The Santa Rita Mountains (O'odham: To:wa Kuswo Doʼag), located about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Tucson, Arizona, extend 26 miles (42 km) from north to south, then trending southeast. They merge again southeastwards into the Patagonia Mountains, trending northwest by southeast. The highest point in the range, and the highest point in the Tucson area, is Mount Wrightson, with an elevation of 9,453 feet (2,881 m), The range contains Madera Canyon, one of the world's premier birding areas. The Smithsonian Institution's Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory is located on Mount Hopkins. The range is one of the Madrean sky islands.
The Santa Rita Mountains are mostly within the Coronado National Forest. Prior to 1908 they were the principal component of Santa Rita National Forest, which was combined with other small forest tracts to form Coronado. Much of the range lies within the Mt. Wrightson Wilderness, managed by the Coronado National Forest. The Santa Rita Mountains were severely burned in July 2005 in the Florida Fire.
On the western side of the northern Santa Rita Mountains, a large cliff face of white marble is visible from the Green Valley and Sahuarita areas. This "white scar" reminded early Spanish missionaries of Saint Rita of Cascia (1381–1457), an Italian nun, who is often depicted with a small wound on her forehead. The mountain range was consequently named after her.[1]
Other mountain ranges surrounding the Tucson valley include the Santa Catalina Mountains, the Rincon Mountains, the Tucson Mountains, and the Tortolita Mountains.
^"White Scar on Western Flank of the Santa Rita Mountains". 8 August 2016.
and 23 Related for: Santa Rita Mountains information
Forest. The SantaRitaMountains were severely burned in July 2005 in the Florida Fire. On the western side of the northern SantaRitaMountains, a large...
The Santa Catalina Mountains, commonly referred to as the Catalina Mountains or the Catalinas, are north and northeast of Tucson in Arizona, United States...
Patagonia Mountains begin near the Mexico border east of Nogales, Arizona. Running north, they are geologically related to the SantaRitaMountains, which...
of Tucson, and the SantaRitaMountains lie to the south. Additionally, the Sierrita Mountains lie due south, the Roskruge Mountains lie to the west across...
Santan Mountains–Pinal County Sand Tank Mountains–Maricopa County Santa Catalina Mountains–Pima County Santa Maria Mountains–Yavapai County SantaRita Mountains–Santa...
from the Santa Catalina Mountains. The Rincon Mountains are generally less rugged than the Santa Catalina Mountains and SantaRitaMountains. The Rincon...
The Santa Ynez Valley (Spanish: Valle de Santa Ynez) is located in Santa Barbara County, California, between the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south and...
The SantaRita Abbey is a monastic community of the Trappistine branch of Cistercian nuns located in Sonoita, Arizona, within the Diocese of Tucson. The...
Mountains is a mountain range in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona. The range is located south of Interstate 10, between the SantaRitaMountains to...
Wrightson (O'odham: Ce:wi Duag) is a 9,456-foot (2,882 m) peak in the SantaRitaMountains within the Coronado National Forest, in southern Arizona, United...
wildfire was mostly contained one week later, it had jumped over the SantaRitaMountains and crossed State Route 83, spreading into the historic Empire Ranch...
flowering plant in the Bixaceae known by the common names SantaRitamountain yellowshow, SantaRita throwup weed, saiya and temaqui. It is native to Sonora...
The SantaRita Experimental Range and Wildlife Area is the longest continuously active rangeland research facility and among the five oldest biological...
mountain ranges surrounding the Tucson Valley include the Santa Catalina Mountains (the area's most prominent), the Rincon Mountains, the SantaRita Mountains...
Bouteloua eludens, colloquially known as SantaRita grama or sometimes SantaRitaMountain grama, is a grass species in the grama genus native to southern...
luster, and is transparent to translucent. It can be found in the SantaRitaMountains, the Christmas Mine at Christmas, Arizona and a few other copper...
The Superstition Mountains (Yavapai: Wi:kchsawa) is a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. They are anchored...
NAVD 88. The summit of Mount Wrightson is the highest point of the SantaRitaMountains. The elevation of Mount Wrightson includes an adjustment of +1.073 m...
Henrickson An ocotillo flower with visible needles Ocotillo forest in the SantaRitaMountains of Arizona Closeup of ocotillo leaves Closeup of ocotillo thorns...
Global Information
