Super Bloom Of California Poppies Attracts Massive Crowds: PHOTOS

Tens of thousands of people swarmed California's vibrant poppy fields in hopes of capturing the perfect photo of the Golden State's second super bloom in two years.

Super blooms generally occur about once in a decade in a given area and even more less frequently with all the recent droughts. Ever since desert lilies began appearing this past December, a wave of wildflower poppies have bloomed across Southern California's Anza-Borrego desert region, along with the Lake Elsinore region.

"Two years after steady rains followed by warm temperatures caused seeds dormant for decades under the desert floor to burst open and produce a spectacular display dubbed the "super bloom," reported AP News.

SEE ALSO: RivCo Seeks To Prevent Repeat of 'Super Bloom' Chaos in Elsinore

Back in 2017, the super bloom was best seen in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in 20 years and even attracted massive crowds to the small neighboring town of Borrego Springs. "There's just an abundance in where it's blooming and it's coming in waves," said Betsy Knaak, executive director of the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association.

The latest super bloom is so vibrant in color that poppies can be seen from mountains towering over 30,000 feet. And it's also caused a wave of visitors to swarm the Lake Elsinore area, much to the dismay of local residents who say it's led to pure chaos.

Perhaps for now, it's easier to look from afar? Check out all the best photos of California's stunning super bloom of poppies below:

Monday March 18, 2019

About 150,000 people flocked over the weekend to see this year's rain-fed flaming orange patches of poppies lighting up the hillsides near Lake Elsinore, about a 90-minute drive from either San Diego or Los Angeles.

A model poses among wildflowers in bloom in Lake Elsinore, California.

A photographer passes behind some of the wildflowers in bloom in Lake Elsinore, California.

People pose for a picture among wildflowers in bloom in Lake Elsinore, California.

The crowds became so bad Sunday that Lake Elsinore officials closed access to poppy-blanketed Walker Canyon. By Monday the #poppyshutdown announced by the city on Twitter was over and the road to the canyon was re-opened.

Renee LeGrand, of Foothill Ranch, California, takes a picture among wildflowers in bloom.

Crowds of people, pictured above, are seen walking among the wildflowers in bloom.

A man takes a picture among wildflowers in bloom in Lake Elsinore, California.

Groups of people are scattered among the blooming wildflowers, pictured above.

Wednesday March 6, 2019

Rene Garcia holds her three-month-old son Brandon amid wildflowers in bloom near Borrego Springs, California.

Two years after steady rains sparked seeds dormant for decades under the desert floor to burst open and produce a spectacular display dubbed the "super bloom," another winter soaking this year is shaping up to be possibly even better.

A group of men take pictures with their phones as they stand among wildflowers in bloom near Borrego Springs, California.

A man looks on amid wildflowers in bloom near Borrego Springs, California.

A woman sits in a field of wildflowers in bloom near Borrego Springs, California.

People walk among wildflowers in bloom near Borrego Springs, California.

A woman poses for a picture among wildflowers in bloom near Borrego Springs, California.

A man walks among wildflowers in bloom near Borrego Springs, California.

AP News contributed to this post.