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Where to Find the Best Bluebonnets in Texas in 2021.

My 2020 wildflower season was basically nonexistent due to the global pandemic. Our Texas Bluebonnet Workshops and Tours were shutdown just prior to bluebonnet season and by the time things started reopening, the season was long over. I never went out to do any wildflower shooting. From what I could see in early scouting and images online, it was a pretty below average year.

Bluebonnet field and longhorn. Leander, 2015. This field is now a large, high-end subdivision. One of many locations lost to development around Austin.

The historic winter storms were actually a great thing for the upcoming wildflower season. Bluebonnets are freeze tolerant. The plants are mostly still small and are in the process of building their root systems. This development is actually aided by colder weather. All of the rosettes on our property survived and that appears to be the case across the state. The prolonged freeze also effectively ended any chance of early blooming, which should allow the plants to bloom simultaneously and on schedule. Most importantly the water the melting brought will be very beneficial. Long range models do not indicate any hard freezes for the remainder of winter for Central and South Texas.

“Jackrabbit” bluebonnets off Highway 118 north of Terlingua, Texas.

This is the sixth year I have made this list and it is growing increasingly difficult to make a top ten list. I want to share these awesome spots, but I see the locations being trampled down, people trespassing, and owners becoming fed up subsequently mowing the fields. It was already hard enough with all of the development. The areas around Austin that were still somewhat rural a few years ago and had fields of flowers are basically all subdivisions now. I’m afraid bluebonnet season might not be around for the next generations. If you decide to go to the following locations, use some common sense. Don’t trespass. Don’t trample through the flowers, that kills the blooms, no blooms, no seeds.

Where will we be stomping around (figuratively, not actually stomping in the bluebonnets)? Here are the top ten places to see bluebonnets in 2021.

10. Terlingua

Located deep in southwest Texas, the town of Terlingua borders the Rio Grande and Big Bend National Park. 2019 was a banner year, which locals described as the best in 40 years. Chisos bluebonnets don’t usually grow together in huge numbers like they did that year. One thing about nature photography is keeping expectations in check, if you go expecting the best it’s ever been, you will probably be disappointed. But if you get something, even a decent sized patch, then work it at the right time, you can still get a special image.

Highway 118 starts picking them up about 15 miles north of Terlingua, then they tend to get thicker as you get closer into town. Follow the rabbit for 4 miles east off 118 and you’ll find my reliable patch where I take the workshops to shoot astro with the flowers (see first image in this article.. Sometimes BBNP is loaded with bluebonnets, most of the time it is slim pickings. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive was nothing short of exceptional, with bluebonnets for miles. There are usually a few patches at Santa Elena Canyon. Tuff Canyon and River Road West were also great locations within BBNP.

Several miles down River Rd. Big Bend National Park

Typically late February is the time for bluebonnets in Big Bend, but with the prolonged cold spell, I think we may see the most severe delay of a season here. As of now there have not been any blooms reported in the area after the freeze.

9. Burnet

Be sure to check out their eight foot tall bluebonnet statues at the Visitor’s Center on Highway 29. Highway 281 usually has a good showing of fields of wildflowers. Head west out of town on 29 towards Buchanan Dam and you will find the abandoned Bluebonnet Dance Hall and Tavern, which makes a great photo opportunity with the patch of bluebonnets in the foreground. I’m guessing the 2021 Bluebonnet Festival will be am extra big draw as it attracts more than 30,000 visitors in a normal year.

FM 2342 through Longhorn Cavern State Park typically has good roadside coverage.

8. Mason County

Take Highway 29 from Llano to Mason as the roadsides there are often covered. The grounds of the church and cemeteries along the road near Art are often covered with flowers. Pontotoc, a ghost town, along Highway 71 northeast of Mason usually has great coverage at the ruins of settler’s homes around town.

Highway 87 from Mason to Fredericksburg usually has good coverage. I would advise to check many of the small dirt, county roads southeast of Mason as you can.

7. Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is always an excellent stop during wildflower season. The Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historical Site usually has longhorn with a few wildflowers in their pasture. Wildseed Farms, which grows acres of wildflowers and harvests the seeds. Highway 16 north of town is a very scenic drive with some roadside scenes. Keep in mind, these are planted fields.

While I do not encourage flower seekers to venture down Willow CIty Loop, it is located off Highway 16. If you do take this route, remain in your vehicle and do not step off of the roadway. If you leave the road, you risk being arrested for trespassing. The owners of the land have clearly (and understandably) grown tired of the crowds. There is free roaming livestock in the area. I especially discourage visiting there on the weekends as it is typically packed. If you do take the loop be sure to stop at Harry’s on the Loop for a cold beverage at an authentic Texas roadside pub.

