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Spring Wildflowers and Beautiful Birds
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If you are looking to enjoy the great outdoors, Arizona has a few unique ways to do so. From gazing at the dizzying array of vibrant wildflowers that bloom in the spring to the variety of birds that you can spot while enjoying the fresh air and wide-open spaces on a walk. We have selected some of our favourite outdoor spots to soak in the spring blooms as well as highlight some birding locations that will not disappoint.
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Arizona Spots Every Birder Should Know About
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Many birders, if asked to choose their favourite U.S. destination, would pick south-eastern Arizona. The reason being that within this relatively small region you can find a wide variety of topography from the Sonoran Desert to high-elevation conifer forest, and sky islands to riparian areas. The list of special species found here is extensive, but a few highlights are the Montezuma quail, gray hawk, violet-crowned hummingbird, elegant trogon, and Arizona woodpecker.
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There are, of course, other areas throughout the state that are popular for birders, including the Grand Canyon National Park and the San Francisco Peaks in the north, the White Mountains in the east, and wildlife refuges along the Colorado River in the west.
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Arizona's species list of around 550 types of birds is the highest of any U.S. state without an ocean coastline. Here are a few suggestions of places to glimpse sightings of bird species, from tiny hummingbirds to giant condors.
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Starting in Southern Arizona
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Just over an hour south of Tucson nestled between Kartchner Caverns, Tombstone, Bisbee, and Arizona's wine country, discover Sierra Vista. The cool walls of Ramsey Canyon Preserve lure more than a dozen hummingbird species (violet-crowned, broad-billed and blue-throated, to name a few), giving this region the title of "hummingbird capital of the United States." The delicate birds flock to the ecologically unique spot where plants and wildlife from the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts blend with those from the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Madre. Nearby at San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, 100 species of breeding birds and 250 species of migrant and wintering birds make their homes. You will also see green kingfishers, gray hawks and Cassin's kingbird.
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Cave Creek Canyon is another top birding site in Arizona and also a wonderfully remote and rewarding nature outing in the Chiricahua Mountains. Cave Creek Canyon attracts many rare species of birds to its six habitat biomes. During spring or fall visitors can catch a sight of the Arizona woodpecker and lazuli bunting, and in summer can see the elegant trogon. Don't forget to keep your ears open for the call of the whippoorwill and the song of the Mexican chickadee.
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Northern Arizona is also host to a wonderful array of birding hot spots, Watson Woods Riparian Preserve being one. The cottonwood and willow trees at this 126-acre site north of Prescott not only offer shade for land-loving wildlife like the Mexican vole, but they also provide homes for the water birds and migrant shorebirds that visit during the winter. Other cool-weather birds include the stately bald eagle, peregrine and osprey. In summer, you might spot breeding birds such as wood duck and yellow warblers.
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is an expansive recreation area straddling the border between Arizona and Utah and is notable for one specific bird species-the spectacular California condor. Only several hundred of these birds are still in existence, and many have been introduced into the wild at Glen Canyon. They have a wingspan of nearly 10 feet! Look for these graceful creatures as they fly free over the Colorado River, dipping and soaring along the air currents.
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Every spring, usually from mid-March to late-April, Arizona dazzles the eye with wildflowers that pop up everywhere-from the side of the road to national forests. Prickly pear cacti turn out yellow, red, white, and pink blooms, while the saguaro, a symbol of the Sonoran Desert, has gorgeous white flowers. Some trees and shrubs bloom as well, such as the Palo Verde tree with its bright yellow flowers.
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The natural beauty and brilliance don't last long and are heavily dependent on winter rainfall so timing is key. When weather conditions permit, it is worth the trip to enjoy the landscapes lit up in vibrant colours. An additional bonus is that all these wildflowers must be enjoyed outdoors.
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Here are a few areas and parks throughout the state to enjoy spring in full bloom.
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In central and southern Arizona, there are some unmissable trails for spring flowers. Starting in central Arizona you have San Tan Mountain Regional Park: Dynamite and Goldmine Trails. Just east of Phoenix in Queen Creek, the San Tan Mountains' different elevations and temperatures foster a variety of flowers, from fiddlenecks to scorpionweed, whose lovely purplish blooms belie its fierce name. The best place to spot Mexican gold poppies, lupine and brittlebush is along the west side of the Dynamite Trail starting from the Goldmine Trailhead, and on the northwest side of the rocky Goldmine Trail. You also have, White Tank Mountain Regional Park: Waddell and Waterfall Trails. Both the Waddell and Waterfall Trails offer pleasant hikes in Maricopa County's largest regional park and are home to flowers like gilia, asters, desert chicory, popcorn flowers, blue fiesta flowers and dainty desert hideseed. The strawberry hedgehog cactus, pictured below, blooms along the trails in April.
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In southern Arizona, be sure to visit Catalina State Park and Oracle State Park. Catalina State Park, Sutherland Trail stretches some nine miles in one direction. Tucson's Sutherland Trail in offers easy hiking for the first few miles and a bevy of wildflower blossoms. Look for cheerful Mexican gold poppies, lupine, fiddleneck, clusters of wild heliotrope, fairy duster shrubs, desert chicory, delicate cream cups, penstemon and owl's clover, all of which generally bloom from February through to mid-April.
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Oracle State Park Nature Trail is situated at an elevation of 4,500 feet above sea level and the Catalina Mountains, is a dream for procrastinators. Cooler temperatures mean a late start to wildflower season, around the end of March or mid-April, with another flowering season between late August and October. In addition to wildlife, you're apt to encounter the mariposa lily in spring, desert lilacs, desert hyacinths, larkspur, morning glory, sand-verbena and poppies.
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Trade:
Katie Gould
kgould@hillsbalfour.com
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Media:
Lottie Phillips
lphillips@hillsbalfour.com
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For visitor guidance due to COVID-19 such as mask-wearing, a list of tourism-related reopenings or closures, and a link to public health guidelines, click here: https://www.visitarizona.com/covid-19/ .
Some attractions are open year-round and some are open seasonally or move to seasonal hours. To ensure the places you want to see are open on your travel dates; please check their website for hours of operation.
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