Sunflower Spring (aka Quartzite Spring), Tucson, Arizona

4.3

(127 reviews)

About This Spring

Description

High flow! Can fill a 3 gallon in under 2 minutes.

Once it snows, the remaining mile and a half or so to the top most parking lot is gated closed until snow season is over. At all other ‘access’ times of the year, one can park at the top parking lot a short walking distance from Steward Observatory. There is a trail that leads to Mt. Lemmon Trail #5. This is a service road that leads approximately a half mile to the capped spring which is a metal shed to the right side of the road. The pipe where the water comes out of is to the left of the road.

Nearest Address

Steward Observatory parking lot, top of Mt. Lemmon

Directions from Nearest Address

Begin at Steward’s parking lot. Walk toward the observatory, past the gate, and take the first hiking trail to your left. Continue down the hill, taking the right path at any trail junction. (There is also wild tobacco growing along this trail if you know what to look for.) About a mile down, the trail will turn abruptly to the right, and ahead on the right you will see a metal shed. Across from this shed, there is a hill (with sunflowers in the summer) dropping off to your left. You will be able to hear the water flowing. There are about 5 stone steps leading down a few feet, and a pipe sticking out from the hill! 🙂

Vital Information

  • Fee: Only to access Mt. Lemmon…none if you have a park pass.
  • Access: Public
  • Flow: Continuous
  • TDS: N/A
  • Temp: N/A
  • pH: N/A

Hours Spring is Open:

Daylight. Access road to Steward is closed during the winter.

GPS: N/A

Map Link: Sunflower Spring Map

Submitted by: Bri Date

GPS Coordinates

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