Hereβs one way to work off some Thanksgiving feast calories while sharing a flash of desert color with your holiday visitors: Go for a hike on one of several trails near the creek in Sabino Canyon.
Trees there are showing autumn hues of yellow and gold, and the leaves usually remain colorful into December.
βVelvet ashes light up Sabino Canyon in the fall when their leaves turn brilliant gold,β says David Lazaroff, author of βSabino Canyon: The Life of a Southwestern Oasisβ and other books.
Cottonwood and sycamore trees and some shrubby plants add their hues along the creek. The colorful deciduous trees stand out in contrast to the saguaro cacti, mesquite trees and other desert vegetation on slopes above the watercourse.
TRAILS TO TRY
Here are some routes to the color:
- The canyon road β Walking or taking a shuttle up the paved canyon road offer an easygoing look at the scenery. After passing through desert terrain in its first mile, the road parallels the creek for much of the rest of its length.
- Bluff Trail β This very short, very scenic 0.2-mile trail winds along bluffs above Sabino Creek. It begins along the canyon road about three-quarters of a mile northeast of the canyon visitor center and connects with the Sabino Lake Trail and the Creek Trail.
- Creek Trail β This 0.6-mile route, which can be picked up at a junction with the Bluff Trail, includes several creek crossings and should be avoided during times of high creek flows.
- Phoneline Trail β A somewhat challenging 4.2-mile trail, the Phoneline climbs high above the creek and provides an overview of stream-side vegetation. Reach it from the visitor center via the Bear Canyon Trail. Check in the center for maps and other information.
