Walker Canyon Trailhead Reviews

I just went there on 3/18/19. The day before weekend they shout down freeway exit because of many people. I got there 9:30am, luckily we got parking place close to trail entrance. It was hot day 75~80F.
You need defiantly Hat, Water, comfortable walking/ hiking shoes, camera !
They have portable toilet near trail entrance.

Bring a full-tank of gas because you're going to need it. It took us over 3 hours just to get to the "LAKE STREET" off ramp and another 2 hours to park. There are a bunch of broken glasses like a side window was broken. There are no public facilities. Everyone is just urinating on the side of the road or on the poppy flowers. People are just pushing each other just to get to the front of the line. RUDE, UGLY place. POLICE are clueless what to do: They don't care either.

The Super Bloom at Lake Elsinore has been gorgeous this spring. The Walker Canyon trail has some steep portions but in general very walkable. During other seasons I'm sure it is just as nice but maybe not as pretty with all the flowers peeking out everywhere. There were lots of crowds during the Super Bloom to the extent that parking was difficult and volunteers were brought in to help manage the crowd. There are dirt roads where you can park and walk to the trails.

After spending several hours in the car sitting on the off ramp, we ended up in more traffic with no police managing the turn lanes or traffic flow. We left San Diego at 12:30 and except for pictures from our car, didn’t get on the trail till 3:30. The two Porto potties there were full and gross. Once you’re up on the trail, there are droves of people climbing off-trail, grabbing handfuls of poppies, and sitting on them. Overall, though the hills were beautiful, we are afraid the next step will be fences and restrictions, due to all the off-trail damage and reduction of bloom due to people being crazy.

It is absolutely beautiful here during the poppy blossoms. Gets touristy and crowded but with so much land and trails, your bound to find a nook to make your own. Be respectful and do not tread on the flowers or pick them to bring home. We did our best to stay on the trails or to only step on portions that had been walked on by others. The hills are covered with flowers. You really can't explain it. Definitely worth visiting more than once. I'd come every season if I could.

Disclaimer: The attached photos are from last year. We haven’t been out there yet in 2022 but we are very much looking forward to it:)

I'm a local resident here in Lake Elsinore. I've hiked this trail solo several times. This trail is beautiful surrounded by hills and canyons.

#1, Plan: get there early (beat the crowd) or get there in the late afternoon (warmer)
#2, No Bathrooms on site
#3, Parking on Lake St or Event lot on Walker Canyon (across from the south bound, Lake St exit off of 15 Fwy)
#4, Easy hike, but if you plan to go on smaller trail, then the grading may be loose.
#5, Be respectful to other visitor by not picking nor trampling the wild flowers... (follow the trails)
#6, Trails are short, but no trash bins, so limit on what you carry and discard.
#7, Trail goes fairly deep into the back... people tend to crowd near in front of the entrance.
#8, There are other entrances off the Lake St (1/4 of a mile north of the main entrance).
#9, 2019 is a great season for the Superbloom, due to the rain. I am guessing that it just started and will extend into early May...
#10, bring your camera and enjoy our California State Flower
#11, there is a creek that runs along the bottom... and there is a rusted and wrecked car there...
#12, Trail ends when you run into a "No Trespassing" Sign with a whole lots of bullet holes... One of the bullet is still lodged in the post.
#13, Plenty of places for photos ops.

Like others have sited, the weekend of March 9th was a nightmare just getting to the location. Whether you took the I-15 south or north to Lake St., you were greeted with miles of backup. Even trying to come in from Nichols Rd. left you with a bumper-to-bumper stop before Lake. People everywhere, no parking, trampled flowers, and at least there were some officials up on the hillside attempting to manage the foolish. There is nothing romantic about this if you're think of such as a date and you must stay on the trails, behind the neon-pink tape. I'll rely on Instagram for this event

We went last Sunday and we never mind the huge crowd. Once you're walking along the trail, the people are dispersed in different areas and you will not mind the others. The view from up the hill is so beautiful and colorful and less crowd.

Weekend: Park at Lake Elsinore Outlet, buy $10 roundtrip shuttle ticket, and the bus will take you to the Walker Canyon trail.

I recently visited Walker Canyon on a weekday and was disappointed by the road closures on Lake exit on Freeway 15.

