PHOENIX – Early winter rain throughout Arizona is ushering in an abundant wildflower season at Arizona’s state parks. From bright yellow poppies to brilliant purple lupine, parks are getting ready to welcome visitors ready to hike along trails bursting with color.

Many of Arizona’s state parks will likely be bursting with beautiful yellow, orange or purple flowers soon, making it a perfect time to hike, camp, or picnic at the parks. Picacho Peak State Park is starting to see a bright dusting of beautiful mountainside blossoms of Mexican poppies, purple lupine, orange globemallow and yellow brittlebush. Because Picacho Peak is one of the top destinations for wildflower viewing, the park has set up Bloomdar (wildflower radar) to help people know when they can see peak activity. Visit the park-specific wildflower page to learn more. If you plan to visit during the height of wildflower viewing, please plan for busy trails, longer wait times to get into the park, and following park rules to keep flowers beautiful for the next hikers.

Catalina, Lost Dutchman and Alamo Lake state parks are also starting to show beautiful and different types of budding wildflowers. Flowers in the desert bloom based on the elevations, rainfall, and the temperature. Parks at higher elevations, like Oracle State Park north of Tucson and Red Rock State Park in Sedona, will see flowers later in the year, around May, and the blooms last well into the summer. You can check the status of the flowers by visiting AZStateParks.com/Wildflowers.

Desert blooms typically appear in this order: bladderpods, brittlebush, Mexican poppies, chuparosa, globemallow and then other various cacti species. Some park trails are already lined with brittlebush blooms and Mexican poppies, creating yellow carpets across the landscapes and mountainsides. The contrast of vibrant flowers against the desert is a stunning backdrop to your park adventure, so get your camera, hiking shoes, plenty of water, and enjoy the rich colors across the state.

Remember to always stay on designated trails, never pick flowers, and follow park rules. By recreating responsibly in our parks, you can hope to see the beauty year after year.

About Arizona State Parks and Trails

Arizona State Parks and Trails serves the communities of Arizona through stewardship, partnerships, and conservation, and acts as an economic driver for the state. Its mission is to connect people with the outdoors and history of Arizona to build a lifetime of memories. The agency manages and protects more than 30 parks and natural areas and oversees the statewide trails program, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and the Arizona Family Campout and statewide Off-Highway Vehicle programs. The agency administers more than five outdoor-related and historic preservation grant programs and manages statewide outdoor recreation planning. For more information, visit AZStateParks.com.

PRESS CONTACT: Michelle Thompson at (480) 589-8877 - Email: pio@azstateparks.gov