Imagine the California Central Valley being carpeted from one end to the other with wildflowers in the spring. When the Scottish naturalist John Muir first came over the Sierra Nevada mountains in the spring during late 1800s, he wrote: “At my feet lay the Great Central Valley of California, level and flowery, like a lake of pure sunshine, forty or fifty miles wide, five hundred miles long, one rich furred garden of yellow Compositae." (Compositae is a large plant family that includes sunflowers, daisies, asters, and dandelions).
Today, the Central Valley’s scenery has changed dramatically due to farms, ranches, towns, and cities taking over the native habitats of the California Indigenous people. Despite the changed landscape, with the arrival of spring, wildflowers can still be found in many areas.
Best Times to See Wildflowers
Mid-March through mid-May are the best months of the year to go on wildflower walks in the valley and foothills. There are several hikes within an hour or two drive from the Modesto area. Below are some of my favorites. Depending on the amount of precipitation during the rainy season, some years produce abundant wildflowers, while other years are less showy, but you will always see some wildflowers in these locations.
Knights Ferry Recreation Area
Known for its covered bridge (which is currently closed to the public for repairs), this area was a ferry crossing during the Gold Rush. It also has the remains of a wheat mill, and a small museum run by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The main trail is an easy walk with little elevation, which begins past the covered bridge, runs above the river along the hillside, with side trails going down to the Stanislaus River. Lupine bushes and flowers (Lupinus sp.) and California golden poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are always seen during the spring. The museum has a pamphlet you can pick up to help you identify other wildflowers you may see. Located east of Oakdale, off highway 108/120. There is a parking fee. https://knightsferry.com/recreation/
Red Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern
The Bureau of Land Management has designated Red Hills as an area of concern due to its unusual serpentine soils which supports endemic plants and animals that are not found elsewhere. There are 17 miles of loop trails to choose from. The trails are an open footpath and generally have gentle slopes, but can have an elevation gain/loss of 500 feet with rocky soil. You may have to occasionally share the trails with horse riders. Common wildflowers include ceanothus, California golden poppy, sticky monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus), bird’s eye gilia (Gilia tricolor), and California goldfields (Lasthenia californica). Located east of Oakdale and Knights Ferry, off highway 108/120, off Green Springs/LaGrange Rd./159, near Chinese Camp. Trail map: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/media-center-public-room-california-red-hills-acec.pdf
Old Westside Railroad Grade Trail
A mostly flat trail located along an old logging narrow-line railroad, overlooking the Clavey River Canyon. The total distance is 9 miles out and back, but you can walk any desired length. There are interpretative signs and picnic tables scattered along the trail. I recommend starting this walk early in the morning. As the sun comes up, it can reflect heat from the hillside along the open parts of the trail. Flowers seen include purple owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta), manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.), shooting stars (Primula meadia), Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla). In Tuolumne City near Black Oak Casino. Park at the intersection of Miramonte Rd and Buchanan near trailhead. https://www.tuolumne.org/upper-watershed-hikes/westside
Del Puerto Canyon
A treasure in Stanislaus County, the canyon is home to a wide diversity of wildlife and plants, including rare and endangered species. The first dinosaur fossil found in California was discovered in the canyon in 1935 (a saurolophus). Throughout the canyon are signs of the indigenous Yokuts who lived here for thousands of years. Said to be a geological window into the Earth’s mantle (https://geotripper.blogspot.com/2015/12/driving-to-center-of-earth-in-del.html), the canyon is under threat from developers who want to build a dam and reservoir. Wildflowers you may see include the California poppies, blue dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus) and lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia). From Patterson, head east on Sperry Road crossing Interstate 5, where the road becomes Del Puerto Canyon Road. There are various spots along the winding canyon road where you can stop to take short walks. Frank Raines Regional Park has a moderately easy out-and-back two-mile trail with elevation gain of about 650 feet; 17802 Del Puerto Canyon Rd., Patterson.
Enjoy the Wildflowers
While we can’t see the wildflower-carpeted Central Valley the original people of California saw for thousands of years, there are still plenty of local opportunities. You can also plant wildflower seeds in your garden which will provide enjoyment for you and will also provide a food source for pollinator creatures such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
When you hike, wear comfortable, sturdy shoes, a hat, layered clothing, sunscreen, and bring snack food and plenty of water. Bring field guides to help you identify wildflowers, and don’t forget your phone and/or camera to take photos!
Resources:
A blog on the Red Hills by Modesto Junior College geology professor Garry Hayes: https://geotripper.blogspot.com/2022/04/red-hills-area-of-critical.html
Valley Ventures: Hiking Trails near Modesto and the San Joaquin Valley by Elaine Gorman. Published in 2024, it offers 20 hikes that are within a two-hour drive time from Modesto.
Wildflower Walks and Roads of the Sierra Gold Country by Toni Fauver – published in 1998, so a bit dated, it is still a good resource.
California Native Plant Society North San Joaquin Valley Chapter provides hiking events: https://chapters.cnps.org/nsj/
Wildflowers of the Sierra Nevada and the Central Valley Lone Pine Field Guide by Laird R. Blackwell
Pacific States Wildflowers Peterson Field Guide by Theodore F. Niehaus/Charles L. Ripper
Denise Godbout-Avant has been a UC Master Gardener since 2020.