Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, on the northern side of Los Angeles county, is protected under the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The reserve is home to the best California poppy blooms in the state, filling the space with bright, vibrant flowers. In addition to poppies, it is known for its wildflowers such as owl’s clover, lupine, goldfields, cream cups and coreopsis. To catch the best colors of the year, time your visit between mid-February and late May.

Draping across the border of southern California and Nevada lies Death Valley National Park, east of the Sierra Nevada mountains. This is the largest national park in the contiguous United States, containing a portion of the Mojave desert as well as salt flats, sand dunes, badlands, valleys, canyons and mountains. The majority of the park is a designated wilderness area, housing an array of desert-adapted plant and animal species. When visiting, you can camp, hike, drive, bike, backpack & more.

Also in southern California, Joshua Tree National Park brings together the distinct ecosystems from the Mojave and Colorado deserts to provide a home for an incredible range of plants and animals. The land has been shaped by strong weather over the years to create a fascinating landscape where you can enjoy hiking, camping, climbing, bird watching and stargazing.

Stretching along the coast and slightly inland between Ventura and Monterey sits Los Padres National Forest, with about 875,000 acres (354,000ha) of forestry. Included within the park’s boundaries are the Ventana, Silver Peak, Santa Lucia, Machesna, Garcia, San Rafael, Dick Smith, Sespe, Matilija and Chumash wilderness areas. This a great spot for hiking and backpacking, with over 1,200mi (1,931km) of trails.