Although this year was expected to have a super bloom, the Lake Ave exit on 15 was closure and the road block to Walker Canyon presented very unpleasant experience for us. Don’t understand why the city is doing that since this is a public hill and the wild flowers are there the enjoyment of the public not for the few from the local government.

However, I was still able to see patches of poppies by driving a road parallel to the freeway and going up the hill next to Walker Canyon. The California poppies were blooming in patches everywhere, but I would recommend waiting for another month and some more rain for a full bloom experience.

Despite the inconvenience, I still enjoy coming to Walker Canyon to see the wails flowers.

Wonderful color of nature, very nice to appreciate the beauty of nature, no words to describe wow. At the same time very pathetic to see people plucking, stamping and lying down on the flowers and mercilessly killing the beauty of nature. They are so selfish of taking photo and post. Do not think what will the others see, those did not get the time yet to visit. These peoples should be banned.

Kept hearing and seeing pictures of the Super Bloom at Walker Canyons, Lake Elsinore.
Ok it was amazing!!! Poppy’s filled the hills as far as you could see and among them were at least 16 other varieties of wildflowers. There is a long fire road for viewing but if you really want an absolutely gorgeous experience then follow one of the many single track trails that lead you right through the fields of flowers! I am so happy that I got a chance to go. 🌸🌼🌻

We enjoyed this trail during the California super bloom. The flowers could not have been anymore beautiful than they were. The hills looked as if they were painted with oranges, greens and tan. Certainly a once in a lifetime event.

This was an absolutely gorgeous experience hiking at leisure and taking in the beautiful surroundings. I recommend it to anyone. There were families, dogs, older people with canes. When you do go, please stay on the trail to preserve the poppyseeds. I absolutely loved it!

The Ca Wild Poppies is in full bloom covering the canyons so beautiful; the trail gets crowded hike farther to enjoy the quietness. It’s a small parking, come early free of charge, be respectful to signs, stay off the trail! Exit Lake St from the 15 freeway you cannot miss the beauty!

Absolutely beautiful! Lots of people but worth a stop. Traffic is tough but the hills are ablaze with California poppies, poppies everywhere! Stay on the trails to preserve the flowers. Some uneven dirt trails but all and all easy hiking.

My trip to lake Elsinore was worth the time. A great hike and magnificent view of the super bloom.

On Thursday night, the lake exit was closed so I went one exit north and instead of going where everyone else went, I ended up only 1500 yards from the crowd to the south. The hike was steeper and higher but very rewarding.

Not as much orange but I hear I had more purple's, whites and yellows. What do you think?

Oh, those butterflies I was chasing in Anza Borrego? Tons of them flying around at sunset.

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#naturephotography #canonusa #getoutside#hiking #deserthiking #visitcalifornia

This was stunning to see coming up to it from the south on I-5. I got there just before 7:30 am. on a Friday and it was already PACKED with lines of cars on both sides of Lake St. in Lake Elsinore. I had to park about a half mile away. Walking up the hill around every turn was a WOW, WOW, WOW moment. The orange and purple colors are unbelievably magnificent. Take note... If you go early in the a.m. the poppies won't be in full bloom until the sun is fully up, like high noon, however it's still beautiful anyway. Take your camera and wear hiking shoes. This is a fairly short, easy hike and should take you 1-2 hours to take it all in. IF you do decide to go, take your patience with you. Please stay on the paths and don't step on and crush the flowers. Take your photos from the path. Leave the dogs at home.

So sad that we missed the superbloom by a week! We got there the second week of April and most of the poppies were steady gone. The hike was still nice though! We got some great photos in some of the areas and it was still very picturesque - like you were running through a flower field!

We stayed away the past few weeks because of the huge crowds poor traffic control at the beginning and crazy wait time to get to the trail. They have you park at the outlet mall and they'll bus you to the trail - round trip is $10;person. There are plenty of portapottys at the trail and in the mall parking lot. There are still scattered poppies and wildflowers on the hillsides and up the trails so you can find a lot of beauty if you look. Go early - it gets warm fast. A few snakes on the trails as well. Hopefully, next season (or next Super Bloom) Lake Elsinore will be better prepared for the crowds.

