Wildflower Triathlon (Long Course)
Bradley (Lake San Antonio, South Shore), USA · May · Wildflower Experience (independent)
Why people love it
- Three-day festival with on-site camping, music and food trucks, known as the Woodstock of triathlon
- RaceRaves 4.7/5 from 48 ratings; the 2025 return scored 9/10 on Slowtwitch
- Oak-hill lake course with 18 to 20 °C (65 to 68 °F) water
- Downhill finish after a hard run
Watch out for
- About 1,130 m (3,700 ft) of bike climbing, including the 8 km (5 mi) Nasty Grade climb
- Beach Hill and trail footing on the run
- Heat up to about 32 °C (90 °F) in 2018, plus dust
- Rough chip-seal on Jolon Road and the first half of the bike
- Remote: hotels about 45 minutes away and camping fills fast; no pro field in 2025
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionBucket list4.5
RaceRaves gives 4.7/5 from 48 ratings, and the 2025 relaunch scored 9/10 on Slowtwitch; the good reviews are mostly older. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
RaceRaves scores production 4.6/5 and the 2025 relaunch ran smoothly, but results had mix-ups and attendance figures were disputed. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDemanding1.8
RaceRaves difficulty is 4.6/5: steep climbs, dust, heat and a trail run after 1,130 m (3,700 ft) of climbing. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow1.6
The course record is 3:53:43, and hills, heat and rough roads make it a poor course for a personal best. · Medium confidence
- Course easeExtreme1.4
RaceRaves difficulty 4.6/5, with 1,130 m (3,700 ft) of bike climbing, a trail run and heat. · High confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5
Lake water is listed at 18 to 20 °C (65 to 68 °F), well under the 24.5 °C (76 °F) limit; no explicit rule found. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.0
18 to 20 °C (65 to 68 °F), at the cool end of the comfortable range. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.2
A flat, clockwise lake swim; wind chop is not reported. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.5
Easy buoy line from a boat ramp, but the 2016 start was chaotic and low sun hurt sighting. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.8
Clear lake with a festival atmosphere and a wave format. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfacePatchy2.2
Rough chip-seal and potholes are cited in 2018 and 2025; Jolon Road is notorious. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.7
Rural park and lake roads; no traffic complaints in any report. · Low confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.5
Rolling hills through valleys and wildflower fields; RaceRaves scenery is 4.6/5. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
Wind is part of the challenge in 2025 reports but not a dominant feature. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow1.8
Hills, rough chip-seal and the Nasty Grade around mile 40 to 42 (km 64 to 68); reports agree it is not a PR course. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly1.6
About 1,130 m (3,700 ft) over 90 km (56 mi), with the 8 km (5 mi) Nasty Grade climb. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.6
A steep climb out of transition and long climbs and descents that reviewers advise practising. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
Campground spectators on the run and energetic collegiate volunteers in 2018; thinner in 2025. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Reviewers describe good aid stations and helpful volunteers. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Lakeshore, creek and backcountry valley; overall scenery is rated 4.6/5. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsHard1.6
Dust, trail footing and heat; one racer says it is always hot and you are climbing. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly1.6
Hills start right out of T2, steep Beach Hill is about 1.6 km (1 mi), and the finish is downhill. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.7
About 32 °C (90 °F) in 2018, but cold and wet in 2003; no average was found. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.9
The organiser says weather is unpredictable, ranging from cold and muddy in 2003 to hot in 2018. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.4
Lake and rolling oak hills, with RaceRaves scenery at 4.6/5. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
A festival with expo, music and food trucks and camping beside transition; the course is spread out. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.2
Central Coast foothills at low elevation; the altitude is not published. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilitySells out early2.4
Camping is the default and campsites fill quickly; the nearest hotels are about 45 minutes away. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
RV rentals looked reasonable in 2025 and camping is cheap, but on-site drinks are pricey. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Many campers sleep next to transition, though some campsites are a long walk from the expo. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.0
Remote Central Coast reservoir with no major airport and hotels about 45 minutes away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Pre-assigned transition slots with no landmarks, a call to the boat ramp and camp logistics; arrive a day early. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine2.6
Food trucks and vendors on site; the nearest towns are about 45 minutes away. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Bradley (Lake San Antonio, South Shore), California, USA
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 2 May 2026
- Organiser
- Wildflower Experience (independent)
- First held
- 1983
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake San Antonio (South Shore boat ramp; Harris Creek ramp 2014-16 during drought) (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 18–20 °C (64–68 °F)
- Swim start
- wave
- Bike climbing
- 1,130 m (3,710 ft)
- Key climbs
- Nasty Grade (about 8 km / 5 mi, over 300 m / 1,000 ft, around mile 40-42 / km 64-68); Steep climb out of transition; Lynch Hill
- Run shade
- Limited; dusty exposed trail
- Humidity
- low (dry inland California)
- Nearest airport
- San Luis Obispo (SBP) (general knowledge; not in sources)
- Where to stay
- On-site camping, Paso Robles (about 45 min)
- Booking
- Most athletes camp on site (tents, RVs, bell tents, glamping); campsites fill fast. Day-use passes also sold.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves Wildflower pageRaced 2018 · aggregator · Positive
4.7/5 from 48 ratings; difficulty 4.6, scenery 4.6, production 4.6. Half-distance reviewers call it hard, hilly (Nasty Grade around mile 41-42 / km 66-68), hot and dusty but beautifully run with enthusiastic college volunteers and social camping. Main gripes: long walk from camp to expo and minimal swag.
