If Wildflower Spotting is what you’re looking for, then Tucson Trolley Tours has your back!
Catalina State Park
www.azstateparks.com/catalina
11570 N Oracle Road
520-628-5798
Because of the higher elevations (3,000 feet), the cooler temperatures of Catalina State Park provide us with a slightly later wildflower season. Purple lupines and golden Mexican poppies grace the trails in late March and early April. You’ll be sure to love this place.
Lost Dutchman State Park
www.azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman
6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction
480-982-4485
Located outside of Tucson, but close enough to include on your list of places to explore. Top-notch for wildflower spotting. Here you’ll be treated to a carpet of desert wildflowers in the spring. There are six trails, but the one for best wildflower sighting is the Native Plant Trail. You’ll be treated to ¼ mile of beauty. Now go get your hike on!
Picacho Peak State Park
www.azstateparks.com/picacho
15520 E Picacho Peak Road, Picacho, AZ
520-466-3183
The scenery in this park is spectacular. The trails are breathtaking with beautiful wild-flowers and extended views. Its peak is 1,500 feet high so many of the trails are moderate. The park rangers are extremely helpful and friendly. The colors of the flowers along the trails are vibrant and bold. Yellow, purple and pink. Marigolds, penstemons and white desert chicory. You’ll think you fell into a rainbow!
Wildflower Spotting at Saguaro National Park
www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
3693 S Old Spanish Trail
520-733-5153
The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American West. Saguaro National Park is home to 25 species of cactus. The cactus range from the towering saguaro cactus to the tiny mammillaria. The beautiful flowers that bloom from the cactus and succulents include brilliant whites, vibrant violet-blue lupines, yellow brittlebushes, and soft whispery pink fairy dusters. Gould Mine Trail demonstrates lush teddy bear chollas and hedgehogs, flowering in early April.