Most People Don’t Know Arizona Has A Tundra And It’s Simply Stunning

Have you had a chance to hike the San Francisco Peaks before? I hiked Kachina Trail—which runs five miles one-way across the base of the Peaks—a few summers ago and underestimated just how long a hike over and back would be. Despite how angry my legs were that evening, getting to see the aspens and pines on the verge of changing colors and the delicate forest environment was an amazing experience.

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/

Coconino National Forest/Flickr Those peaks are a beautiful sight year-round. Just as beautiful and even more strenuous is the hike up to Humphrey’s Peak, Arizona’s highest summit and—surprise!—home to the only alpine tundra that can be found in Arizona. Yeah, that’s right, a tundra, like what you would find in Alaska. Alan English CPA/Flickr Arizona has many surprises up her sleeve, just like this! Starting at 10,600 feet above sea level, the alpine tundra begins just past the visible tree line on the mountain and extends all the way up to Humphrey's Peak at 12,633 feet. Alan English CPA/Flickr Why the lack of trees? A combination of high altitude, chilly temperatures, and windy conditions make tree life a little too difficult to sustain. The plant life you'll find up here includes delicate shrubs, flowers, and other small plants that can survive the rocky terrain and extreme conditions here. Coconino National Forest/Flickr You can also find small plant life that exist only in these 1,200 acres at the top of the Peaks. This includes the San Francisco Peaks groundsel, an endangered plant with delicate leaves and small, yellow buds that pop up. Access to the tundra and Humphrey's Peak can be done by hiking Humphrey's Trail, a 10-mile roundtrip from the Snowbowl, through the pines, up to the tundra, and finally to the top of the world (or state, in this case). Coconino National Forest/Flickr A steep hike up the mountain, this trail typically takes hikers 6 to 8 hours to complete. Trail details can be found at the Hike Arizona website When hiking this trail, it's important to note that the tundra environment is incredibly fragile, making it important to stick to the trail. Coconino National Forest/Flickr Since the conditions up here are extreme, one too many steps across the terrain not only destroys plants but also disturbs the soil. This can lead to the wind blowing away soil, plants, and taking decades (or even centuries) to repair itself. Proceed with a conscious, delicate step and you'll experience one of the most unique spots in Arizona and the country. Coconino National Forest/Flickr To see a view of the hike for yourself, check out this video from Youtuber Earthculturemusic, in which he documents a hike he and his mother took in May 2015. I have to say that it looks incredible!





Want to learn a little more about the Peaks themselves? Check out our article from earlier this year, This Epic Mountain In Arizona Will Drop Your Jaw.