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| The saguaro bloom makes for a showy display. |
National Park trails deliver on wildflower displays during spring and following a summer rain. The west district’s flowers bloom sooner than the east side’s due to warmer temps and lower elevations.
Among the trails to explore are…
Cactus Wren Trail
At 1.5 miles, the trail crosses crosses rolling plains and dry washes near the Tucson Mountain (West) district’s western edge, offering visitors a picturesque landscape of towering saguaros, prickly chollas, vibrant palo verde trees, and mesquite. The trailhead is at the Signal Hill picnic area. You can complete a 4-mile loop be going on the Manville Trail, which circles back around to reconnect with the Cactus Wren.
Desert Discovery Nature Trail
Nestled within the west district, the 0.4-mile long lollipop trail is conveniently located just north of the Red Hills Visitor Center on N. Kinney Road. The trail is paved and flat, making it perfect for hikers of all abilities. In addition to wildflowers, take in the breathtaking views of the Tucson Mountain on the horizon as you amble along this trail with your furry friend in tow (as long as they’re leashed, of course). Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for informative signs that detail the desert ecology around you.
Desert Ecology Trail
A number of flowering plants can be found on the 0.3-mile lollipop trail in the park’s eastern Rincon Mountain district just off of popular Cactus Forest Drive. The wide, paved trail loops through the desert, following the Javelina Wash part of the way. Barrel cactus, chain fruit cactus, creosote, mesquite, palo verde, prickly pear cactus, teddy bear cholla, and of course saguaro line the route. It’s an excellent walk for young children to experience and learn about desert ecology.
Douglas Spring Trail to Ernie’s Falls
The 6.6-mile round trip starts on the Douglas Spring Trail, heading through the bushy grassland of the higher desert elevations in the east district. At the four-way junction, go right/north on the Ernie’s Falls Trail. Saguaros, prickly pear, mesquite, agave, pin cushion cacti and cholla are common the trail. During the rainy season, expect an abundance of flowers. The area around the waterfalls will be particularly verdant.
Freeman Homestead Trail
Located in the park’s eastern Rincon Mountain district, the Freeman Homestead Trail traverses a beautiful yet also inhospitable desert. The 1.1-mile trail is a walk through a classic Sonoran desert landscape of cholla, prickly pear and barrel cactus with barren mountain ranges lining the horizon. The best season to hike the trail is March through May when temperatures are pleasant. Summer will be unbearably hot and winter potentially cool. Many desert plants bloom in April and May, making for a colorful view. The trail is off of Cactus Forest Drive; park at the Freeman Homestead Trail parking lot on the road to the Javelina Picnic Area.
Ridge View Trail
The Ridge View Trail in the Rincon Mountain (East) district is a great choice for a short and rewarding hike. Just 1.1 miles long with an elevation gain of 330 feet, it offers a scenic route that climbs gently up through a bushy valley before veering slightly steeper over rocky terrain up to a ridgetop viewpoint where hikers can admire the sweeping south face of Tanque Verde Ridge. The wildflower season usually peaks in mid to late spring, making this trail gorgeous at that time of year, but it’s suitable for any season. A variety of cacti and aged saguaros can be found along the route. With convenient access from the Loma Alta trailhead on the park’s southern edge, far away from the main entrance off Old Spanish Trail, this quiet area makes an excellent location to experience nature at its best.
