Where to See the Best Bluebonnets in 2022.
Bluebonnet season is right around the corner. In fact, we were already seeing some early blooming in extreme southern locations along the Rio Grande and Gulf Coast. I wouldn’t expect widespread blooming anytime over the next few weeks after the recent and upcoming cold snaps. If current trends verify, I would expect the season to be right around a typical schedule, with southern locations blooming in the middle of March and northern locations filling in through the first two weeks of April.
This is now the 7th consecutive year I have put together this article. You can view my other editions here (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021). You never know if some of those old spots could return to their former glory.
What kind of season to expect is still anyone’s guess. Rainfall numbers over the fall months have been spotty, some areas got sufficient rains while others did not. That historic winter storm impacted Texas the middle of last February had a significant negative impact on the 2021 season. We spent five straight days below freezing and this had a huge impact on the flowers. Last year was, without a doubt, the worst bluebonnet season I have personally witnessed. Even so, we were able to make the most of it and found some locations with excellent coverage. Even in the worst years, there’s always a few hidden gems.
Where will the best bluebonnet displays be in 2022? Here is my best guess based on a blend of a decade of experience photographing bluebonnets and looking at rainfall over the last several months. General disclaimer, use these tips at your own risk. Don’t stop along busy highways, watch your step, and be sure not to trespass!
10. Big Bend
Chisos Bluebonnets are different than their counterparts, the Texas Bluebonnet. They tend to show up more sparsely, but grow very tall (in excess of 3 feet).
We are already seeing some early blooming along lower elevations around the Big Bend region, which is not out the ordinary. The best displays are usually around the National Park, TX-170 west of Terlingua, and along TX-118 north of Study Butte. These areas tend to peak in the first half of March but are very unpredictable.
9. Ennis
Ennis had an excellent season in 2021, easily the most widespread blooming for a region in the state. They were very late in the season. I was there shooting them on a down day for severe weather with our Tornado Adventures group on April 29!
My only concern for Ennis in 2022 is that rainfall was a little on the low side over the fall months. You can get updates on the Bluebonnet Trails from the city welcome center here.
8. Floresville
Looking at fall and winter rainfall totals, I would expect a big year for the counties south of San Antonio, including Wilson and Atascosa.
These southern locations tend to bloom early with Sandyland Bluebonnets being the primary type of bluebonnet in this region. If you’re looking for a good mix of colorful wildflowers, this a great region to spend crisscrossing backroads.
FM-97 from Pleasanton to Floresville to Stockdale is a great route to start on.
7. Fredericksburg
Home to Wildseed Farms and more wineries than you can count. Fredericksburg is a great place to base your wildflower trip. Just be sure to go see the flowers BEFORE you visit the wineries.
Stop by the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic site. You can usually find longhorn in a few bluebonnets here. US-290 can be very scenic but be cautious of the traffic.
Head north towards Llano on TX-16 to find the Willow City Loop. I strongly suggest avoiding this area on the weekends because the crowds can become incredible with bumper to bumper traffic on narrow one way county roads.
6. Llano
The Hill Country in general should have a solid wildflower season in 2022. They’ve had plenty of rain in the fall and winter. Stop by Coopers for some world famous BBQ, just give yourself plenty of time. The line can be looonnnng, especially during peak hours.
Llano is a great place to try to find the elusive Milky Way over bluebonnets photo, especially along TX-16, south of town. TX-16 can also have some nice roadsides north of town near Babyhead Cemetery (yes, you read that right).
5. Marble Falls
Marble Falls is an awesome town and a great place to see wildflowers! If you’re hungy, grab a bite at the famous Bluebonnet Cafe. The Bluebonnet House is iconic when the field it sits in turns blue. You can find it on US-281, next to the Pedernales Electric Cooperative.
Turkey Bend Recreational Area is also a good spot to find some nice displays of bluebonnets.
4. Mason
The Hill Country had some encouraging fall rains and appears to have good coverage of rosettes. Hoping this area comes back in a big way after two very down years in a row.
TX-29 usually has some great fields and roadsides between Mason and Llano.
TX-71 from Fredonia to Pontotoc is known for some great displays. The small community of Pontotoc has a few stone ruins that make for great wildflower photos.
3. Spicewood
Nothing much beyond a gut feeling at the time of this writing, but with the current direction of the drought, the dry pattern we are in, and how this area performed last year, I would expect a pretty spectacular showing around the Muleshoe Bend area.
Same deal here though as many other popular spots, after big years in 2014, 2015, and 2021 the secret is out about Muleshoe Bend. Expect huge crowds on the weekends.
There could also easily be zero wildflowers here, but when this place blooms you can’t find a better Texas dirt road scene.
2. Brenham
Washington County was a season saver for the first half of bluebonnet season in 2021. Most other areas were barren of flowers, but many locations around Brenham had exceptional coverage and multiple large fields. Rainfall has been more than sufficient for germination in the Fall and sustaining development throughout Winter.
Biggest question for Brenham isn’t if, but when. I have seen peak blooming starting the first week of March, other years it hasn’t really gotten started until the third week of the month.
You can check on the stage of blooming on the city’s website.
1. Our Texas Bluebonnet Photography Workshops and Tours
As helpful as this list is, it simply does not come close to the knowledge you get from taking our Texas Bluebonnet self guided tour, guided tours, or photography workshops. It would take you weeks to drive to the locations on this post.
In addition to our Texas Bluebonnet Photography Workshops, we run two, five hour tours each day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. We also offer self guided tours with updated routes each week! The maps include exact locations, descriptions, and suggested times of day to visit.
We drive thousands of miles across Texas leading up to bluebonnet season scouting our locations. We update our routes as the season progresses. We know exactly when each field is looking its finest. We only go to safe locations and never stop along busy highways.
Thank you for reading. Have a safe and bountiful 2022 wildflower season, y’all!