Buckskin Mountain Trail Hike

A mile south of River Island State Park is the Buckskin Mountain State Park, where we stayed several years ago when exploring this area in our 22-foot Rialta motor home. We joined the ranger-led hike along the Buckskin Mountain Trail that begins in the campground.
It was yet another glorious, sunny morning as we set off, up the steep hill and across the pedestrian bridge over the highway.  The higher we climbed, the further we saw into the distance, mountains surrounding us, the bright blue Colorado River snaking its way lazily below.
Here are the views I captured:

the Colorado River meandering between the ranges

a typical desert scene: dusty, sandy, rock-strewn, speckled with low-growing
hardy and prickly plants

creosote bushes and cholla

our park ranger pointing out trails in the area

all that remains now of the copper mines are trails to the shafts

various rock formations make the scenery interesting 

a maturing Saguaro and its "nurse" Palo Verde tree

Our guide pointed out how you often see Saguaro growing next to a Palo Verde tree. Palo Verde trees serve as "nurse plants" for Saguaro cacti by providing a canopy which offers warmth in winter and shade in summer. The slower-growing, longer-lived cactus eventually consumes the available water supply causing the death of its nurse Palo Verde. Saguaros can grow up to 70 feet in height and live 150 years. They grow slowly from seed, never from cuttings, and make southern Arizona their home, as well as a small area of California, and northwestern Mexico.  When it rains, a mature Saguaro can absorb up to 200 gallons of water, aided by a shallow root system. Saguaro flowers bloom at night and are pollinated primarily by bats who feed on the nectar. Saguaros produce ruby red fruits that are 2-3.5 inches long that ripen in June. Native people used Saguaros for many purposes, including fruit for food, spines for needles, and wooden ribs for tools and building materials. 
Here is more information about the majestic and iconic Saguaro, one of my favorite cactuses:
http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/The%20Saguaro%20Cactus.pdf

a ski boat and skier on a picture perfect Colorado River

making our way back to the pedestrian bridge

Back at the campground, we stopped off at the Visitor Center and walked through the cactus garden. I was pleased to recognize several of the species and discovered a few new ones. There is an endless variety of cactus plants.

Prickly Pear, Ocotillo and Saguaro

I believe this is a Kelvin Cholla

Although it was too soon to see him, there is a desert tortoise in residence here too. He is still hibernating and scheduled to emerge any day now. It was interesting to learn that there are two species, each having adapted to the specific desert conditions on either side of the river, the same way that cacti adapted to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. I was also surprised to learn tortoises can withstand the extreme desert temperatures. 

this is for you Grazia!