Sure, springtime cherry blossoms are delicate, frothy and beautiful, but almond blossoms are just as lovely and actually carry a stronger fragrance. You may have to take a bit of a drive to see them, but now’s the time to go.
Venture out to Yolo or Sacramento Counties, as well as the Central Valley, from mid-February to early March and you’ll arrive during the small window of time when you can catch these pink and white blossoms in full form, called “valley snow.”
There are a few important things you should know first: You’re not allowed to go onto farmers’ lands unless if you have permission—otherwise, you’re trespassing. When you see those photos or videos of people walking the long alley between rows of trees in blossom, it’s because they’ve gotten permission or they’re working with a professional photographer who has an agreement with the farmer. This is people’s livelihood: Please don’t walk into the orchard and especially don’t pick flowers or step on irrigation lines.
But that’s not really a concern: You can easily spot the rows and rows of blooms from your car and enjoy driving past the orchards with the windows down to catch the scent on the breeze. Make sure that if you pull over to appreciate the orchards, you pull your car all the way off the road. Obviously, don’t litter—keep the beauty intact for the next person. And while it’s great to bring your dog on a road trip, many orchards are patrolled by farm dogs, so make sure yours is leashed.
Each year, more than 100,000 people head to catch the blooms and have a day in nature. California’s almond industry is a $6 billion part of our economy and contributes almost 80 percent of the world’s almond supply. We’re just one of five places in the world with the Mediterranean climate needed to grow them. And while it famously takes one gallon of water to make one almond, the almond industry has reduced water useage by 33 percent since the 1990s and plans to reduce a further 20 percent by this year. Some of the successful techniques have been sending water right to the roots rather than flooding entire fields, using soil moisture meters to schedule irrigation when it’s needed and improving soil quality so it holds onto water better.
One key note: bring your epipen if you’re allergic to bees—they love these blossoms, too!
Here are the places you can head to catch the blossoms:
Modesto
Almond Blossom Cruise
2 hour drive from San Francisco
Don’t miss an event that's new this year, the Almond Blossom Sunset Dinner at Richard’s Ranch in Modesto on March 1. The tables are set up in the orchards so you can enjoy cocktail hour, local cuisine and live music ensconced in the fragrant setting. Tickets are $75 per person or $130 per couple—or get a table of eight for $550.
Fresno
Go Blossom Trail
3.5 hour drive from San Francisco
Visalia
Visalia Blossom and Orchard Trail
4 hour drive from San Francisco
Yolo County
Use a self-guided map to move through the almond orchards, including Capay Valley which has an annual almond festival (it’s already passed for 2025). Some say this is the best place to see the orchards in northern California, via the cities of Winters, Woodland and Dixon.
2 hour drive from San Francisco
Sacramento
Blue Diamond in Sacramento is the world’s largest almond processor—and you might catch its almond shaped truck called the Nutty Cruiser. The downtown Sacramento gift shop is said to be a gem worth stopping for.
2 hour drive from San Francisco