A winter of heavy rains has triggered something rare across California’s inland hills — a fleeting and brilliant “superbloom” of wildflowers.
Now, a growing number of campers are trying to stack the odds — and their campsite options — in their favor. A new interactive forecast tool from the camping platform Hipcamp aims to help travelers identify likely bloom windows and nearby places to stay, including sites around Carrizo Plain National Monument.
The California Superbloom Forecast pulls from roughly five years of research-grade observations submitted through the community science platform iNaturalist. By analyzing more than 150,000 entries, Hipcamp’s team created a map intended to guide visitors toward bloom-rich areas while also encouraging responsible recreation.