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Desert Plant Guide currently contains detailed information for 55 desert plants, 28 gardening definitions, 10,663 Latin desert plant names, 18 desert garden articles, 45 desert garden blog entries and 170 desert plant images.
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Glendale AZ - Thunderbird Park
Thunderbird Park is a 1,185 acre park located in the Hedgpeth Hills of North Glendale, Arizona. The hills were named after Robert Hedgpeth, an early homesteader in the region. The park itself was named after the WWII pilot training facility a few mouths south of the park.
There are 15 miles of well-outlined desert trails in Thunderbird Park. Access can be obtained from 67th Avenue and Patrick or Pinnacle Peak road near 55th Avenue. Paved lots, horse areas, an amphitheater, picnic areas and restrooms are at the park.
Click the image for a large version of this map of Thunderbird Park's trails
The views from the top of many of the hills are quite remarkable. You can see all of the mountain ranges located on the outskirts of Phoenix, as well as downtown, uptown, the football stadium, White Tank Mountains and more.
Hiking is allowed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The trails are fairly easy, nowhere near as challenging as other trails in the area, including Camelback Mountain. They range from easy to moderate and gradually climb up and down the rolling hills. There are a lot of dogs on these trails but they are required to be on a leash. On gorgeous days the trails are fairly busy but not unpleasant. The best part about these trails are the hidden water features, which usually have some very photogenic wildlife nearby. It is not uncommon to stumble across a bobcat, squirrel, lizard (tons of lizards!), birds and even rattlesnakes on the trail. Use common sense when it comes to wildlife!
Within the gently swooping hills there are a ton of native desert plants. Saguaros are everywhere. Cholla hug the curves of the hillsides. Horse crippler cactus are scattered about. After a rain the creosote growing along the trail unleash a potent and unique scent. In the springtime you can watch the wildflowers blooming and a variety of desert plants flowering. Many of the plants spawned from wind-blown seeds that came from the neighboring yards in Arrowhead Ranch.
Photos of Thunderbird Park in Glendale Arizona
