This hike starts at the Margies Cove East Trailhead.
The Margies Cove Trail is fairly flat and wanders among the washes between the peaks and ridges of the Maricopa Mountains.
A fallen saguaro cactus skeleton.
The Mexican Gold Poppies (Eschscholtzia mexicana) were just starting to bloom. Each flower is opening toward the morning sun.
Closeup of Mexican Gold Poppy (Eschscholtzia mexicana).
Typical Sonoran Desert plants include Saguaro Cactus, Teddy Bear Cholla, Creosote Bush, Triangle Bursage.
Teddy Bear Cholla (Opuntia bigelovii).
Saguaro Cactus (Cereus giganteus) with arms going every which way.
The fenced in area is a water catchment project designed to catch and hold water for desert animals.
I didn't see any "game" at the water.
Along the fence line.
The Margies Cove Trail is not signed, but easy to follow rock cairns guide the way.
The desert floor is green due the recent winter rains.
The trail passes by a peak through saguaros and creosote bushes.
Cholla skeleton (probably from chain fruit cholla).
Closeup of cholla skeleton.
Ridges of the North Maricopa Mountains rise above a forest of saguaros.
Toppled saguaro cactus skeleton.
Closeup of the wood of the toppled saguaro.
Scenic Sonoran Desert view.
Chain Fruit Cholla (Opuntia fulgida) with an Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) and Saguaros in the background.
Classic Sonoran Desert plant community.
The leaves of the Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) cover the stems after a good winter rain.
Classic Sonoran Desert plant community.
The trail hops from cairn to cairn.
Mexican Gold Poppy (Eschscholtzia mexicana).
Closeup of Mexican Gold Poppy (Eschscholtzia mexicana).
Filaree (Erodium cicutarium) is a non-native member of the geranium family.
Splaying ribs of a Saguaro Cactus.
Closeup of Saguaro ribs.
A dead saguaro forms a cross against the bright blue sky.
A thin ribbon of trail winding down a gentle slope past a fallen saguaro.
A forest of saguaros grow on this desert valley floor.
A female Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) turns to see who is taking her picture.
Teddy Bear Cholla (Opuntia bigelovii).
This spiny Teddy Bear Cholla joint which has "jumped" from its parent plant will soon take root and continue to grow.
Teddy Bear Cholla (Opuntia bigelovii).
This saguaro must have made quite a thunder when it came crashing down.
This saguaro must have made quite a thunder when it came crashing down.
A large Saguaro Cactus (Cereus giganteus).
The trunk of a large Ironwood (Olneya tesota).
The Ironwood tree is the largest and oldest tree found the Sonoran Desert.
Closeup of the Ironwood bark.
The leaves and thorns of the Ironwood.
Another large Saguaro.
At some point the Margies Cove Trail crosses a gate. This is a view on the west side of the gate looking east.
Saguaro cactus with unusual branching, each "arm" branching into two.
Triangle Bursage (Ambrosia deltoidea) is a common shrub of the Sonoran Desert.
Another common shrub of the Sonoran Desert is the Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata).
Closeup of the green waxy leaves of the Creosote Bush.
Signs on a fence surrounding a water catchment project.
A beautiful Mexican Gold Poppy (Eschscholtzia mexicana)
Mexican Gold Poppies provide a brilliant flash of color to the desert.
Ironwood trees like dry sandy desert washes.
Leaves of the Ironwood tree.
Poppies provide a splash of yellow below a peak in the North Maricopa Mountains.
After a saguaro dies its flesh falls away revealing a structure of wooden ribs that once helped hold up thousands of pounds of cactus.
Saguaro ribs.
Bladderpod Mustard (Lesquerella gordoni).
Bladderpod Mustard (Lesquerella gordoni).
Bladderpod Mustard (Lesquerella gordoni).
Rocky hillside.
Rocky hillside.