Spring has just about sprung, which can only mean one thing: it’s almost time for wildflower hikes! Arizona has more than a few to choose from, and the following are seven of our favorites. Get your camera ready and prepare for some breathtaking views.
- Rainbow Valley Loop Trail (Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Goodyear)
AllTrails/Tanni Wells This moderately difficult, 5.4-mile loop 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.
- Spur Cross Loop (Spur Cross Conservation Area, Cave Creek)
AllTrails/Scott & Megan Stevens 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.
- Merkle Trail (Usery Mountain Regional Park, Mesa)
AllTrails/Mikaela Adams Spanning just one mile, Merkle Trail is a short-and-sweet wildflower hike 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.
- Quartz Ridge Trail #8A (Phoenix Mountain Preserve, Phoenix)
AllTrails/Erica Carr 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.
- Apache Wash Loop Trail (Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, Phoenix)
AllTrails/Tyler Thompson 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!
- Lost Dog Wash Trail (Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale)
AllTrails/Westen W. 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.
- Javelina Trail (South Mountain Preserve, Phoenix)
AllTrails/Nereyda Lopez 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!
How many of these wildflower hikes have you embarked on? Did we leave off your favorite trail? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, and check out our previous article for a spring road trip to the most vibrant poppy fields in Arizona.
AllTrails/Tanni Wells
This moderately difficult, 5.4-mile loop 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.
AllTrails/Scott & Megan Stevens
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.
AllTrails/Mikaela Adams
Spanning just one mile, Merkle Trail is a short-and-sweet wildflower hike 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.
AllTrails/Erica Carr
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.
AllTrails/Tyler Thompson
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!
AllTrails/Westen W.
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.
AllTrails/Nereyda Lopez
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!
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Address: Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W Vineyard Ave, Goodyear, AZ 85338, USAAddress: 44000 N Spur Cross Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331, USAAddress: 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207, USAAddress: 1600 E Sonoran Desert Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85085, USAAddress: 18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USAAddress: 10919 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042, USA
