Cesar Chavez National Monument: May Day & Colorful Flowers

National Park #228 (Date Visited: 4/30/23)

For several superbloom trips now, I’ve passed the Cesar Chavez National Monument in Keene, California, and haven’t been able to stop for a variety of reasons. This time, I’ve committed to making it to the park, one of my final national parks in Southern California, on my way home to Utah. So maybe the prior failed opportunities were just setting me up for a May Day visit, though, which has a little bit extra meaning. It’s also the final day of National Park Week, adding a bit more.

My Visit to Cesar Chavez National Monument

It’s April 30th and I’m on my way back from Carrizo Plain in south-central California. Climbing up into the southernmost foothills of the Sierra Nevada on CA-58 after departing the Plain and crossing the Central Valley, the landscape starts to regain some color (down in the valley itself its already browned out in the last few weeks since my first trip west). A small exit and two lane road lead to the monument entrance.

Walking toward the visitor center from the parking lot, the flowers blooming over the entrance hit you with their sweet aroma. I walk in and get my stamp, then proceed around the visitor center’s self guided tour. The tour goes into detail about Chavez’s involvement with the United Farm Workers Association, his drive and belief in “La Causa,” and his compatriots, such as Dolores Huerta. A replica of farm worker housing can be found, as well as Chavez’s original office space.

Chavez Gravesite, House & Monument Grounds

Exiting the building, other flowers can be found blooming, including California poppies. The graves of Chavez and his wife can be found immediately across the small entry plaza from the visitor center, framed by a quote from Chavez in both English and Spanish.

Walking west, through the park’s desert garden, I pass by Chavez’s original house. While not open to the public, you can see it from outside. At the west end can be found the Villa de La Paz, also viewable from outside. A peace pole and the Martyr Rock can be found outside of it. From there, I choose to take one of the trails back to the visitor center. Rancher’s fireweed (common fiddlenecks) can be found blooming along the trail, and the one partway upslope affords a nice view of the Villa surrounded by the Sierra foothills.

Be prepared for train noise – the park is surrounded on 2/4 sides by a very active BNSF railway track. Must be their main southern Sierra passage, not really a surprise. CA-58 is on a third side, but wasn’t really noticeable until you got onto the final trail, at its closest point to the road.