Where to road trip for the best Texas bluebonnet fields
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Spring is in the air in Central Texas and with it comes bluebonnet season. For those looking to bask in the beauty of Texas' state flower, experts at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center divulged where the best places are statewide to catch some spectacular blooms.
Northeast Texas
Up in Texarkana, the Caddo Lake bayous and the east Texas piney woods are noted for their magnificent wildflower displays. Wildflower center experts said the 40-mile region linking Linden, Avinger and Hughes Springs are home to the Wildflower Trails of Texas.
Here, residents and visitors can find common rose mallow, yellow thistle and coneflower near the woodlands, while Texas bluebonnets, Mexican hats and wild indigo flowers are found along FM 2198.
Elsewhere in the region, the towns of Atlanta, Karnack and Marshall are also regarded for having beautiful displays of coneflower, dogwoods, field pansy, Indian blanket, spiderwort, Mexican hats, bluebonnets and wild indigo.
Greater Houston area
Brazos Bend State Park is home to a wide assortment of wildflowers, including the Texas spider lily, floating bladderwort, basket flower, back-eyed Susan, bluebonnets, morning glory vine and wild indigo.
Those looking to take a trip to the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge will find sea oxeye daisy, tropical sage, coreopsis, yellow thistle, spider lily, sedges, rushes and cattails.
Out in Brenham, drivers can travel along the bluebonnet loop throughout Washington County, heading from Brenham to Burton, Independence, Washington and Chappell Hill. Along the route, drivers will find plentiful fields full of bluebonnets, coneflower, prairie verbena, beardtongue, coral bean, skullcaps, prairie parsley, Indian paintbrush, blue-eyed grass, rattlesnake flowers, blanket flowers and rosinweed.
San Antonio region
DeWitt County is regarded by wildflower center experts as the Wildflower Capital of Texas. Here, visitors will find bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, Mexican hats, Indian blankets, lazy daises, phlox, winecups and coreopsis.
Specific stop options include the Goliad State Park as well as the Cuero Chamber of Commerce, where visitors can access a map highlighting more than 800 miles' worth of wildflower trails.
The Bandera Loop
The Bandera Loop is a 100-mile stretch in Bandera County west of San Antonio. The loop crosses the Medina and Sabinal rivers and features acres' worth of blooms along backgrounds, including bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, phlox, coreopsis, prickly poppies, sunflowers, firewheels, winecups and verbena.
Texas Hill Country
The Willow City Loop is a 13-mile, two-lane road stretch that runs just outside of Fredericksburg through rolling hills and canyons. Visitors can find bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, phlox, coreopsis, prickly poppies, sunflowers, firewheels, winecups and prairie verbena along the terrain during the springtime.
Southwest Texas
Near Big Bend runs a 230-mile scenic loop that crosses through Alpine, Terlingua, Lajitas, Presidio and Marfa. Visitors can find bluebonnets larger than ones spotted in the Texas Hill Country.
Other featured plants include cactus, strawberry pitaya, ocotillo, yucca, sotol, catclaw and desert marigolds.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center offers driving guides for each of its bluebonnet-centric routes online.