Bike riders can enjoy the hilly Wildcat 100 & 125, the traditional Wildflower 100 & 65, the Flatflower 60 & 30, and the Childflower 12. Wildfest pre-ride party.
Annual event: April
California Central Coast Bike Event:
San Luis Obispo County also has a cycling race / ride called the Wildflower Century SLOBC held in March
BIRDERS unite under the Pacific Flyway
20+ years running, the Snow Goose Festival’s mission is to increase public awareness, understanding, appreciation and conservation of the diverse wildlife and unique habitats of the northern Sacramento Valley.
Workshops and field trips; advanced reservations online
Annual event; January
530-592-9092
Mono Lake is a natural haven for seagulls. Located east of Yosemite Park, the high desert retreat see thousands of birds each season – with hundreds of species documented. This annual event hosts field trips, workshops & bird presentations around US 395, Lee Vining & Mono Lake.
Annual event; June
San Diego county’s Imperial Beach is the home of the biggest & best sand castles on the west coast. Sandcastle City!
Annual event; August
Each Autumn monarch butterflies invade the Pacific Grove region of California. A sanctuary has been established along this coastline.
Annual event: October
831-648-5716
cityofpacificgrove.org/visiting/monarch-butterfly-sanctuary
One of the better winter star shows. This well known meteor shower peaks in mid December, right in the middle of Christmas Rush. It’s a nice time to plan a desert camping trip around or a weekend away in the mountains. Look in the southern part of the nights sky these shootings stars.
The meteors from this shower are slow moving, can be seen in December and usually peak around the 13th – 14th of the month, with the date of highest intensity being the morning of the 14th. The shower is thought to be intensifying every year and recent showers have seen 120–160 meteors per hour under optimal conditions, generally around 02:00 to 03:00 local time.
The meteors in this shower appear to come from a radiant in the constellation Gemini (hence the shower’s name). However, they can appear almost anywhere in the night sky, and often appear yellowish in hue. Well north of the equator, the radiant rises about sunset, reaching a usable elevation from the local evening hours onwards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geminids
Annual event; December
How to best view a Meteor Shower
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This autumn meteor shower peaks in mid November & a great weekend for planning a desert camping trip around. Look in the eastern part of the nights sky these shootings stars, up to 10 per hour. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
California Deserts are wonderful at this time of year. Many folks plan Thanksgiving celebration around this outdoorsy celestial event.
Annual event; November
How to best view a Meteor Shower
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An autumn meteor shower peaks in late October & perfect for planning a camping trip, cabin weekend or fishing trip around it. Eastern Sierra Nevada destinations are wonderful at this time of year, as fall colors w/ aspens peak as well. Look in the southeastern part of the nights sky these shootings stars, up to 12 per hour. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
Annual event; October
How to best view a Meteor Shower
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Wildflowers bloom all over California – from the desert in winter months, to the High Sierra in mid summer. Remember that the timing is everything, since most of these precious, delicate beauties only last a week or so. Out there alone, all day in the bright sunshine, whipping in the seasons strongest breezes. Flora!
The higher the elevation, the later the bloom.
Lower elevation deserts begin to show as early as February and higher elevation peaks thaw in May. Wilderness meadows and flowers can be found in the mountains in summer. Generally in California, Springtime – between MARCH and JUNE is the best viewing time.
West coast wildflower blooms in relation to elevation; Order of bloom is typically
some recent finds:
Carrizo Plain Super Bloom – W of Taft, CA
Klipstein Canyon, Kern County @ Hwy 166
Cottonwood Canyon
W of New Cuyama, CA
School House Canyon
W of New Cuyama, CA
Figueroa Mountain Rd – Los Padres NF @ Santa Ynez, CA
Table Mountain – Cherokee Road, N Oroville, CA
Box Canyon @ Mecca, California
Turtle Mountain Road, Needles, CA
Mill Creek, Lassen NF
Lassen Peak Lupine Way Hike
Lassen NP (mid-to-late summer)
more pages on wildflowers –
Poppy Reserve Antelope Valley, LA Co.
The California Delta was once a much larger area, where migratory birds flocked year after year. Lodi celebrates the Season of the Crane
Annual event; November
This Summertime meteor shower is usually the best show of the year, if the new moon is near. High Sierra destinations are wonderful. Especially Eastern Sierra destinations, well away from the big city lights & urbanization of California.
Summer mild temperatures make higher altitude & mountain destinations favorable. The air is thinner, the sky clearer and the stars are closer at high elevations.
Perseids peaks in mid-August every summer. Perfect timing for planning a summer vacation or camping trip around this annual anticipated event. Look in the northeast part of the nights sky for grazers & numerous shootings stars, up to 60 per hour. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
Annual event; August
How to best view a Meteor Shower
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Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower
This annual meteor shower peaks in late July, close to the infamous summer show of the Perseids. Higher elevations w. clear skies are favored. Granite domes such as this one called “DomeRock” are common in the granite range of the Sierra Nevada. Dome Rock is near the infamous climbing spot, the Needles & near the small, cabin community of Ponderosa, CA in the Giant Sequoia region.
Look in the southern part of the nights sky for these shootings stars, up to 20 per hour. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
Annual event; July
How to best view a Meteor Shower
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What in the hell is an “Eta Aquarid”? It’s a meteor shower in the Springtime; This annual meteor shower peaks in early May. Look in the northeast part of the nights sky for these shootings stars, up to 20 per hour – if you can handle the chilly nights. Most California deserts are prime star gazing spots. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
Annual event; May
How to best view a Meteor Shower
This is one of Jan Alexander’s photos from the Hollywood & Vine of Anza Borrego Desert State Park
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This annual meteor shower peaks in late April, one of the few shooting star shows in the Springtime. Look in the east part of the nights sky for the grazers or shootings stars, up to 12 per hour. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers. Most deserts are prime star gazing spots. Spring blooms wildflowers in the California deserts at this time of year.
This photos is taken at the heights of Mortero Canyon Wash in the southern portion of Anza Borrego Desert State Park. County Road S2 leads out to some great back road camping options. Morterro Wash has big boulder campsites – back behind the abandon rail road tracks. These desert dirt roads are not recommended for RV or motorhome travel. Deep sand is common. Passenger cars can make it – if they do not slow or stop in the soft sandy spots.
Annual event; April
How to best view a Meteor Shower
California Desert Destinations
California Desert Camping
California Hot Springs Resorts
This annual meteor shower peaks in early January, right after the New Years celebrations. Look in the northeast part of the nights sky for these shootings stars, up to 40 per hour – if you can handle the chilly nights. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
Most California deserts are prime star gazing spots. This photo is open camping on back roads, in Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Plenty hiking near here; Desert wildflowers start as early as February, depending (of course) on the seasonal rains.
Annual event; January
How to best view a Meteor Shower
California Desert Destinations
California Desert Camping
California Hot Springs Resorts