Poppy

With an abundance of rain and snowfall this winter, spring is kissing the high desert with a superbloom of wildflowers. Expect to see an explosion of color against the brown desert March through May! You will definitely want to come and explore the yellow and orange poppies “popping” up along Route 66 on the drive to Oatman. These flowers make for an even more beautiful scenic drive through the “Arizona Sidewinder. ” There are plenty of pullouts along the road for you to safely pull over and get that perfect spring photo-op to commemorate your Route 66 road trip! You don’t want to miss out on this superbloom, because it doesn’t happen every year. The rarity of this occurrence is what makes it so special.

Seeing the emergence of vibrant flowers reminds us the desert is full of more life than meets the eye.

Don’t worry if you aren’t able to catch the current superbloom along Oatman Highway. There will be various opportunities throughout the year to see a colorful desert. Moving into mid spring, expect to see blooms of lupine, primrose, and globe mallow in the Cerbat Foothills Rec Area, specifically Monolith and Castlerock trails starting in April or May and lasting into June. In addition to the native wildflowers, you’ll also witness some of the cacti in bloom, like the beavertail cactus and ocotillos.

There are several trailheads located in Downtown Kingman; stop by the Visitor Center, located at 120 W Andy Devine Ave, for trail maps!

Planning your Route 66 road trip for later this year? You’re in luck! Over the summer and into fall, you can find sunflowers, black-eyed susans, and daises along Route 66 about one hour east of Kingman heading to Seligman. The juxtaposition of the yellow sunflowers against the fire engine red Burma-Shave signs is a sight you will not forget!

Regardless of when you’re traveling along Route 66 in Arizona, there is always something awe-inspiring to see.