Here Are The 7 Best Places To Spot Wildflowers This Spring In Arizona
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Katie Lawrence
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When spring arrives in The Grand Canyon State it can only mean one thing: it’s time for wildflower hikes in Arizona! Arizona has more than a few hiking trails to choose from, and the following are seven of our favorites. Get your camera ready and prepare for some breathtaking places to see wildflowers near you.
1. Rainbow Valley Loop Trail (Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Goodyear)
Rainbow Valley, Goodyear, AZ 85326, USA
This moderately difficult, 5.4-mile loop in Estrella Mountain Regional Park is truly a sight to see come springtime. Wildflowers in every color of the rainbow line the walkway and surround the mountain bases, offering incredible views every step of the way.
2. Spur Cross Loop (Spur Cross Conservation Area, Cave Creek)
Spur Cross Trail, Cave Creek, AZ 85331, USA
The easiest and most popular trail at Spur Cross Conservation Area, this 5.2-mile loop is perfect for all skill levels. It crosses the pristine Cave Creek, which runs year-round and features an endless sea of Saguaros. Eye-popping blooms abound towards the end of the hike, and you'll be awestruck at first glance.
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3. Merkle Trail (Usery Mountain Regional Park, Mesa)
Merkle Trail, Mesa, AZ 85207, USA
Spanning just one mile, Merkle Trail is a short and sweet wildflower hike in Usery Mountain Regional Park that is ideal for those days when a leisurely stroll is all you want. The wildflowers are simply gorgeous, and marveling at them takes very little effort.
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4. Quartz Ridge Trail #8A (Phoenix Mountain Preserve, Phoenix)
Quartz Ridge Trailhead (#8A) Phoenix Mountain Reserve, 6511 E Sierra Vista Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA
If you've never been to Phoenix Mountain Preserve in the spring, it's high time to change that. The 3.2-mile Quarts Ridge Trail #8A is a fairly steep trek, but the payoff is totally worth every muscle ache. Bring your furry friend along and get ready to see some spectacular blooms.
5. Apache Wash Loop Trail (Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, Phoenix)
Apache Wash Trail Head, 1600 E Sonoran Desert Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85085, USA
Several different varieties of wildflowers grow along this easy, 2.8-mile loop at Phoenix Sonoran Preserve. The elevation change is minimal, and with only a few sections of rocky bluffs, beginners should have no trouble. Yellow brittlebush, red-orange globemallow, and marigold are among the blossoms you'll see—and what a beautiful sight they are!
6. Lost Dog Wash Trail (Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale)
Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Located in the southern section of Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Lost Dog Wash Trail is a well-maintained, 4.4-mile loop suitable for most ages and skill levels. In addition to a breathtaking overlook, the hike also boasts vibrant, eye-catching poppies that bloom like clockwork each spring.
7. Javelina Trail (South Mountain Preserve, Phoenix)
Javelina Trail, Pheonix, AZ, USA
Named after everyone's favorite garden destroyer, Javelina Trail is one of the best opportunities to spot wildflowers in South Mountain Preserve. The 5.4-mile hike is fairly easy, although it still presents a nice challenge with an elevation gain of just over 900 feet. The best part? Bright yellow wildflowers everywhere you look!
It might surprise you, but Sedona, Arizona has many wonderful areas to find wildflowers. Take a quick peek at why we enjoy Sedona in this video:
It might surprise you, but Sedona, Arizona has many wonderful areas to find wildflowers. Take a quick peek at why we enjoy Sedona in this video:
How many of these wildflower hikes in Arizona have you embarked on? Did we leave off your favorite trail? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section. Then, grab some trail maps from AllTrails+ to start your wildflower adventures.
If you are up for a wild road trip, check out our previous article for a spring road trip to the most vibrant poppy fields in Arizona.
Take This Road Trip To The 8 Most Eye-Popping Poppy Fields In Arizona
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More to Explore
Best Arizona Wildflowers
Where are the best places to see wildflowers in AZ?
If you aren't from Arizona it might surprise you how vibrant the desert can be in the spring. Here are some of the best places to see wildflowers in AZ that will take your breath away:
- Palo Verde Trail, Carefree, AZ: The beautiful Bartlett Lake in the Tonto National Forest is one of the key features of this 8.2-mile hike. Another is the explosion of colorful wildflowers that bloom in the spring. Bright yellow poppies mingle with white daisies and delicate purple lupine. You'll also be able to find desert chicory and vibrant red firecracker penstemon among the golden poppy blossoms.
- Peridot Mesa, San Carlos, AZ: The very unique Period Mesa vent in the San Carlos volcanic field gets a stunning gift in the spring. From late February until early April, the whole desert landscape in the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation is filled with colorful poppies. Bright yellow and vibrant orange covers the land like a blanket. Mixed in with these incredible poppy fields are other desert wildflowers like globe mallow and lupine.
- Schnepf Farms, Queen Creek, AZ: This fourth-generation family farm is a wonderful U-pick farm with organic vegetables ripe for the picking throughout the growing season. In the spring, however, it is wildflower season! If you love fresh wildflowers but feel bad picking them in the wild - this is your opportunity to fill your home with wild beauty. You can spend an afternoon in the garden simply enjoying the scent and sight of these wonderful flowers, then take a bunch home at the end of the day.