The Poppy Apocalypse – Walker Canyon, Lake Elsinore, CA
I continue to be amazed by nature and her ability to create such vastness of beauty. And I often think about, how for me, it’s always been about getting just a little further into it than the average person cares to apply the effort to. Particularly noted at this point in my life, when mobility, health and physical condition seem to be key in continuing, at least in some respects, these simple, but sometimes complicated endeavors. My recent visit to the Poppy fields was a good example.
The 4:00am alarm startled me out of a deep sleep, I edged my legs over the side of the bed, stretched stiffly and was moving! The car was already gassed, a few snacks set aside, coffee, water, camera – I was off to the Super Bloom! Specifically, the super bloom of poppies at Walker Canyon in the Temescal Mountains of Riverside County.
California’s years long drought coupled with this seasons rains has contributed to what some are referring to as a “Super Bloom” or a “Poppy Apocalypse”. Hordes of camera toting, poppy stomping visitors descending on the hillsides and canyons of Lake Elsinore, California. Visiting on a Sunday at peak bloom was a decision not made lightly. This thing called “a day job”, prevented a more appropriate, crowd avoiding, weekday visit, but I thought I could manage most of the mess and mayhem by being there shortly after sunrise. Arrive by 7:00am, park, onsite by 7:30am-ish, an hour or so of photos, out by 9:30am. Good idea? Yes and No.
Exiting the freeway at Lake Street off the I-15 just north of Lake Elsinore, I started to think I should have left at, well, midnight? There was already a long line of cars exiting in both directions. We followed the signs and neon clad intersection attendants to a parking spot along a side road some distance away. Lots of mud and bad parking skills dotted the roads in both directions but we secured a spot, grabbed our gear and headed east, under the freeway and up onto the fire road at the base of Walker Canyon. A steady progression of people plodded ahead and behind us. Was that lady in front of me really in pumps? I mean, I get the photo opportunities present here, but seriously? Seriously.
The trail ascended (a lot) and although rated as “moderate”, would have been a bit of a challenge for the elderly, small children, heat sensitive or those not used to walking far. The trail is fully exposed and at 7:30am, the north facing canyons were still deep in mornings shade. The poppies swathed across the hills and bunched deeply along the trail. Their orange blooms still pointy, not yet opened to the morning sun. Sets of people dotted the hillside as far as the eye could see. A squiggly line of bodies, extending like a trail of ants, traversed over the hills to our right and left. In between the profusions of color, bare dirt did allow some access. Despite, these small, narrow trails, and most people watching their footfalls, the hill and valley area closest to the entrance did appear to be taking the brunt of the anxious, photo snapping crowd.
We hiked further in, the fire road rambling up, up, down, then up again. Several trails headed to the crests where excellent views were sure to be seen, but the climbs and descents were steep. As much as those higher trails beckoned me, I did give some thought to losing my footing, cartwheeling downward, smashing a batch of orange glory to smithereens, spraining an ankle and having to be removed in a basket attached to a helicopter. So, I chose a different path, more fitting to me now.
The crowds thinned after each trail ascent. Funny how that works? Drones buzzed by. The sun, on its steady rise, began to warm the hillsides and the orange hues just seemed to deepen and E-X-P-A-N-D! It was a sight to behold. Eventually, we found a lovely spot, peppered with small trails between bunches of blooms. A nice place to stop and take a few photos!
After enjoying ourselves for a bit and trying a few more side trails, we decided to head back before it got too hot. The trail was now heaving with in-coming visitors, definite “up” and a “down” lanes very evident with incoming and exiting visitors.
A quick stop at the porta pottys, (not bad) we were back at our car and heading out by 10:00am. We instinctively headed AWAY from the Canyon, taking Temescal Canyon Road north for a bit before looping around and dropping us back at the Horsethief Canyon Rd freeway entrance on-ramp. The sheer volume of incoming traffic on side streets and the slow down on the freeway was beyond belief.
So, the “yes” is GET THERE EARLY! The “no” is that you will have to wait for the poppies blooms to open. This could be weather depending. Say, on a cloudy day, you may be waiting a while. Perhaps a visit while everyone goes home for dinner? Your choice. A whimsical decision on my part to get out and go. Glad I did. Blazing orange, green, yellow hillsides are imbedded in my memory forever!
Masterminding the” Explore”
- Arrive early or late (large mid-day crowds)
- Bring a hat, sunscreen and a camera
- Watch your footing
