AZ-Mt.+Lemmon--Butterfly+Trail

Also, see Mt. Lemmon
 * =Birding in Arizona=

Pima County
=Mt. Lemmon= =Butterfly Trail= Coronado National Forest Mt. Lemmon, Arizona 85619 Butterfly Trail webpage

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Mt. Lemmon--Butterfly Trail
Coordinates: 32.4303671, -110.7422165 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About Butterfly Trail
This is a delightful trail that passes through an area of such diverse biology that part of it has been designated a Research Natural Area. Views are diverse too, facing both east and west in what is a unique situation among generally south and west-facing Santa Catalina trails. To top it all off, a generous helping of these attractions can be reached by hiking a relatively easy part of the trail, avoiding those steeper portions that account for its “more difficult” rating. If you’re one of the growing number of Forest visitors that like to know what you’re seeing, you’ll want to bring your tree and wildflower books. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable outdoor classroom than this. If you have a book on butterflies, you’ll want to bring that too. These colorful creatures congregate in clusters among the wildflowers that grow here. Along the trailside, a variety of trees are mixed and matched in diverse communities that include ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and southwestern white pine in the high, cool areas; Arizona madrone, box elder and bigtooth maple in the more moderate areas; and alligator juniper, various species of oak and yuccas in drier, more exposed areas. Moist ravines are decorated with columbine and butterfly weed, while south facing slopes provide an appropriate habitat for prickly pear and hedgehog cactus. Views along this trail are as diverse as the biology, especially if you take the short side hike to the top of Mt. Bigelow. At this forest lookout location, you’ll find good views of Tucson to the west. The rest of the trail offers views to the east, of Alder Canyon, the San Pedro Valley and the copper smelter at San Manuel.

Take the Catalina Highway off Tanque Verde Road in Tucson. Drive 4.2 miles to the Forest boundary and continue 19 miles to the Palisade Visitor Information Center. The trailhead for Butterfly Trail is located at the north end of the parking lot across the road. The upper trailhead is about another 4 miles up Catalina Highway at the Soldier Camp access road. The Catalina Highway is paved and suitable for passenger cars, but it may be snow-covered in winter when chains or 4-wheel drive may be required. From Butterfly Trail webpage

Tips for birding Mt. Lemmon
Take Catalina Highway northeast from Tanque Verde Road. For desert and mountain species, stop at picnic and campgrounds (Molina Basin, Bear Canyon, Rose Canyon Lake and others) as you drive the narrow, winding road to high elevations. From Tucson Audubon Society

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media type="custom" key="29264831" || L1365608 US US-AZ US-AZ-019 32.4303671 -110.7422165 Mt. Lemmon--Butterfly Trail