Palo Verde Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Views

The Palo Verde Trail departs from the visitor center and makes its way down to the campground. You can park at the visitor center and cross the street to begin the run. The trail parallels Highway 85 for a while as it winds its way through the desert landscape. As you make your way along, Organ Pipe Cacti and Saguaro Cacti sit on either side of the trail and chain fruit cholla and teddy bear cholla can be seen in places.

The trail is exposed with very little shade, so make sure you have plenty of water and wear sunscreen and a hat to help alleviate the heat. After roughly half a mile, the trail begins to veer off to the right and follows Twin Peaks Road as it heads toward the campground. You may see a hawk flying overhead, a coyote on the prowl for a morning or evening snack, and other animals common to the Sonoran Desert. The trail makes its way through several washes before climbing gently to where it intersects with the Campground Perimeter Trail.

Various types of cacti, cholla, and Ironwood trees can be seen along the trail. You get a good idea of the plant life and some of the wildlife that call the Sonoran Desert home as you traverse the area between the visitor center and the campground.