Arizona’s Forests
When you think of Arizona you probably don’t think of forests, but more than one quarter of the state is covered in trees. Because of the variation in elevation, rainfall, and climate across the state there are at least seven different kinds of forests. Riparian Forests containing sycamore, willow, and cottonwood are found along major streams. Madrean Oak-Pine Woodlands dominated by oak, Chihuahua and Arizona pine, are found in southeastern Arizona. At slightly higher elevations shrub-dominated Chaparral and Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands proliferate. And in the higher elevations, particularly along the Mogollon Rim and atop the mountainous ‘sky islands,’ Ponderosa Pine Forests, Mixed-Conifer Forests, and Spruce-Fir (subalpine) Forests abound. Living in the hot desert, walking along the fern-covered floor of a shaded forested slope is such a pleasant experience. When shrouded by gray winter clouds, hiking down into a remote, deep, dark, forested canyon, miles from the nearest road, feels eerie and primeval.
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Vivid Indian paintbrush on the Mogollon-Rim.
Meadow grass near Happy Jack.
Green sprouts on the forest floor.
Lush greenery along East Clear Creek.
Back-lit green oak leaves.
Forest grassland near Jones Crossing.
Shadows and forest at Milk Ranch Point along the Mogollon Rim.
Dense ponderosa pines hide red rocks of the Permian.
Juniper below the Mogollon Rim.
Green grass along a small forest creek.
Forest gully painted in dappled light.
Open grass meadow near Jones Crossing.
Shaded boulder on shaded forest slope.
Pools of water along East Clear Creek.
Forest meadow near Happy Jack.
Fleabane flowers on the Mogollon Rim.
The forested edge of the Mogollon Rim above Shadow Rim Girl Scout Camp.
Cross-bedded boulders of the Coconino Sandstone near Jones Crossing.
Clover blankets the forest floor.
Dark summer clouds along the Mogollon Rim.
Ferns blanket forest slope near Potato Lake.
Cliffs of Coconino sandstone along the Mogollon Rim.
Resistant spines of Coconino sandstone at the Mogollon Rim.
Bent trees.
Puffy summer clouds along the Mogollon Rim.
Blackberry vines seeking out the sun on the forest floor.
A golden sky along the Mogollon Rim.
A wet forest road.
A starburst sun pokes through the leaves of an oak tree.
Wind-shaped pine tree on the edge of the Mogollon Rim.
A secluded forest grotto.
Open meadow dotted with thistle near Turkey Mountain.
A ray of sunlight reveals rounded cobbles and a tuft of grass.
Steep forested slopes along the Mogollon Rim.
An Arizona Black Rattlesnake.
Sycamore mingle with ponderosa pine.
Red ferns blanket a chilly forest floor.
Hidden enclave of mushrooms on the forest floor.
Ponderosa pine tree growing upward out of a rock overhang.
Summer rain nourishes the forest north of Payson.
Open forest meadow near Happy Jack.
Pine cones on the forest floor.
Pinyon woodland below the Mogollon Rim.
Mushrooms thrive on a dead branch.
Bright red kingcup-hedgehog cactus cling to rocks on the forest floor.
Sycamore and pine mingle together north of Whispering Pines.
A forest grotto lush with greenery.
Sunrise over pools of water along East Clear Creek near Jones Crossing.