Molino Canyon Vista

Molino Canyon Vista Interpretive Trail is about 0.2 miles

 

4.3 miles up the mountain on the right side of the road between Mileposts 4 and 5

Its called a Vista for a reason, the views are really great

The vista is at about 5000 feet in elevation between arid desert and Oak woodland

Pine Needle Milkweed. This shrub has a pine tree. It has white blooms spring through fall, then produces a shiny green seed pod.  Also illustrated is a tarantula hawk, a large wasp that stings, paralyzes, and drags a tarantula back to its burrow, then lays its eggs on the spider. When the larval wasp hatches, it has a good supply food supply.

 

Arizona Rosewood. This evergreen shrub is named after its hard, red-colored wood that is sometimes used by artists for carving.

 

Prickly pear cactus and Shindagger Agave. Prickly pear cacti have round, flat pads and brightly colored flowers. Shindagger agaves have spiny, pointed leaves aptly named for their effect on people walking near them.

 

Cholla. (choy-uh) The thorny branches of this purple, treelike cactus provide excellent protection for the cactus wren's nest

 

Ocotillo. (oh-ko-TEE-oh) This spiny plant sheds its leaves several times each year, dropping them during droughts and replacing them during heavy rains. Hummingbirds feed on nectar from the red flowers at the tip of each stem

 

Southwestern coral bean. This thorny shrub or small tree is leafless during the winter. It produces uniquely shaped, bright red flowers each spring, followed by large pods filled with poisonous red seeds

 

Wildlife found here include Coues white-tailed deer, canyon wrens, and garter snakes. The perennial pools of water in the canyon below attract ringtails, coatimundis, ash-throated flycatchers, and canyon tree frogs.