6. Marble Falls

You can see the iconic Bluebonnet House in Marble Falls on Highway 281, which has shown good flower coverage the last few years. Pedernales Electric Company has developed the land south of the homestead, but as of this writing the historic home remains untouched. Keep driving south into town and stop for a piece of pie at the Bluebonnet Cafe.

County Road 120 north of town also had some very large fields in 2019. Turkey Bend Recreation Area, nestled along the Colorado River usually has very good coverage of bluebonnets and will likely have a great year should we go back deeper into a drought.

5. Ennis

The town of Ennis is an awesome place with their Bluebonnet Trails and Bluebonnet Trails Festival. They do a great job updating people on when to visit to see flowers. There are no real secrets in Ennis. Visit the linked website prior to your visit and you will get maps and updates of where to go. I have seen some good fields east of town on FM 85 very late in April while chasing storms.

Muleshoe Bend was awesome in 2014 and 2015. It’s been underwater since river levels went back to normal.

With the very cold winter we have experienced, I wouldn’t even consider Ennis until mid April. Disclaimer : It’s been nearly a decade since Ennis had a banner year. Don’t expect to see the 100 acre field that occurred on Mach Rd. in 2012. Indications are plants are healthy and plentiful in the area as of this writing. Refer to the drought map below. If Ennis is prime for a good year, it should be 2021.

4. Llano

Llano is usually THE spot to see Texas Bluebonnets every year. If you’re passing through, the obvious lunch recommendations are the historic Cooper’s BBQ and the lesser known Burger Bar Cafe has one of the best hamburgers in the state.

Highway 29 east and west of town are usually really good for roadside coverage. Highway 16 north and south out of town always have awesome displays. Highway 71 northwest of town usually has tons of Indian Paintbrush mixed in with the bluebonnets. You could probably spend a whole week around Llano and not see it all.

Hit as many dirt, county roads as you can around the town of Llano and you probably won’t be disappointed.

Llano County has awesome bluebonnets and very dark skies.

3. Washington County

I debated about putting Washington County back on this list. After some debate and realizing 2020 was the first year I left them off the list, Welcome back Washington County!!!

Brenham had some of the only decent displays in 2018, which drew sizeable crowds. It became clear some residents were growing tired of the additional tourism. Multiple massive fields were mowed down in 2019, including a 100 acre field on Indian Paintbrush Rd and the Chappell Hill Church field with the red barn, both due to crowds and poor behavior by visitors. While our groups are always well behaved, we do see some pretty insane behavior from others.

Highway 290 usually has good displays along it, but traffic can be exceptionally heavy in this area. Use common sense when choosing where to park, pull well off the shoulder and roadway. Exercise extreme caution if stopping along any busy road and especially when reentering the road. I have seen a lot of near misses from people not using their heads.

Taking a look at the current drought maps (refer also to #2), it’s pretty clear this county will have some awesome spots. You’ll just have to hit the back roads to find them.

2. Atascosa County

Birthplace of George Strait and home of the annual Strawberry Festival, the small town of Poteet has some of the me most welcoming residents in the entire state of Texas. The wildflowers here can be exceptional.

Sandyland Bluebonnets and Paintbrush make up the majority of the wildflowers here, which are slightly smaller and a lighter shade of blue, there are also Texas Bluebonnets, and the two are nearly indiscernible. Again, hit the off the beaten path roads around Poteet. I would think this area should be very good the last half of March, same as Washington County.

Expert advice at incredible locations on Texas Bluebonnet Photography Workshops and Tours.

1. Texas Bluebonnet Photography Workshops, Guided Tours, and Self-Guided Tours

There’s knowing where to go and there’s knowing where AND when to go. Every year is different in regards to schedule and coverage at a given location. While these types of lists are fun to make and read in February, truth is nobody knows for sure right now.

We started running Texas Bluebonnet Workshops in 2015. We spend countless hours leading up to and during the 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. There's always plenty of time to photograph the scenes and you get expert photo advice to assure you get the best shots.

Our workshops expanded to include daily tours in 2017. We run two, five hour tours each day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon.

For the first time we are offering self guided tours with updated routes each week! These maps will include exact locations, descriptions, and suggested times of day to visit.

We are so excited to reopen in 2021! Learn more about our tours and workshops.

That’s all I have for now. I hope y’all have a safe and successful 2021 Texas wildflower season.