Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve
Also known as Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(661) 724-1180
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve is a 1,801-acre natural area in Los Angeles County, about 13 miles west of Lancaster.
Visitors come for historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, geocaching, and picnicking.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | sunrise – sunset | — |
| Visitor center | Mon–Fri | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
| Mon–Fri | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Park Hours: Sunrise to Sunset daily year-round.
The Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center is open March 1st through Mother's Day from 10am to 4pm weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends, with wildflower and wildlife exhibits, an orientation video, a gallery of Jane's botanical watercolor paintings, and a gift shop benefiting our non-profit association. The Interpretive Center is only open during the spring wildflower bloom and for special events.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
| Bus, Large | $100 |
| Bus, Small | $50 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00 • Bus, Large: $100.00 • Bus, Small: $50.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
See the park’s wording
Are dogs allowed? Do not bring dogs Dogs are NOT allowed, with the exception of trained service animals. Comfort animals are not trained service animals, and are not permitted. Pets cannot be left alone in cars. We request, but do not require, that trained service dogs wear distinguishing markers to avoid misleading other visitors. Where flowers are blooming near the road, watch for car doors swinging open, erratic driving as people take pictures out the windows, and children and dogs dashing out into the road. Rattlesnake avoidance training for dogs is highly recommended.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursPicnickingRanger and interpretive programsWildlife viewing and birdingGeocachingHiking
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve was established to protect and perpetuate outstanding displays of native wildflowers, particularly the California Poppy, the state flower. Seven miles of trails wind gently through wildflower fields. Wildflower blooms occur from March through May. The peak viewing period is Mid-April. The best poppy display is when the temperature is over 70°F and the wind is less than 10 mph. The reserve is located 15 miles west of Highway 14 near the city of Lancaster. Phone (661) 724-1180 for more information.
Trails
The Tehachapi Vista Point Trail is a 0.64 mile accessible loop trail experience through poppy and high desert vegetation. Along the trail there are 2 overlooks with benches and several benches periodically along the trail. The trail surface is concrete. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes with intermittent sections between 5% to 8%. Accessible parking is located in the main parking lot and the trail begins near the visitor center.
Read more from the park
Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface
Tehachapi Vista Point Trail 5% Average 1% Average 5 FT Average Concrete & Boardwalk
7% Maximum 2% Maximum 4 FT Minimum
Exhibits/Programs
The Visitor Center is open during the wildflower season from sunrise to sunset. It is generally accessible, including restrooms. Five designated accessible parking spaces include one van space. The 400-foot-long path from the parking area to the Visitor Center is usable, but assistance may be required with slopes in one section.
Other Information
A manually operated wheelchair is available for check out at the Visitor Center during the wildflower season. Call the park for more information.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- Lancaster Road
Lancaster, CA 93536 - Nearest town
- Lancaster — about 13 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 34.7249, -118.3968
- Phone
- (661) 724-1180
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The reserve is located 15 miles west of Highway 14 near the city of Lancaster. The visitor center is located 1/2 mile north of the intersection of 150th St W & Lancaster Road.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology