The Black Hills of Yavapai County (in

Yavapai The Yavapai are a Native American tribe in Arizona. Historically, the Yavapai – literally “people of the sun” (from ''Enyaava'' “sun” + ''Paay'' “people”) – were divided into four geographical bands who identified as separate, i ...

: Waulkayauayau – "pine tableland") are a large mountain range of central

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

in southeast

Yavapai County Yavapai County is near the center of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, its population was 236,209, making it the fourth-most populous county in Arizona. The county seat is Prescott. Yavapai County comprises the Prescott, AZ M ...

. It is bordered by the

Verde Valley The Verde Valley ( yuf-x-yav, Matkʼamvaha; es, Valle Verde) is a valley in central Arizona in the United States. The Verde River runs through it. The Verde River is one of Arizona's last free-flowing river systems. It provides crucial habita ...

to the east. The northwest section of the range is bisected from the southeast section by

Interstate 17 Interstate 17 (I-17) is a north–south Interstate Highway entirely within the US state of Arizona. I-17's southern terminus lies in Phoenix, at I-10, and its northern terminus is in Flagstaff, at Milton Road north of I-40. Most of I-17 ...

, which is the main route connecting

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

Sedona Sedona is a city that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,031. It is within the Coconino National Fo ...

, Oak Creek Canyon, and Flagstaff. This bisection point is the approximate center of the mostly northwest by southeast trending range. The northwest section contains a steep

escarpment An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that forms as a result of faulting or erosion and separates two relatively level areas having different elevations. The terms ''scarp'' and ''scarp face'' are often used interchangeably with ''esca ...

on the northeast with the Verde Valley, the escarpment being the location of the fault-block that created the historic mining district at

Jerome Jerome (; la, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was a Christian priest, confessor, theologian, and historian; he is co ...

. The

United Verde Mine The United Verde mine was one of the largest copper mines in the United States. The mine was located in the town of Jerome in central Arizona, in the southwestern United States The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southw ...

was one of the largest copper mines in the United States, producing large quantities of copper, gold, silver and zinc. The range is also the first major fault-blocked range west of the

Mogollon Rim The Mogollon Rim ( or or ) is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately , starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the border ...

on the southwest margin of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona. They are bordered to the east by the Verde Fault zone, and to the west by the Coyote Fault zone. The range is at the northwest-center of the Arizona transition zone which extends diagonally across central Arizona.

Description

The highest point of the Black Hills (Arizona) is Woodchute Mountain at . Mingus Mountain lies south of Woodchute Mountain with historic Cherry further to the southeast. Three wilderness areas are located in the range, the Woodchute Wilderness in the northwest, and the Cedar Bench, and Pine Mountain Wildernesses in the southeast.Pine Mountain Wilderness
– Wilderness Connect

References

External links

Summit Post
web site {{Authority control Mountain ranges of Yavapai County, Arizona Arizona transition zone mountain ranges Mountain ranges of the Sonoran Desert Mountain ranges of Arizona Prescott National Forest