The super bloom is on full display at Walker Canyon. I got there around 12:30 on Tuesday. It was crowded to park up near the trailhead, but plenty of parking on the streets prior to it. The crowds were pretty insane near the trail head, but it was less and less busy the further I got into the trail. The trail is about 3.5 miles out and back and packed with beauty. Make sure you bring water and some snacks. It's an easy "hike" - go nice and slow and take everything in. The ranger said it won't last more than another week or two.

With the advent of summer like weather in Southern California (temperatures ranging from 85 to 92 degrees) over the last several weeks, decided to venture out for a “Explore Southern California Expedition” and to do a bit of hiking. Loaded up the vehicle with essential items and filled the gas tank ($6.27 gallon) and headed south to Lake Elsinore, California. First stop on this adventure was at the Walker Canyon Trail located off the Interstate Highway 15 just north of Lake Elsinore. This 9.2 mile out and back trail was the site of the 2019 California Super Bloom, which drew in thousands of sightseers to the area. This trail is rated moderate and can be accomplished in 4 to 5 hours barring a “zillion” tourists. This trail is ideal for bird watching, sightseeing, and hiking and running. No fees or permits are required, and the trail is open year-round. Pets are welcome but must always remained on a leash. The trails are on dirt roads, and you will gain 1,761 feet in altitude while completing this hike. During my 5 hours plus hike of this trail, observed several hikers on the trail. Vastly different from the 2019 Super Bloom escapade. Due to the severe drought in Southern California, there are very few flowers to observe. One will see dried out tumbleweeds, chaparral, and brown hillsides. Wildlife is present and noted a few coyotes and numerous rabbits on the hillsides. Birds are plentiful, especially ravens and falcons. Interesting trail that will give you a good workout. Remember this is Southern California, and the local conditions are hot and extremely dry. Bring lots of water and wear appropriate clothing. If you into hiking, this is a good opportunity for a workout. However, if you are only interested in seeing the poppies, recommend you stay home, as you will not find any this year

I headed out today Monday and was there by 915am. Parking was still available. Crowds build. By the time I left at 1130, both off ramps had been closed. No parking and shuttles from the outlet mall. And this was a Monday morning! Take the trail all the way up...about 1.5 miles. Fairly gentle up climb. Fewer and fewer people the farther you get up. The blooms are more beautiful and close to the trail the further up you go. There's no shade and no water so bring your own. There are porta potties at the entrance to the walk.

Scenic, beautiful, stunning canyons full of wild flowers and other foliage which all make for a great outting. Some of the canyons are a bit steep, so you should be prepared for a hike. Great place to visit.

Taking a trip to many of California’s best wildflower hiking spots often requires lengthy travel on back roads. But the Walker Canyon Trail, just on the edge of Lake Elsinore, California, is easily accessible to many in Southern California, just off the I-15 interstate.

While close to highway access, Walker Canyon will transport you to some of the most beautiful early Spring hiking trails in California. From late February into early April the 3.5 mile canyon trail comes alive with wildflowers, especially the brilliant orange California poppy.
The trailhead begins just off the Lake Street exit, at the intersection of Walker Canyon Road. There is no parking lot but there is parking all along Walker Canyon Road. Best visiting time is during weekdays, or early on weekends before lots of other petal peepers show up.
Starting out from the trailhead the hike can be a bit steep at first, but levels out after a quarter mile or so, offering great views of surrounding hills and mountains. You must stick to the trails so that you don’t trample the flowers. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leash.

Easy hiking trail allows kids to accompany. The scene is stunning with California poppy super bloom.

I’m not from the area so was surprised that the majority of the wildflower viewing is via hiking trails. I do wish I’d known because we drove 4 hours + to see the poppies and my mother-in-law is unable to hike. We certainly saw lots of flowers from the trailhead but in all the news articles I’d seen no one had mentioned that aspect which would have been important for us. Spectacular scenery but tough viewing for those which physical limitations.

I loved the super bloom of wild poppy flowers, but the area was not very well organized and too crowded.

