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At Sunol Regional Wilderness Park on Canyon View Trail, there is a display of Chia wildflowers. (Photo by Sophia Sucato) 
Wild mustard flower that grows along side of Pigeon Point Road off the central coast. (Photo by Sophia Sucato) 
Oceanfront view of wild mustard flowers on the central coast. (Photo by Sophia Sucato) 
A view of nature in action as a bee pollinates a purple Chinese House flower at Mount Diablo State Park. (Photo by Sophia Sucato) 
There’s a display of the Chinese House and Arroyo Lupine wildflowers at the Junction Ranger Station on Mount Diablo. (Photo by Sophia Sucato) 
California Poppy in bloom on Wildcat Trail at Mount Diablo. (Photo by Sophia Sucato) 
At Sunol Regional Wilderness Park on Canyon View Trail, a view of Ithuriel’s Spear wildflower with a Cabbage White butterfly on the flower. (Photo by Sophia Sucato) 
California Poppy in bloom on Wildcat Trail at Mount Diablo. (Photo by Sophia Sucato) 
Wildflower season is a prime time to get up close and personal with butterflies, bees and other pollinators. (Photo by Sophia Sucato) 
Oceanfront view of wild mustard flowers on the central coast. (Photo by Sophia Sucato)
Many look forward to the wildflower superblooms that create picturesque scenes across wilderness landscapes in the Bay Area this time of year – even if the springtime and influx of pollen in the air signify the onset of pesky allergies for some.
A superbloom occurs when wildflowers grow in large numbers and variety when the conditions are just right. This doesn’t happen every year, but it can typically after lots of winter rainfall, cool weather and low winds.
California is known for its superblooms that begin around mid-March through April and sometimes last until early May. In the Bay Area, there are a number of places that will have displays of this springtime phenomenon, including in the Tri-Valley.
Some of the top-listed spots to view wildflowers are Sunol Regional Wilderness Park, Mount Diablo State Park and Pigeon Point Road along the coast off of Highway 1.
The rangers at Sunol Wilderness say that the best, most accessible trails for seeing wildflowers are the Canyon View Trail and the Indian Joe Creek Trail. Both are located right next to each other.
Because it’s still early in the spring, the wildflowers will only get better as the season goes on. However, there are currently several patches of flowers blooming on the left side of the creek. Large hills have patches of purple and orange flowers starting to pop up.
There are also wildflower guides available at the park’s welcome center that indicate the different types of flowers around and when they bloom, making the self-guided tour easy to follow.
At Mount Diablo, visitors can spot California Poppies in bloom. The Live Oak, Wildcat and Campground trails are particularly good areas for wildflower viewing. Other than poppies, Blue Dicks and purple Chinese Houses can be spotted at Junction Ranger Station.
Visit Tri-Valley also recommends Las Trampas Regional Park, Del Valle Regional Park, Morgan Territory Preserve and the Dublin Hills Regional Open Space Preserve among its top locations to find wildflowers in the area.
The East Bay Regional Park District offers a broad list of wildflower viewing areas, which includes places outside the Tri-Valley region but within the greater East Bay.
While not necessarily local, the irresistible view of wild mustard along Pigeon Point Road is worth the drive for many in the East Bay. There is no specific trail or path but there are plenty sprouted along the coast from Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz, painting the entire side of the road a bright, vibrant yellow.
Further into spring, wildflowers of all kinds start to pop up in various areas beyond state parks. In addition to admiring the views, many parks tend to offer naturalist-led, wildflower-themed programs, like the upcoming guided hike at Lund Ranch in Pleasanton on Saturday (April 4) from 9-11a.m.
During this recreational event, visitors can learn more about different species of wildflowers and take in stunning views from across the valley. More information about the hike is available at trivalleyconservancy.org.
When venturing out to view wildflowers, park rangers recommend some dos and don’ts to keep this beloved California phenomenon alive and thriving: Never pick the flowers, always stay on the path, keep the dog on a leash and never litter.
It’s also recommended to bring appropriate attire, plenty of water and of course, allergy medicine.
