Where to see wildflowers and Wild Horses in Phoenix AZ Area Spring 2026
A Salt River Stallion in a field of Mexican Poppies.
Where to See Wildflowers and Wild Horses in the Tonto National Forest Near Mesa (Spring 2026)
Spring is the absolute best time to see wildflowers and wild horses together in the Tonto National Forest near Mesa, Arizona. After sufficient winter rains, the Sonoran Desert comes alive with colorful wildflower blooms, and the famous Salt River wild horses can often be seen grazing and moving through the flowers in the desert hills of the Tonto National Forest.
This unique combination makes the area one of the most interesting and scenic spring destinations in the Phoenix metro area- popular with both photographers and visitors looking to experience this dynamic and natural convergence of flora and fauna.
Spring Wildflowers in the Tonto National Forest
From late February through April, wildflowers bloom across lower elevations near the lower Salt River recreation are. Common species include Mexican poppies, brittlebush, lupine, and desert marigold. In my opinion the stunning and abundant Gold Mexican Poppies waving in the breeze usually steal the show. See photos below.
The best areas to see spring wildflowers include:
Desert washes, valleys, hillsides, and open areas near and along Bush Highway from the exit off of Highway 87 (Beeline Highway) to the entrance of the Saguaro lake recreation area.
The Foothills around Saguaro Lake
Various locations along the Beeline Highway heading North from Fort McDowell up to Sunflower.
Note: Use extreme caution when pulling over and out on any of these busy highways and roads.
Wildflower Blooming Season- The Best & Peak Viewing Times
In my many years of experience the best times to see Spring wildflowers in the Phoenix/Mesa area and the Tonto National Forest are generally from early March to the second week of April. Bloom timing and intensity depends heavily on winter rainfall, with wetter seasons producing stronger displays.
Wildflower Bloom Updates: Visit here to see my updates about the Wildflowers blooming this Spring .
Where to See Salt River Wild Horses in Spring
Spring offers excellent conditions to spot the Salt River wild horses, especially during cooler parts of the day. Horses are often seen:
Grazing in the hillsides along Bush Highway and The Beeline Highway
Grazing way back up in the Desert hills in the National Forest off both of these highways on the right side which requires hiking in open desert with no organized trails- This option is not for everyone. Bring plenty of water and no your personal limits.
You can also see Salt River Mustangs at locations and designated areas near the lower Salt River including the Coon Bluff and Goldfield recreation areas. These locations have restrooms and large parking lots.
Best viewing times: early morning and late afternoon
Always keep a safe distance and respect these wild, protected animals.
📸 Tips for the Best Experience
Visit during sunrise or sunset for better light, cooler temps, and hopefully more activity.
Bring plenty of water and sun protection.
Know your limits when hiking in this extreme and rugged desert environment.
Use a zoom lens and stay on public roads and designated areas or dirt pullouts
🌵 Why Visit in Spring 2026
Each spring in the Tonto National Forest is unique, shaped by winter rainfall and temperatures. When conditions are right, the landscape offers a rare sight: wild horses roaming among desert wildflowers near the Salt River, just outside Mesa, Arizona.
My 2026 Wildflower Prediction:
With the very heavy rainfall we had in the late fall of 2025, it was the wettest fall in over 100 years in Arizona, the desert in the Tonto National forest is already unusually very green with even some confused wildflowers blooming. In addition this area received nearly a 1/2 inch of rain just last week which can only help.
So, I am cautiously optimistic that if we receive one or two significant rain events between now and the end of February this could set the stage for a well above average and possibly a very robust Spring Wildflower season here in the Phoenix area. And ya never know, maybe even a Super Bloom!
More Info: Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about finding and seeing the Salt River Wild Horses and wildflowers blooming in Arizona and the greater Phoenix metro area. Or feel free to comment below. Below you will also see some images I captured of the horses roaming and grazing among wildflowers during the Super bloom of 2023.
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Two wild horses of the Salt River herd on a desert hillside in the Tonto National Forest covered with wild flowers during the Spring super bloom of 2023. This photo was captured from a dirt pullout along the Bush Highway. Use extreme discretion and caution when pulling over on this very busy 2 lane highway.
This is a short video I created from scenes I captured during the last Wildflower Super Bloom we had back in 2023 in the Phoenix area.
A band of the Salt River horses grazing in a field of wild flowers in the Tonto National Forest with the snow dusted Four Peaks Mountain range in the background.
This is a short video I filmed and created in December of 2025. You can see a cute new member (Foal) of the herd make an appearance and how unusually green the desert is with even a few wildflowers blooming because of all the heavy late fall rain we had in 2025- which bodes well for a robust 2026 Spring Wildflower season! Please consider subscribing to my youtube channel to help support my efforts filming these beautiful wild and free horses. Thanks!
Salt River Mustangs enjoying the abundance of a wet Winter and Spring in the Arizona desert back in 2023.
A big sky, vibrant wildflowers, and beautiful Wild Horses- sounds like a winning combo to me! Feel free to comment below or contact me directly here if you have questions or special requests.