Walker canyon poppy flower super bloom (dated 3/11/2019). A wet winter brings life to the desert and this year’s poppy super The view of thousands of poppies is breathtaking and can be seen from the freeway I-15. Parking to the trail head is along the walker canyon road shoulder. First come first available basis. Public mobile toilets by the trail entrance. Make sure arrive early, there are two entrances to the walker canyon road loop trail that leads you into the world of poppies. The trail is about 4 miles. Lots of people at either entrance. But after 1-2 miles into the trail, people are thinning out and you really get to enjoy the poppy, the view and the nature. Bring a pair of good hiker shoes, water and snacks with you. No water/toilets on the trail. The rangers are working and patrolling constantly to keep people safe and off the flower field. Please respect and preserve the view for everyone and not to walk into the flower field.

We had a fabulous hike but unfortunately missed the Superblooms. The Ranger stated that because it got hot the beginning of April many of the colors faded and the Superblooms died. The hiking trails were still very crowded and the foliage and hills were yellow but the vibrant colors were gone.
I would recommend Walker Canyon as a great hiking trail-easy to park and find.

We got up nice and early to go see the poppies in bloom. We expected it to be a bit chaotic since the news has reported “Disneyland sized crowds” and a lack of parking. Our expectations were managed and we planned ahead. It was already crowded by sunrise on 3/17 (Sunday) but there was still parking near the trail (not much, though). By the time we left it was chaos. The traffic controllers were telling people where to go (back to the freeway) and no one was listening to them, which created a hazard. Aside from a few people not following directions and smashing the flowers, it was lovely. Know there are massive crowds and plan ahead.

The Super Bloom of poppies was fantastic. We've lived nearby for years and never seen the hills in Walker Canyon so beautiful and orange! It's very crowded on the weekends but so pretty.

the city of Elsinore is estimating between 50,000 and 100,000 people a DAY are visiting the poppy fields on the weekends. It is overwhelming their systems. We went early in the morning, on a weekday and were able to experience the astonishing super bloom. If you haven't gone, go, but make it early and try for a weekday if at all possible.

二 月至今，南加最热门，开花最灿烂的 #OrangePoppies 就在 #LakeElsinore, 又適逢南加去年和今年雨水多，使這原生的橘红色的 poppies 开得更艷麗，踏青，健行，適合全家老少週末去踏青地方，但没有 Handicap 的設備，有临时厕所可用(请记得自己帶厕纸)

The hillsides in Lake Elsinore are awash in a blaze of golden-orange poppies. That has visitors pulling off Interstate 15 and onto #WalkerCanyon
Road to view the fields of wildflowers. It is a stunning view like a giant blanket cover with all the bright red orange poppies. If you like to take photos, this is the place for you.

喜欢拍照的人，早上九点~11点或下午3点~5点都是不錯的选擇。

穿著 : 一件輕便保暖防風的外套( #Uinqo 和 #REI 都有卖的 #ultralightdownjacket)，一雙球鞋，健行鞋，或walking steak 就可以了。

附註: 请爱惜這些原生漂亮的 #OrangePoppies, 若因為了拍照而踏坏它，十年都不再長哟！Please stay off the flowers and on the path.

停車地点:
27200 Lake St, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530

Wow! When you can see the hills ablaze with colors from I-15 and CA-74, you know there are millions of California poppies and other blooms! The scenery took my breath away: every turn gives you different beautiful angles: orange, yellow, purple and white wild flowers everywhere. These are dirt trails and range from easy to medium, with some steep hills if you choose to climb to get a 360 degrees view. No shade or bench or trash cans on trails; so bring hat, sunscreen, water, snacks (do bring the trash home with you, please), good walking shoes and walking stick if you want to climb the hills. We spent 5 hours (8am-1pm) 3/19 and still couldn't decide to leave. Be aware that in the early morning the poppies haven't opened yet; they do well in sunny weather. Prediction is for superbloom to last until April. Go during the weekdays if you can and enjoy one of the most spectacular shows!

We drove past to take in the spectacular views of California poppies taking over the Walker Canyon. It was stunning. What a beautiful display after all the spring rains. Traffic was crazy in the area.

So amazing! Go in a weekday if you can as it is crowded. There are butterflies too! Easy hike. I saw moms with kids, seniors, and even two ambitious adults with a walker lol.

After all these rains we have wonderful flower fields. It was amazing, absolutely worth 2 hours drive including traffic. You can see not only poppies but other flowers too. Very picturesque. We didn't go to the main spot where everyone is going. Instead, we turned to Temescal Canyon Rd and from there to Concordia Ranch road. It allowed us to save time and stop right near the hills. No problem, with parking there and plenty of flowers.

