Arizona

You can take a hike up Picacho Peak Mountain in the cool springtime in Arizona. Winter visitors love this area. Remember to bring your photo equipment whether it be your digital camera or your movie cam. I always wear hiking boots or good walking shoes when I hike this mountain trail. There is a small mountain trail you can take the kids on if you think the main hike is too much for them. There are also trails that weave in and out around the south side of the mountain with wooden markers with pictures of wildlife.

In the spring in Arizona the native plants, such as palo verde, ocotillo, creosote, and mesquite start to bloom. If there is abundant rain in the Sonoran desert, the desert wildflowers and blooming cacti will be at their peak during May and June. Purple lupine, baby golden sunflowers and poppies can be found everywhere. The California poppy is the state flower of California. I have seen it in shades of white, yellow and bright orange. It is self seeding as is the African daisy which also blooms in Arizona. In a good year, desert wildflowers are in abundance a short drive from Phoenix and Tucson. These lavish desert wildflowers are a treasure to look forward to year after year. After the rains the mesquite, acacia, and palo verde trees and the prickly pear and cholla cacti have all added significant growth. The desert is not aways lush and green, in the summers they are quite uninviting.

Planting desert wildflowers is also a good way to attract native birds and butterflies to your yard. You’ll see cactus wrens, finches, wrens and roadrunners at Picacho Peak, along Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, is a popular destination for those looking for desert wildflowers in the spring. The Arizona State Parks encourages visitors to call ahead to check on which parks have wildflowers blooming. Wildflowers often attract birds and other wildlife, perhaps you might even spot a javelina.

Did you know that Picacho Peak State Park in Pinal County, Arizona and the surrounding areas are in danger of become an industrialized area?  Soon thousands of visitors will no longer see the beauty and enjoy the natural landscape that the park offers.  Rumor has it that there is a move to allow Union Pacific to build a railroad yard at the foot of Picacho Peak stretching for 6 miles along I-10.  This addition would be opposite the park off  the interstate.  This yard will more than likely destroy the natural environment and future economic development of Picacho Peak State park area as well as bring pollutants into the area.Union Pacific wants to use this area for a switching yard, but one wonders if the the real intention is for a sorting yard for cargo containers before they are to be shipped to other parts of the country. The Federal goverment regulates railroads so there is little residents can do in to stop this.   Arizona is in the process of passing a bill to see what can be done about this.

Picacho Peak is a prominent mountain about halfway between Phoenix and Tucson in Pinal County, Arizona.  Picacho Peak is the site of the only Civil War battle in Arizona.  In the spring there is a reinactment of the Civil War  at the peak.  Picacho Peak can be seen for miles in all directions and has been an important landmark since the first settlers arrived and still is for interstate 10 travelers. 

Picacho Peak is known for its beautiful, spring wildflowers in bloom  in April and early May following  seasonal winter rains.   California poppies, lupine, African daises, desert mallow, blooming cacti blanket the mountainside.   Many years when their is little rain, the flowers fail blossom.

Picacho Peak State Park  does charge a small entrance fee.  Hiking still tops the list of fun thins to do at Picacho Peak.  There is also overnight camping available.   Five different hiking trails are available at Picacho Peak State Park, both to day visitors, as well as overnight campers.  The hike up this central Arizona landmark is short but strenuous.  There are spectacular  views when you look out over the desert.   You can see the trains and cars passing by from the front top of the mountain.

Hikers should take plenty of water with them as hikers have died from dehydration while hiking at the park in the summer months.  It would be a good idea to let the ranger know your hiking plans if you intend to hike the peak.  Watch out for rattle snakes.  They usually are more active in the summer months.  At the park, there are lots of picnic areas and covered ramadas for your enjoyment.  Arizona’s weather is wonderful in November and we usually picnic at the peak on Thanksgiving and then hike up the mountain.  The covered ramadas can be reserved.  Some are equipped with electrical outlets and most have bbq areas.