08/09/2026
A couple of weeks ago, Max and I escaped to Flagstaffās San Francisco Peaks and took the scenic gondola ride at Arizona Snowbowl. It was the perfect way to cool off and enjoy some incredible views! šļø
Iām quite familiar with the San Francisco Peaks. Iāve hiked Humphreys Peak eight times, skied around the mountains in winter, and hiked from Schultz Pass up to Doyle Peak. But somehow, I just learned one of the coolest things about a tiny wildflower that grows nowhere else in the world except on the San Francisco Peaks.
Itās the San Francisco Peaks groundsel, now officially known as San Francisco Peaks ragwort (Packera franciscana). š¼
This little flower is only about 1ā4 inches tall and grows among the rocky alpine slopes. Because this plant is so rare and the alpine tundra is extremely fragile, there are areas on Agassiz Peak that are closed to hikers during the snow-free months. When you take the gondola up, youāll see signs telling visitors not to venture beyond the designated area. These restrictions help protect this incredibly fragile habitat.
I love learning little facts like thisāeven about places I thought I already knew pretty well. It makes you look at a familiar landscape a little differently. Sometimes the smallest things are the biggest reason to protect a special place. šš¼šļø
Have you ridden the Snowbowl gondola or hiked the San Francisco Peaks?
