Elephant Tree Trail Hike

I mentioned in an earlier post that, after the full day of rain on Sunday, Monday was both windy and sunny. By mid-afternoon Monday the wind had started to mellow out a bit, so we decided to go for a hike on the Elephant Tree Trail. The trailhead was not far from the Fish Creek Primitive Campground.

From the turnout off the Split Mountain Road, you drive about a mile down a "Jeep road" (NOT at all sedan-worthy!) before finding the parking area and the start of the 1.5-mile self-guided tour. (However, due to budget constraints, no interpretive pamphlets are available for the self-guiding numbered posts.) The trail is your basic "follow-the-wash" trail with the occasional rock blockade to keep you on the correct wash along with the occasional numbered post.

Of course, as you hike up and around this desert wash, you get to see all the other desert plants growing and blooming along the trail, such as this Gander's Cholla...

and this Beavertail Cactus...

and the dainty Spanish Needles...

and, of course, the ubiquitous Brittle Bush...

and the useful Indigo Bush...

and the Chuparosa that the Hummingbirds love so much...

or the rare double-circle of Barrel Cactus blossoms...

till you finally get to the Elephant Tree.

The funky looking Elephant Tree is native to northern Mexico, southern Arizona, and southern-most California. Apparently, there used to be a number of Elephant Trees in the area, but the rest have died, leaving just this one.