Tucson Mountains

The Tucson Mountains (O'odham: Cuk Doʼag) are a minor mountain range west of Tucson, Arizona. The Tucson Mountains, including Wasson Peak, are one of four notable mountain ranges surrounding the Tucson Basin. The Santa Catalina Mountains lie to the northeast, the Rincon Mountains are to the east of Tucson, and the Santa Rita Mountains lie to the south. Additionally the Sierrita Mountains lie due south, the Roskruge Mountains lie to the west across Avra Valley, the Silver Bell Mountains lie to the northwest, and the Tortolita Mountains lie to the north across the Santa Cruz Valley.''Silver Bell Mountains, Arizona,'' 30x60 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1994

Parks and preserves

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located on the west flank of the Tucson Mountains. Much of the range is protected by Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain County Park. Old Tucson Studios are located just west of the Tucson Mountains.

Tucson Mountain Park was established April 1929. The Pima County Parks Commission, with C. B. Brown as its chairman, was established to oversee the park. At approximately , the park is one of the largest natural resource areas owned and managed by a local government in the U.S. The park has approximately of non-motorized shared-use trails. The area is popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians.

Saguaro National Park was created as a National Monument in 1933 and later designated a national park in 1994. The Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park ranges from an elevation of 2,180 ft to 4,687 ft and contains 2 biotic communities, desert scrub, and desert grassland. Average annual precipitation is approximately 10.27 in. Common wildlife include the coyote, Gambel's quail, and desert tortoise.

According to historian David Leighton, Brown Mountain in Tucson Mountain Park, is named in honor of park founder, C.B. Brown, Kinney Road the main thoroughfare in the park, is named for Pima County Supervisor, Jack C. Kinney who worked with Brown in the creation of the park and McCain Loop was named for J.C. McCain, the first park ranger.

Gallery

File:Tucson mountains from brown mountain trail tucson az 20181019 082455.webm, Tucson Mountains and saguaro from the Brown Mountain Trail
File:Tumamoc_Hill_and_A_Mountain_from_Huerfano_Butte_area_2013.jpg, View across the Tucson Basin towards Tumamoc Hill (left) and "A" Mountain (right), which can be seen in the center of the background.
File:Tucson_Mountains_Foothills_Arizona_2014.jpg, The foothills south of the Tucson Mountains. Beehive Peak is at the center-left, Cat Mountain is at the far left. The Catalina Mountains are in the background at right.
File:Tucson_Mountains_Foothills_Arizona_2014_Number_2.jpg, Another view of the foothills south of the Tucson Mountains. Cat Mountain is at the right.
File:Gates Pass Park1.JPG, Sonoran Desert vegetation at Gates Pass.
File:Sunset over Tucson Mts.jpg, Sunset over the Tucson Mountains.

See also

* Madrean Sky Islands

References

External links

Tucson Mountain Park official site

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tucson Mountains
Geography of Tucson, Arizona
Mountain ranges of Pima County, Arizona
Mountain ranges of the Sonoran Desert
Mountain ranges of Arizona