Spectacular displays of wildflowers are returning to Diamond Valley Lake
near Hemet and should continue to bloom for the next several weeks,
Metropolitan Water District officials announced today.
“California poppies are once again
highlighting the wide palette of flowers now blooming along the
northeast shoulders of the lake,” said
Metropolitan General Manager Jeff Kightlinger. “After
a two-year hiatus, this year’s display
promises to be among the finest wildflower viewing opportunities in
Southern California, offering beautiful vistas of hillsides ablaze in
the blues, yellows, reds and oranges of various native wildflowers.
“Several years ago, wildflowers virtually
carpeted the hills along these trails,” said
Kightlinger, “and we are hopeful this year’s
offering will do the same. Better still, the visual feast is readily
accessible through several miles of easy-to-moderate trails that begin
in the lake’s marina.”
Visitors can reach the Diamond Valley Lake marina and trailhead via the
lake’s east entrance at Searl and Domenigoni
parkways. There is a $7 entrance/parking fee, which includes a trail map
and wildflower identification booklet. Pets are not allowed on trails or
in the marina.
The trail system includes a two-mile portion of the Lakeview Trail (four
miles round trip), which is relatively flat and provides tremendous
views of hillside flowers as well as the 4,500-surface-acre lake,
Southern California’s largest freshwater
reservoir. Several more strenuous loop trails, which are only open
during wildflower season, break off from the Lakeview Trail into the
surrounding hills.
In addition to the wildflower area, the Lakeview Trail continues for
more than 21 miles around the lake, and has proven to be popular for
longer walks and with mountain bike enthusiasts.
The lake also offers the 5.9-mile North Hills Trail, which is outside of
the reservoir’s watershed and is open to
hikers and equestrians. This trail can be entered from either Searl
Parkway or the lake’s west entrance off
Winchester Road.
All trails are open from sunrise to one half hour before sunset. For
more information, contact (800) 590-LAKE or visit dvlake.com.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a
cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in
six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado
River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps
its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage
and other resource-management programs.
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