The Tucson Mountains – Majestic And Magical
One Of The 5 Mountain Ranges Surrounding The City
The Tucson Mountains are due west of Tucson, Arizona. The Tucson Mountains are a range small in scale and short in stature.
But they are big in beauty and bold in ruggedness. They are the lowest of the four mountain ranges surrounding the City of Tucson.
The others are the Santa Catalina Mountains, Rincon Mountains, Santa Rita Mountains and the Tortolitas.
A major segment of the Tucson Mountains are in the Saguaro National Park West.
The area has been the backdrop of countless Old West movies and television shows. Old Tucson studios was a prominent location for film making for over 40 years. .
Rocky and scrappy desert peaks that represent the character of the area. Do people climb these majestic slopes. Well, yes!
But it is not an easy climb. Hikers must brave desert bushwhacks and rock scrambles to reach the summit.
If you make it, the views are spectacular. Combining interesting urban Tucson and the wild desert mountain landscape.
What makes a trip to the Tucson Mountains a special treat is the Sonoran Desert landscape. The diversity in plant life and desert understated gem of the Arizona landscape.
A great place to see the west area wildlife up close is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It provides exhibits of the area’s plants and wildlife in a natural setting.
Beauty And Protection
Together, these 5 ranges create a beautiful setting from almost any location in the greater Tucson area. And they protect Tucson from the Haboobs experienced in Phoenix.
The Tucson Mountains are not high compared to the Santa Catalina Mountains. They rise to only 4,687 feet.
This mountains range is the remains of a more than 15-mile-long collapsed volcano. For the Geologists, that is a volcanic caldera.
The eruption occurred some 70 million years ago. And the force was greater then the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980.
The rock layers in the mountains reveal a pre-historic landscape. It included a large oyster-rich freshwater lake near what today is Wasson Peak.
Dinosaurs roamed around the lake. And camels trod the mudflats. While mastodons fed on the grass around the lake.
Southern Arizona Mountain Ranges
The volcanic cycle that created the Tucson Mountains created other mountain ranges in southern Arizona. In Tucson, the Silver Bell Mountains, Sierrita Mountains and Santa Rita Mountains.
The Chiricahua Mountains in southeast Arizona to shape. And the Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction, AZ. Along with other notable Arizona ranges.
A notable spot in the area is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This world renown museum is on the west side of the Tucson Mountains. Two other parks in the Tucson Mountains are the Saguaro National and Tucson Mountain County Parks.
See All Homes For Sale In the Tucson Mountain Subdivisions
Step Back In Time
A great place to visit is Old Tucson Studios. Once an important location for western movies. John Wayne is among the many stars to have made movies there.
Old Tucson Studios are open the year around. This “step back” in time also provides visitors many one time experiences. Stunt shows, gunfights, and musical reviews. Movies are still filmed there.
The Park
The Tucson Mountain Park, established in 1929, is over 20,000 acres. It is one of the largest natural areas owned and managed by a local government.
The park has about 62 miles of shared-use trails. The area is popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. But motorized vehicles are NOT permitted.
The Tucson Mountains offer a range of Tucson hiking trails from flat and easy to very rugged.
Saguaro National Park, founded in 1933, was later designated a national park in 1994.
The Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park rises from 2,180 ft to 4,687 ft. It contains 2 biotic communities. One desert scrub and the other desert grassland.
The average rainfall is just over 10 in per year. Common wildlife includes quail, coyote and desert tortoise.
Trails To Explore
Tumamoc Hill
This easy hike (3.1-mile round trip) up a well-paved hill offers fantastic views of the city. It is also a perfect spot for watching the sunrise and sunset.
Valley View Overlook Trail
An easy family hike (.8-mile round trip) within Saguaro National Park West. Not long and once you reach the ridge there are great views within a 35-mile radius.
Yetman Trail
This moderate (12-mile round trip) hike is in Tucson Mountain Park. The name Yetman Trail spotlights David Yetman. Yetman, an environmentalist, hosts KUAT’s public television series “The Desert Speaks.”
Starr Pass Trail
The Richard Genser Starr Pass Trailhead begins near Starr Pass Resort. It is the primary trailhead access to Tucson Mountain Park. The Rock Wren Trail connects the trailhead to the Tucson Mountain Park Trail System.
King Canyon Trail
A moderate (6.5-mile round trip) trek to the summit of Wasson Peak in the Tucson Mountains. Along the way hikers see a vast selection of desert cacti. Among them are the giant saguaro, prickly pear and barrel cactus. Other desert flora include cholla cactus, ocotillo, along with mesquite, and paloverde trees.
One More Thing – Permits
If you are new to hiking these trails you may want to get a map or hiking guide. Most hiking/camping storres with have them.
Another option is to contact local hiking groups. Summit Hut and Southern Arizona Hiking Club are good places to start.
Conclusion
The Tucson Mountains are a majestic backdrop on the west side of Tucson, AZ. Homeowners living in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains have stunning views of the City and eastern ranges.
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