Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

05/30/2026

Our neighbor park is hiring! Get paid to off-road, show kids how to buckle their helmets and Tread Lightly. Job located in Cantil.

The Great Basin District is seeking an enthusiastic, naturally engaging person to provide a wide variety of public programs including campfire and Junior Ranger programs and provide information on safe and responsible OHV recreation.

Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) is the second largest unit of California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. Located in eastern Kern County and adjacent to State Route 14 on the western edge of the Mojave Desert, the SVRA offers over 26,000 acres of scenic and challenging terrain for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), motorcycles, recreational off-highway vehicles (side-by-sides) and 4x4 vehicles.

We work when our visitors play: the State Park Interpreter I is required to work weekends and holidays as needed to accommodate interpretive programs, special events, and volunteers. Join a team of passionate employees who enjoy outdoor recreation!

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=517589

05/26/2026

How to startle an Interpreter:
1. divert their attention with a live PORTS virtual Zoom field trip.
2. Have a Mojave rattlesnake slither 3 ft behind the Interpreter.
You never know what wildlife will appear during a PORTS program. A class from Santa Clara was treated to a Mojave rattlesnake hunting. Needless to say, the rest of the program became about how rattlesnakes are exothermic, have live birth and eat lizards and rodents. Also, don’t walk in the flowers where they are camouflaged and don’t pick them up 👌🏽

05/06/2026

Looking to help the local community? Come help pull invasive Saharan mustard at Saddleback Butte State Park on Saturday. After the morning pull, come over to the Poppy Reserve and visit the visitor center's last open weekend. We close the visitor center for the season this Sunday at 4pm. Come get your 50th anniversary swag and everything poppy and orange.

🔥🌿 W**d it and reap! 🌿🔥
Did you know those tall, dry, nonnative weeds aren’t just an eyesore—they’re basically kindling waiting for a spark? 😬
Join us at Saddleback Butte State Park on May 9th from 8–11 AM for a rewarding morning of pulling nonnative weeds and reducing fire risk! 💪🌱
Make it a mini workout, blast your favorite playlist, and turn weed-pulling into a weekend vibe. Your neighborhood park (and your community) will thank you.
🌱 Less fuel
🌱 More native beauty
🌱 Safer community
Who’s in for a weed-pulling party? 🙌

05/04/2026

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CNRA/bulletins/4156df3

PRESS RELEASE: California State Parks Celebrates 50 Years of Protecting the Iconic Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve This bulletin was sent at 05/01/2026 10:00 AM PDT View as a webpage / Share CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION Divisions of Boating and Waterways, Historic Preservat...

04/29/2026

The Poppy Reserve is experiencing a “second bloom” season. Long time volunteers Michael and Marsha believe that the heavy storm in February caused additional plants to sprout. Come out and enjoy the beautiful flowers. Highly suggest a vista hike (Tehachapi or Kitanemuk vistas) for a view of orange fields.

04/21/2026

The Jane S. Pinheiro visitor center and patio areas are closed for a private event Friday April 24th from 6am-2pm. The trails remain open for hiking. The visitor center will reopen at 2pm.

04/12/2026

Join us for a guided tour of our sister park Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park this spring. Tomo-Kahni, or "Winter Village," was the site of a Native American Kawaiisu (Nuwa) village. Guided Tours of Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park are on Saturdays from April 18 through May 23. Reservations for guided tours are required. Tour fee is $20 per person. Tours are limited to 15 people and fill up fast. For tour information visit www.parks.ca.gov/tomokahni Reservations are available through the Reserve California website at https://reservecalifornia.com/. Click on the Activities tab, use the drop down menu to select Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park as the Place, Guided Tours as the Category, and select an available date. Click on the Show Availability button to go to the sign up page. You can also sign up for a guided tour by phoning Reserve California at 1-800-444-7275. Due to the sensitive nature of the site, visitors are only allowed to visit via guided tour.

04/09/2026

However, you want to call them coachwhips, red racers, whip snake or Masticophis flagellum are stunningly beautiful nonvenomous snakes. Very sensitive to potential threats, they bolt when startled. People who see them, often only catch a red flash as they race away. They are extremely fast and can move at over 4 mph. While not venomous, they do have a very painful bite. Our Poppy docent Bob got a series of amazing photos of a coachwhip hunting (and eating) a young gophersnake.
The poppies may be over, but there is still lots to see at the Poppy Reserve.