001 Empire Grade, Santa Cruz. Open daily 8am-6pm. Important: this is a Land Trust preserve — you must pre-register online before visiting and a pass is emailed to you. Register at landtrustsantacruz.org before heading out, as cell service at the trailhead is spotty.
- Ladera / Glenwood area, Scotts Valley. The Glenwood Preserve trails are a good local choice for sweeping hillsides and open patches that can hold lupine, vetch, owl’s clover, and other spring flowers, especially after rainy years. 300–414 Glenwood Dr, Scotts Valley. Small parking area at the entrance with only about 5 spots — arrive early or you may need to find street parking nearby. Open daily 7am-7:30pm.
Trail Planning tips
Early morning is usually best for photos and cooler hiking, and recent rain tends to improve displays on both forest floors and exposed slopes. Stay on trail, since many of the best flower sites also contain sensitive habitats.
Featured photo Douglas Iris Iris Virginia | Photos by Julie Horner
The San Lorenzo Valley Post is your essential guide to life in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We're dedicated to delivering the latest news, events, and stories that matter to our community. From local government to schools, from environmental issues to the arts, we're committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased coverage. We believe in the power of community journalism and strive to be a platform for diverse voices.
