Golden poppies, California's official state flower, cover the eastern hillsides along Interstate 15 just north of Lake Elsinore, March 10, 2019. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
Because of the recent rains and warming temperatures, the annual California Poppy bloom is soon to take place in Lake Elsinore’s Walker Canyon. It may bring another “Super Bloom” to the area, according to the outdoor activity website AllTrails. Walker Canyon has been the site of other “Super Blooms” in past years, bringing traffic jams in the city and endangering the protected California Poppy, California’s state flower.
A temporary canyon closure would be done to help protect sensitive habitat.
A closure could also be a safeguard against problems that occurred in 2019, including traffic jams and the death of a CHP officer. The influx of visitors also caused poppies to be trampled and disturbed habitat for native plant and animal species protected by the Western Riverside Cou
