With a long wet winter almost behind us and spring starting already in the deserts now is the time to plan a road trip to see all the spring greenery and flowers.
Picacho Peak State Park 15520 Picacho Peak Road, Picacho. $7 per vehicle. 520-466-3183, www.azstateparks.com.
Picacho Peak State Park is in the “early stages” of a superbloom, when more wildflowers bloom than usual, despite the current chilly temperatures, according to park staff. While the Mexican gold poppies and other blooms are abundant now, more are expected as temperatures warm up.
Lost Dutchman State Park
Perched at the edge of the towering Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Lost Dutchman makes for great hiking any time. But when wildflowers spill down the slopes, it is truly dazzling.
Bartlett Lake
This is one of the few places expecting a good wildflower season. Look for showings of color on Bartlett Dam Road as it winds past rolling hills dotted with clumps of brittlebush and stands of poppies. Poppies and lupines grow on the banks above the water. Be sure to keep an eye peeled for rare white poppies; this is a good spot for them.
Some of the best flower sightings are along the road to Rattlesnake Cove. The Palo Verde Trail parallels the shoreline, pinning hikers between flowers and the lake, a wonderful place to be on a warm March day. The wildflower medley along Palo Verde often includes a supporting cast of fairy duster, blue phacelia, evening primrose, yellow throat gilia and cream cups to go along with the poppies, lupines and brittles.
Catalina State Park
Being situated on the slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains and intersected by a big wash that often flows with water creates a cooler environment, so the park has a slightly later blooming season. Look for peak color from mid-to-late March, possibly stretching into April, barring a heat wave.
Black Canyon National Recreation Trail
The trail winds through open desert, reaching a split at 0.7 mile. Bear left for the Horseshoe Bend segment or right for the K-Mine segment. Both are moderate trails that support a mix of cactus and wildflowers on rocky slopes with an abundance of brittles. Peak color should be mid-to-late March. And both segments descend quickly to the Agua Fria River in about 2 miles.
Lake Pleasant Regional Park
The rolling hills above Lake Pleasant are often shaggy with bouquets of brittlebush. If poppies do make an appearance, most can be found on Pipeline Canyon Trail, especially from the southern trailhead to the floating bridge a half-mile away, along with brittles, blue dicks, blue phacelia and globemallows.
The Wild Burro Trail and the many other trails in the Tortolita Mountains offer many species of wildflowers, crested saguaros, hummingbirds, and butterflies, across the many canyons of the mountain range. The 20+ mile trail system is free to use, and the 9 trails offer a variety of options for hikes based on desired length and skill level. Some of the trails are also great for mountain biking and horseback riding! One of the best places for spotting wildflowers is the Alamo Springs Trail, which is accessed via the Wild Burro Trail.
Dove Mountain
For a mostly complete list of common Arizona wildflowers go check out the Arizona State Parks page on local wildflowers
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