The Wildflowers for March 2019 are fantastic. It is crowded and traffic is bad but whatever hardship you have to endure is worth it.

I went here with a friend in 2019 during the Super bloom and it was one of the most beautiful trails. There are hills alongside the freeway covered with poppy flowers during the spring. There was a ranger roaming around & some areas were roped off for restricted access. We stayed along the trails

The news has talked about the super bloom of poppies at Walker Canyon. 4 hour traffic jams. Pay to shuttle. Etc. Don’t be scared off. DO NOT GO ON A WEEKEND!!! That is true conditions. But if you can go during the week, like I just did, it is very doable. I got there at 8 am. NO FREEWAY TRAFFIC in the area. I found easy parking. NO SHUTTLE NEEDED. There were not a lot of people there at that hour. I went up the hill. THIS IS TGE MOST AMAZING SIGHT OF FLOWERS I HAVE EVER SEEN! Poppies blanket miles and miles of hillside. Probably most is on private property and not accessible, so Walker Canyon is a good choice. It has lots of trails to explore. Early in the morning, the poppies are still sleeping. They open up as the earth warms and the sun comes out. By 10 am, they were at their prime. They had lots of company of other beautiful wildflowers, purples, whites, pinks. The hills look like a Monet painting as far as you can see and as far as you may want to go. I stayed 4 hours! I was enthralled. By noon, there were lots of people coming. I had no trouble exiting my parking space and encountered no heavy traffic. NOT TO BE MISSED!!! Worth taking a sick day and a picnic lunch.

PLEASE DO NOT DO WHAT I SAW PEOPLE DOING. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO STEP ON THE FLOWERS TO GET YOUR SELFIE. IF YOU CRUSH THE POPPIES, THEY WILL NOT GROW BACK! STAY ON THE TRAIL, HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR MOTHER NATURE AND THE VISITORS WHO WILL COME AFTER YOU.

ENJOY.

Mary and I took our Tesla Model X on a Road Trip to Walker Canyon (Warm Springs), Lake Elsinore to see the insane Super Bloom going on this year thanks to all the rain we had this winter!
FYI the "tourist area" is super busy, go down to Nicholas Road and head East up into the hills, this tip from Jamar Cotton (local photographer)! We were by ourselves for most of our viewing!!!
We took a dirt road for about 10 miles and actually dropped into the packed tourist area as we got back onto the freeway 😀

See the first picture on the tip 👇🏼

The cycle of rain is about 10 years in California, it rains a lot this year so the flowers are super blooming. It is a easy access canyon right next to the highway. The only problem is it is hard to find the parking.

I went early Friday morning (3/21/19), and like others have said it was already packed. I was parked about a quarter mile from the trailhead. There were several portable toilets with hand sanitizers at the trailhead. I stopped at an exit before to use a clean restroom, so I can’t speak to the cleanliness of the portable toilets.

The park ranger was closing most of the single track trails and would prefer people to stick to the wider fire roads. It seemed to me that most people stayed close to the start of the trailhead. Go at least a mile in to get past the crowds. I leisurely hiked 2-miles up and took tons of photos of the beautiful multicolored hillsides. The hillsides full of bouquets of vivid orange, purples, and chartreuse flowers was absolutely stunning.

As others have said, the poppies won’t open until mid to late morning and in warmer temps. But that being said, it is still gorgeous. The poppies were closed on my way up (47 degrees) and were opening on my way down (low 60’s). I thought it was a relatively easy hike with 752 feet elevation gain.

Dogs are allowed M-F when you can park on Walker Canyon Rd. Currently, on weekends, they are trying to control traffic and crowds by shuttling people in at $10 per person. For their current info go to Lake Elsinore’s City website.

Be patient and enjoy!

Super easy hike and beautiful poppy views. Highly recommend. Due to February and March rain, these beautiful flowers popped up. Best to go around 11:30am to 2pm when they are open n blooming.

Wildflowers in full bloom! Went last Thursday with about 1,000 other cars! try to park on the other side of the freeway. and hike. come early for parking. full bloom around 11 a.m., can't miss it traffic stops! Go now, not later - Super Bloom event. MeuterMedia