“unlike any other race”
- Slowtwitch: Wildflower is back (Scott Defilippis)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Rated the 2025 relaunch 9/10: smooth running, transition, signage, lake-view expo and an 8:30 am start. No pro field and attendance estimates disputed; long-course athletes enjoyed the wind, hills and character but said first-half bike roads still need repair.
“rust buster year”
- Slowtwitch forum: Wildflower is back but can it survive?Raced 2025 · forum · Mixed
Commenters confirm athletes 'thoroughly enjoyed' the long course despite rough pavement, while disputing the attendance figures (579 on USAT results to about 1,500 claimed). One praised the new bike course as ideal for gravel or mountain bikes; another said long-course racing is too expensive to sustain.
- Slowtwitch forum: Wildflower 2025 (pre-race)Raced 2024 · forum · Mixed
Pre-race thread: veterans recall Jolon Road as some of the roughest chip-seal and say wide tyres now help; camping set-up praised and organiser Colleen trusted to deliver.
“Jolon Road was BAD”
- Adventure Sports Journal: As Luck Would Have ItRaced 2018 · blog · Mixed
Account of the 2018 long course: about 90 F (32 C) heat, potholes, 3,700 ft (1,130 m (3,710 ft)) of climbing on the bike and a festival of about 5,000 athletes and 20,000 spectators with energetic collegiate volunteers; centred on a rider's serious medical event on the bike.
“Woodstock of Triathlon”
Show 5 more
- Adventure Sports Journal: Tackling the Wildflower Triathlon (Olympic)Raced 2016 · blog · Mixed
Olympic-distance report: drought moved the swim start to Harris Creek, chaotic start with low-sun sighting, 300+ ft (90+ m) Lynch Hill climb, and a steep Beach Hill walk on the run in building heat. Praised the organisers' welcome but noted shrinking fields.
“a matter of finishing, rather than racing”
- Active.com: A Triathlete's Guide to Wildflower (Nick Tuttle)Raced 2008 · article · Positive
Guide: flat clockwise swim, steep climb out of transition, Nasty Grade a roughly 8 km (5 mi) climb of over 300 m (1,000 ft) near mile 40 (km 64), dirt-and-single-track run and steep final downhill. Camp beside transition; pre-assigned transition spots; arrive early.
- Boston Globe: 'Woodstock of triathlon' turns 35Raced 2018 · article · Positive
Travel feature on the three-day festival: most people camp, nearest hotel about 45 min away in Paso Robles, a steep Nasty Grade near mile 41 (km 66), and a run where 'it's always hot and you're climbing' per a racer.
“it's always hot and you're climbing”
- Slowtwitch: McCormack, McGlone win 25th long courseRaced 2008 · article · Positive
Pro race report: Nasty Grade late on the bike was the decisive moment and run hills come straight out of T2 (caught Leanda Cave out). McCormack won in 4:00:33, McGlone 4:31:38.
- Colorado Triathlete: Wet, hilly WildflowerRaced 2003 · article · Mixed
2003 edition was cold, wet and windy with a muddy MTB course; the long run was moved to two road loops that hit Beach Hill twice. Athletes shrugged off the weather and the festival feel survived.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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