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The recent significant monsoon activity will produce some prolific spreads of wildflowers in the high country. The following are suggestions from my book Arizona’s Best Wildflower Hikes – The High Country (Jamax Publishers Press).
WILLIAMS/FLAGSTAFF/SEDONA AREA
Abineau-Bear Jaw Loop. This challenging climb takes you to the best gathering of Canadian Zone wildflowers in the San Francisco Peaks. The most diversity awaits at the top, including rare-in-Arizona Parry’s Primrose. Go 12 miles north of Flagstaff on US 89 and turn left onto FR 420; go 0.3 mile and turn right (north) onto FR 552; go 1.3 miles to FR 418 and turn right (north); go 7.6 miles to FR 9123J and turn left (south) to the trailhead.
West Fork Trail lies in the Upper Sonoran Zone and has dozens of wildflower species, including the rare bugbane, along the creek. Continue a couple miles past trail’s end (wear footgear that can get wet) along the creek and find more. From Sedona, drive 9.9 miles north on AZ 89A to Call of the Canyon parking areas on the west side of the highway. $8 parking fee.
To peruse Upper West Fork of Oak Creek in the Transition Zone, go south from Route 66 in Flagstaff on Woody Mountain Road 18 miles to the signed bridge. Drop into the drainage and enjoy all the flowers.
Lake Mary Road (21 miles from Flagstaff to Mormon Lake turnoff). When the monsoons start, the roadsides line up with wildflowers and colorful carpets cover the meadows separated by colonies of ponderosa pines and lakes. It’s an excellent roller-filled skinny tire ride with a bike lane that starts at Canyon Vista Campground. Head south on South Milton Rd. in Flagstaff and turn right (west) onto Forest Meadows St. and then left (south onto South Beulah Blvd; drive a few blocks and turn left (east) onto Lake Mary Road.
CENTRAL & MOGOLLON RIM
The 5-mile-long footpath that loops around Woods Canyon Lake takes you through several different environments with a nice show of wildflowers. From Payson, go 32 miles east on Arizona 260 to FR 300, turn left and o 3.5 miles to FR 105 and turn right; go 0.75 mile to the Spillway Campground parking lot.
Horton Creek Trail, which travels the upper elevation of the Upper Sonoran Zone, has cache of wildflowers you would find in the higher Transition Zone. The display begins right at its start in the Horton Creek drainage. From Payson, go 16 miles east on AZ 260 and turn left (north) onto FR 286; go 0.8 mile to the trailhead parking area on the left side of the road; cross the road and enter the Tonto Creek Campground to get to the trail.
WHITE MOUNTAINS
West Baldy Trail climbs a full 7 miles from the Canadian Zone to the top of the Hudsonian Zone on its sacred peak of Mount Baldy. The first 3 miles, which climbs only 500 feet, has an abundance of wildflowers. From Show Low, go southeast on Arizona 260 for 30 miles and turn right (south) on Arizona 273; go 9 miles to the trailhead.
Butler Canyon Nature Trail travels an easy mile through several different environments showing three to four dozen different wildflowers. Watch for monkshood along the stream crossings. From Eagar, go 12 miles west on AZ 260 and turn south onto AZ 373; go 4.1 miles to Greer; turn left on East Fork Road/FR 8069 and drive 0.1 mile to the signed trailhead.
Difficult, but rewarding, the Upper Grant Creek Trail has dozens of different flowers. The hike drops 1.3 miles down the Canadian Zone on the Steeple Trail to connect with the Upper Grant Creek Trail where it slogs through a cienega to Grant Creek and follows the creek as it tumbles down a wooded canyon to the lower rung of the Transition Zone another 5.3 miles. From Alpine, go south on US 191 for 23 miles to the signed turnoff for the Steeple Trail (across from Hannagan Meadow), and turn left (east); go 0.4 to the parking area.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA
Driving the Swift Trail up Mount Graham takes you from the Lower Sonora Desert floor through five life zones to 10,720 feet in 35.2 miles. The national scenic highway twists through forests, past sunny patches of wildflowers and looks at exquisite views. Stop near mile 23 at Upper Grant Creek to check out the flowers along the creek. A bit further, stop at the Hospital Flats Campground and take the nature trail. At mile 29, access Ash Creek Trail and follow it 3 miles past dozens of wildflowers to 200-foot Ash Creek Falls. From Safford, go south on US 191 about 7 miles and turn right (west) onto AZ 366.
Carr Peak Trail produces an extraordinary show of wildflowers thanks to two fires in 1977 and 1991. Also, the 4.4-mile long trail sits at an area influenced by the fringes of the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Madre and Chiricahua and Sonora deserts. This increases the variety of wildflowers as it passes from the Transition Zone almost into the Hudsonian Zone. From Sierra Vista, go 2.5 miles east on AZ 90 and turn right (south) on AZ 92; go to Carr Canyon Rd. (FR 368) and turn right (west); go about 7.5 miles to the trailhead at road’s end.
Crest Trail travels through the Rattlesnake Fire (1994) burn area, which has produced a non-stop show of wildflowers from its start at Rustler Park campground, and then 1.5 miles to Long Park. Take the footpath at the northeast end of the meadow to FR 42D and head north back to the trailhead for more flowers. From Willcox, go 23 miles southeast on AZ 186 and turn left (east) onto AZ 181; go 2.9 miles and turn right (south) onto Pinery Canyon Rd. (FR 42); drive 11.2 miles and turn right (south) on FR 43D; go 2.7 miles to the trailhead.
Enjoy the scenery on the Catalina Highway to a tucked-away cache of wildflowers located on the Road to Mount Bigelow. You’ll find dozens on a quarter-mile section, most of which congregate under Palisade Rock. From Tucson, go east on Grant Rd. to Tanque Verde Rd. and continue east to Catalina Highway; turn left (north) and go just past milepost 21 and turn right (north) onto FR 2, the first turn off for Mount Bigelow; go 0.1 mile to FR 34 and turn right (east); go 1.2 miles to the parking area at the end of the road. The Meadow Trail, near the top of Mt. Lemmon in the Canadian Zone, shows spreads of wildflowers. Just before Summerhaven, turn right (west) onto Ski Run Road/FR 11; go past the ski area to its end at the parking area.
