Santa Rita Mountains
Santa Rita Mountains are a ridge in Arizona rising rapidly from the Santa Cruz River, known for high-elevation trails, desert canyons, and proximity to Tucson and Reed Park.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Southwestern United States |
| Subregion | Sonoran Desert |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Santa Cruz County |
| District | Santa Rita Mountains |
| City | Tucson |
| Timezone | AmericaPhoenix |
| Latitude | 31.6102 |
| Longitude | -110.9277 |
| Maps |
7:15 PM LOCAL TIMESanta Rita Mountains form a prominent east-west barrier south of Tucson and northwest of Nogales, with a range that climbs from desert lowlands to over 9,400 ft at Emory Peak. They are part of the Coronado National Forest and linked to the nearby Madera Canyon and Vail Lake drainage basins. Visitors come for summit hikes, wildlife viewing (including Mexican spotted owl and coatimundi), and to access backcountry camping and trailhead canyon routes. The range is characterized by desert foothills, pine and fir zones at higher elevations, and routes that pass through riparian corridors and open ridge tops. Popular access points include the Oro Valley and Harshaw areas; plan for variable weather, especially rapid shifts between heat and cold and afternoon thunderstorms.
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