Now here's when things get a bit more interesting. After several more long twists, turns, uphill and downhill grades, there's a point along RT 87 where the mountains look more like piles of boulders on an alien planet (no picture here, it was on a more difficult section of road). Then you go a little beyond that, and suddenly you're in saguaro country!

Fortunately, there are more trailheads along this road where you can stop the car and view scenery that looks like it came straight out of a Disney movie.

The seasons advanced by a week or two the further south you went. Only a bit further north, prickly pears usually come into bloom in May.