Spring is here and so are all the pretty wildflowers in the Bay Area! If you love flowers and beautiful scenery as much as I do, you’ll want to make a visit to Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont. Not only will you find lots of pretty wildflowers, but also beautiful Bay-side scenery and wildlife! I’ve seen poppies in some pretty spectacular settings, such as the endless poppy fields of Antelope Valley during a Superbloom, and the glorious poppy fields at Mt Diablo State Park in the East Bay, but I haven’t seen poppies with a water view like this anywhere else. It’s such a pretty combination! There’s also some great hikes here with lots of wildlife (we even saw some wild rabbits!).
All photos were taken by me and my husband Ken. I currently use a Sony a6700, which I love for both photos and videos! (I still love my Nikon D750 though!) Check out my recently updated camera gear blog post!
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Beautiful Bay Area Wildflowers & Scenery
Aside from having tons of Spring wildflowers, what makes Coyote Hills special is its very pretty setting right next to the Bay waters. There are some interesting white salt flats close by, along with ducks swimming by in the marsh waters of the wildlife refuge next to the park. Truly an idyllic and pretty setting!
When we visited the park on a beautiful Spring day in April, we saw the prettiest wildflowers, including numerous poppy patches along the hillsides and lots of purple and white wildflowers which I love! (I think they are verbena but I haven’t confirmed yet.) I didn’t see large fields of poppies like at Mt Diablo State Park, but the beautiful views and the many other pretty wildflowers more than make up for it.
We hiked along the 3.5-mile Bay View Trail, a paved loop trail which starts next to the parking lot and winds around the western edge of the park right next to the Bay waters. There are numerous other trails that bring you higher into the hills, but I loved seeing the wildflowers along this trail with the blue waters and white salt flats in the background.
All the photos in this post are from the Bay View Trail. Photos captured with my Nikon D750 (newer model D780 here), using my favorite 50mm lens. More on my photography gear here!
🌸 My Favorite Flower Books 🌸
Take a look at these beautiful books from my favorite photographer Georgianna Lane!
What Type of Wildflowers are at Coyote Hills Regional Park?
During our hike, the most striking wildflowers were the orange California poppies along the hillsides next to the trail, the numerous patches of purple and white verbena (at least I think they are verbena?!), purple lupines and yellow mustard. Other wildflowers spotted here include orange monkey flowers, yellow star thistles, brass buttons and purple geraniums. The area in front of the park is also filled with yellow mustard wildflowers in March.
The East Bay Regional Park District has a photographic guide to the park’s wildflowers.
By the way, if you love flowers as much as I do, you might be interested in my post on the Most Beautiful Flower Books – it’s one of my most popular posts!
🌸 Shop my summer favorites! 💛
About Coyote Hills Regional Park
Coyote Hills Regional Park is part of the East Bay Regional Park District. It’s located along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay and is comprised of 1,266 acres of marshland and rolling hills, with plenty of trails with beautiful bay views. Directly to the west of the park is the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It takes about 45 minutes to get there by car from San Francisco, assuming minimal traffic.
The main entrance on Patterson Ranch Road leads to the entry kiosk, where a parking fee of $5 per vehicle is collected (although it was free when we visited on a weekday). The main parking lot at the Quarry Staging Area has 114 parking spots, which fill quickly on weekends. There are also restrooms and picnic areas here. A short drive past the main parking lot is the Visitor’s Center, which is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10-4 pm. Please visit the park website for more information regarding hours, safety protocols and trail maps.
Travel Tips
- Visit during the weekday if possible. If the parking lot fills up, you’ll be out of luck since there are no nearby street parking. My hubby and his friends tried visiting on a weekend morning in April and had to turn back since the lots were already full. There were cars parked along the street closest to the entrance on Commerce Drive; however, our friend who lives close by noted that he’s seen parked cars being ticketed there frequently. It’s also quite a walk to the parking lot and trails from outside the park.
- It’s pollen season! If you’re prone to seasonal allergies, make sure to be prepared.
- Bring a hat and lots of water and snacks if you plan to spend a couple hours here. The trails have beautiful views but little to no shade. I was very glad to have brought my hat!
California Spring Travel
If you’re looking for more California Spring travel ideas, check out my posts on the Most Beautiful Spots in Big Sur, the Purple Ice Plants of the Monterey Peninsula, the spectacular Flower Fields of Carlsbad Ranch, and the Poppy Fields of Mt Diablo State Park! All of my California travel posts are available here!
California Flower Calendar
If you love flowers and gardens, you may be interested in my California Flower Bloom Calendar! Some of the flowers I cover include cherry blossoms, almond blossoms, peach blossoms, poppy fields, wildflowers, roses and much more! 🌸
My YouTube Channel!
I’ve started a YouTube channel! If you love nature, flowers and gardens as much as I do, make sure to give me a follow there! 😊🌸🌿
Step Inside a Fairytale Rose Garden!
This secret rose garden is full of blooming roses, rose terraces, rose walls, rose pillars, and even a rose-covered gazebo straight out of a fairytale! 🌸
Explore More of California!
If you love nature, wildflowers and exploring as much as I do, then I’m sure you’ll love these books too!
Thank You!
Thank you for stopping by my blog! I hope you found this post useful, and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Pansy ❤️
Hi, I’m Pansy!
Hello, thanks for stopping by! I’m Pansy, a California-based photographer, flower & nature lover, and travel blogger. 🌸🌼🌿
I also have a YouTube channel where I feature beautiful gardens, parks & flower fields. Make sure to follow me there if you love flowers & gardens! 😊
If you’d like to contact me, please send me an email or DM me on Instagram!
Pansy ❤️
Hi Pansy! We must have shared a friendship in some past life. Your blog is so touching and informative. Yes, I too am from the San Jose, Bay Area! Nice to read about your hard working supportive husband as well. I think it is time for go to the Rose Parade next year! Could you imagine the pictures? Here is some information about the longstanding rose and flower spectacle!
🌹 Everything You Need to Know About the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California 🌹
Each New Year’s Day, the city of Pasadena, California transforms into a living celebration of flowers, music, and community pride during the world-famous Tournament of Roses Parade, more commonly known as the Rose Parade. This iconic American tradition has been dazzling spectators for over a century with its breathtaking floral floats, spirited marching bands, and magnificent equestrian displays — making it one of the most spectacular ways to ring in the new year. Check out https://samedayrose.com/ for some truly stunning Roses 🙂