“Picacho Peak is arguably one of the best spots to see blooming wildflowers and cactus in Arizona…”
If you’ve ever driven I-10 from Phoenix to Tucson (or vice versa), it would be hard not to notice the distinctive shape of Picacho Peak rising from the desert floor.
It’s the center of an Arizona state park and a great spot to see spring wildflowers!
Peak Wildflower Season
“…Experience the trails as they wind through a colorful sea of yellow, orange, purple, and red wildflowers.”
Superbloom
We visited during the 2023 superbloom year, when Picacho Peak was absolutely carpeted in golden poppies and purple lupine!
Phillip, Quijote, and I drove up from Tucson and met up with my mom and her friend, who were coming south from Mesa.
Of course, we weren’t the only ones eager to see the explosion of color. There was a very long line of cars backed up from the park entrance!
Fortunately, we had a great view while we waited to get in. On the left, Picacho Peak was tinged bright yellow by poppies. On the right there was lupine lining the road, open desert behind that, and a whole other set of rugged peaks on the other side of the freeway.
Once we were finally all in and parked, we unpacked the food we brought at a shaded picnic table nearby. We sat chatting, eating, and enjoying the bursts of spring color around us.
More about Arizona Wildflowers
- When will the next superbloom be? What we know (and don’t) about the conditions that affect annual wildflower blooms.
- Where are wildflowers blooming? Check DesertUSA to see when and where people have spotted spring color across the Southwest.
- Wildflowers to watch for in Arizona State Parks
- What to know about Hiking in Wildflowers (fun 2-minute video)
Springtime Picacho Peak State Park Tips
1. Watch for Wildflower News!
Picacho Peak park rangers update their Facebook page when wildflowers start appearing in the park, usually about late February or early March.
2. Go Early in the Day
One ranger told us that for wildflower viewing, a lot of people arrive mid-morning (we did), there’s a lull around lunchtime, and then things get busy again around 2 or 3pm. I think first thing in the morning would actually be the perfect time to go!
3. Carpool
It will make your life easier if everyone in your group is in one car! Meet up before you start down the road to the park. Picacho Peak Plaza (more on that below) has a lot of parking.
4. Plan to Take Your Time
Anytime the weather is really nice, the park is likely to be more busy. If it’s a big wildflower year, expect there will be crowds and longer wait times. The best thing you can do is relax and take in the scenery!
5. Enjoy them, don’t destroy them!
All Arizona State Parks have rules against removing rocks, branches, or vegetation – including wildflowers!
Lost in Beauty
“This is a paradise.”
–Hiker on a Picacho Peak trail surrounded by wildflowers
After lunch, went for a short hike. Close up, you could see that – besides the showy yellow and purple blooms – there were other little wildflowers growing that you don’t see from far away.
At some point in the day, we realized we weren’t on the trail we had intended to be on. I think we were so dazzled by the fields of Mexican gold poppies that we missed a turn somewhere.
When we took a break to get our bearings, a few other hikers stopped to ask us for directions. It turns out we weren’t the only ones to be distracted by the beauty surrounding us and get a little lost!
Year-Round Info
Even when there aren’t wildflowers in bloom, Picacho Peak is a great place to picnic and hike. Pets are allowed, as long as they’re on a leash of 6 feet or less, so Quijote comes along too!
With average temperatures similar to Tucson’s, there are plenty of times to visit and go camping, stargazing, birding, take a guided hike with a ranger, or watch for wildlife like desert mule deer, javelina, and foxes.
Hours
- Park hours: 5am-10pm, daily (except Christmas)
- Trails are open sunrise to sunset
- Visitor Center/Park Store: 8am-5pm, daily (may vary)
Admission
Arizona State Park entrance fees are increasing later this month, so here’s what admission would cost you right this second, as well as what the new pricing will be.
Current fees:
- $7 per vehicle (1-4 adults)
- $3 per person (on foot or bicycling into the park)
Fees as of 2/25/25:
- $20 per vehicle (2-4 adults)
- $10 per solo driver (one person in a vehicle)
- $5 per person (on foot or bicycling into the park)
Things to do at Picacho Peak State Park
Visitor Center
At the entrance to the park, you’ll find a small visitor center with…
- an information / checkout counter
- educational displays about the desert
- a hummingbird garden
- a coin-operated viewing scope
- restrooms
- a park store area that sells t-shirts, hiking books and maps, toys, souvenirs, annual park passes, snacks and drinks
Picnicking
I’d recommend bringing your own food into the park, as well as plenty of water.
There are lots of picnic areas with tables and grills. Some are wheelchair-accessible and most are covered with ramadas (shade structures).
Hiking
There are a handful of trails with a wide range of difficulty. A couple to start with that both begin on Harrington Loop, near the Visitor Center:
- Nature Trail: easy 0.5 mile walk with interpretive signs.
- Calloway Trail: moderate 1-mile hike that leads to an overlook under the face of Picacho Peak.
Tent + RV Camping
- Great view of the night sky – away from city light pollution!
- Accessible restrooms with flush toilets and showers
- Campers-only dog park
- Wifi available (!) for an additional fee
- Reservations required
Camping Fees
- Standard campsites with electricity: $25-30 per night (currently) / $40-50 per night (as of 2/25/25)
- Rustic campsites without hookups: $15 per night (currently) / $25 per night (as of 2/25/25)
Getting There
Picacho Peak is right off the I-10 in Southern Arizona, about 40 minutes north from Tucson or an hour fifteen from Phoenix.
Either way, you exit at Picacho Peak Road (Exit 219), head west, and follow the signs.
Next Services 15 Miles
There isn’t any kind of restaurant or cafe inside the park.
The nearest towns where you can get something to eat (beyond just snacks) or fill up your gas tank are probably Eloy about 13 miles northwest or Marana about 20 miles to the southeast.
However, the very closest options to the state park are just on the other side of the freeway.
Eat Here, Get Gas
Take Picacho Peak Road just east of I-10, and you’ll find a couple stores that each has a Shell gas station out front and is packed inside with souvenirs that range from junk to fine jewelry.
They’re both owned by Bowlins, whose whole deal is the kind of roadside tourist stops where you go in to use the restroom and end up buying something like a $4 stick of string cheese or a frog statue dressed like Michael Jackson.
Picacho Peak Plaza is the newer, bigger, brighter property with huge picture windows that look out on the mountains.
Picacho Peak Travel Center is attached to a full-menu Dairy Queen, which you can only access through an entrance on the opposite side of the building, so you have wade through all of the travel center tchotchkes before you get to the Blizzards and burgers.
Yes, that does sound like a potential fire hazard. And, yep, that’s one more reason to pack in a picnic.
PS Just a quick heads up: when Arizona State Park entrance fees increase on February 25th, so will the prices for an annual pass!
- Currently, you can get a restricted pass for $75 (it excludes weekends and holidays at 4 state parks along the Colorado River) or a premium pass without those restrictions for $200.
- The new pricing structure will be simplified, so that only $200 no-restriction passes are available.
- Since we don’t really go to any of the Colorado River parks, we decided now would be a good time to get an annual pass!
