Sky Islands: Flowers and Snow!
Sky islands are "isolated mountains surrounded by radically different lowland environments." Hence the snow on our hike in the Santa Rita mountains about 1 hour south of Tucson. The islands are surrounded by desert; therefore the Coronado National Forest is not one contiguous forest, but rather 10 separate and widely dispersed forests. (It took us a while to wrap our heads around that!)
We spent most of our hiking time in Tucson in Sabino Canyon, with one trip to Madera Canyon. The areas we explored in Sabino Canyon were largely desert eco-system. The big treat there was that so many things were in bloom!
However, we went to over 8,000 ft in Madera Canyon and we passed through 4 life zones (!) and enjoyed the pine trees, birds (its world renowned for birding) and snow on the trail. It was a lot like hiking in the Pacific Northwest, but with more sun!
We hiked the Old Baldy trail in Madera Canyon, which isn't the steepest we've ever done...but it was close. We skipped the mile scramble to the top of Mt. Wrightson and were glad we did. We were tuckered out by the time we made it down.
Enjoy some views of the sky islands!
Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Santa Rita Mountains
Old Baldy Trail
Entrance to Madera Canyon
Entrance to Madera Canyon
Entrance to Madera Canyon
Old Baldy Trail
Old Baldy Trail, Near Bellows Spring
Old Baldy Trail, before Josphine Saddle 7080 ft
Old Baldy Trail, Between Bellows Spring and Old Baldy Saddle
Old Baldy Trail, Between Bellows Spring and Old Baldy Saddle
Old Baldy Trail, Old Baldy Saddle, 8780 ft.
View from Old Baldy Saddle, 8780 ft.
Coronado National Forest, Sabino Canyon, Catalina Mountains
Blackett's Ridge Trail (plus we threw in a few photos of flowers we saw at the San Xavier Mission.)
Ocotillo were in bloom and everywhere on this hike!
The trail provided great views of Tucson below.
The rocky landscape of Sabino Canyon is in full effect on Blackett's Ridge trail.
Near the top, we think we found a thistle!
If anyone knows what this is - please tell us!
Barrel Cactus at San Xavier Mission
Beaver Tail Cactus, San Xavier Mission
Ocotillo
Saguaro!
This trail is fun because you literally come to the end of the trail at 4,300 ft. Unless you are flying, there is no where else to go!
Brittle Bush (I think that the yellow flower!) near the highest elevation point of the hike.
Apple Cactus Bloom.
Barrel Cactus -like the color variation in the cactus trunk! It's rasta!
Not sure what this is! San Xavier Mission