Itβs not quite officially summer, but hikers can savor a colorful preview of the season now along lower reaches of the Green Mountain Trail in the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson.
There, at a cool-air altitude of 6,000 feet, several species of wildflowers are in brilliant bloom and fields of ferns add a north woods atmosphere.
Among the early-season bloomers: brilliant yellow columbines, scarlet penstemons, white fleabane and several other types of yellow and lavender flowers.
TREK THE TRAIL
The Green Mountain Trail is a 4.3-mile route that connects two trailheads along the Catalina Highway β a lower trailhead between mile markers 11 and 12 and an upper one between mile markers 17 and 18.
At altitudes ranging from about 6,000 to 7,000 feet, the trail winds through oak and pine forests and follows an often-dry stream bed up a wooded canyon before climbing to a broad ridge affording expansive views.
The best bet for finding mountain wildflowers this early in the season is along the lower mile or two of the route.
From the lower trailhead, at a large parking lot just past a group of picnic areas and before a turnoff for the General Hitchcock Campground, the trail takes hikers uphill on a bluff overlooking the highway before leading into forest areas and descending to the usually dry watercourse.
Itβs in the forest areas and along the watercourse that youβre likely to spot blooms. Watch on either side of the path for clumps of the bright, graceful columbine flowers amid greenery and in the stream bed.
