April #conservationlands15 #bucketlist: Bodie Hills, California, for Wildflowers, Wildlife and One-of-a-Kind Ghost Town!

California’s Eastern Sierra region is a dramatic transition zone between the snowcapped granite spires of the Sierra Nevada and the endless sagebrush covered uplands of the Great Basin. A visit at the right time of year will reward visitors with a diversity of wildflowers.

One great wildflower viewing area is just north of Mono Lake and east of Yosemite in the rolling Bodie Hills – hills being an understatement since they top out at over 10,000 feet! Because of their high elevation, wildflower blooms are later here than much of California – typically arriving in May-June on the lower slopes and into July on the highest peaks. Several back roads traverse the area and offer access to view the displays of phlox, penstemmon, and paintbrush to name a few of the many wildflower species. More than 100,000 acres of BLM lands cover most of the Bodie Hills and include several wilderness study areas.

This year’s bloom promises to be early and short due to the dry winter across much of California. However, even if you miss the peak bloom, there is no shortage of things to see in the area. Bodie State Park is the site of the best-preserved ghost town in California, and arguably in the U. S. Wildlife viewers can see antelope, mule deer, and if lucky, get a glimpse of a sage grouse. If you visit later, around early October, crisp clear nights will turn the scattered aspen stands to gold, giving a second opportunity to see the Bodie Hills in color.