Wildflowers at Teepee Rocks

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Teepee Rocks near Oakley is a unique geological area with cone shaped formations and trails leading in and around them allowing one to explore up close. Near Castle Rocks State Park and City of Rocks, the geology is similar but unique in that there are so many cone shaped pillars. This area was on my list of places to visit for quite a while, and I hesitated each time I researched, due to warnings about the rough road. The gravel road passes by Oakley Reservoir, and is rather rutted and rocky, so I was glad I waited until I had a 4-wheel drive. I arrived before sunrise and got a few sunrise photos before exploring up a little closer. The ground is very sandy, but there were some resilient wildflowers growing, and the morning was quite magnificent. I took many images as the sun came up, mostly close ups. I couldn’t resist getting down on my belly to get some of the smallest flowers growing among the red lava rocks in the sand. It amazes me that any flowers can survive in such a harsh, sandy environment, and it is an inspiration to see their beauty as they bloom where they are. The view from low to the ground here is one of my favorites from this trip.