Little Rincon Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Little Rincon Mountains are a small range
of mountains, lying to the east of the Rincon Mountains
, at Tucson
, of eastern Pima County, Arizona
. The range is located in northwest Cochise County
and is part of the western border of the San Pedro River
and Valley
, the major valley and river of western Cochise County. The river is northward flowing to meet the Gila River
; its headwaters are south of the US-Mexico border in northern Sonora
. A small part of the Little Rincon range's southwest lies in Pima County
.
. The canyon is named Paige Canyon, and the major peaks of the range lie near its headwaters in the southwest. The peaks from south to north are: San Juan Hill, at 5269 feet (1,606 m), North Star Peak at 6041 feet (1,841 m), Forest Hill, at 6114 feet (1,864 m), Bald Mountain, at 5324 feet (1,623 m), and Wildhorse Mountain.
The highest point of the range is Forest Hill (peak) at 6114 feet (1,864 m). located at 32.1276°N 110.4317°W
, the Little Rincon's lie directly on the course of the San Pedro River, and force an excursion of the river around the mountain range's southeast, east, and northeast flank. To the north the valley narrows between mountain ranges; to the south, the San Pedro River flows mostly due north from the Mexican border, though trends northwesterly. The San Pedro Valley also widens extensively in some locales associated with perimeter mountain ranges, or low hill regions. Various tributary wash
es enter this wider valley region. The largest tributary enters from the southwest, the Babocomari River, from north of the Huachuca Mountains
and south of the Whetstone
's. The Babocomari drains from the Canelo Hills
between the northwest Huachuca's and the eastern, high-elevation Santa Rita Mountains
.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
of mountains, lying to the east of the Rincon Mountains
Rincon Mountains
The Rincon Mountains are a significant mountain range east of Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, in the United States. The Rincon Mountains are one of five mountain ranges surrounding the Tucson valley...
, at Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, of eastern Pima County, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. The range is located in northwest Cochise County
Cochise County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*78.5% White*4.2% Black*1.2% Native American*1.9% Asian*0.3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.0% Two or more races*9.6% Other races*32.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and is part of the western border of the San Pedro River
San Pedro River (Arizona)
San Pedro River is a northward-flowing stream originating about ten miles south of Sierra Vista, Arizona near Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. It is one of only two rivers which flow north from Mexico into the United States. The river flows north through Cochise County, Pima County, Graham County, and...
and Valley
San Pedro Valley (Arizona)
The San Pedro Valley of western Cochise County Arizona is a 50 mile long, mostly north-south valley, trending northwesterly. It drains from Sierra Vista Southeast north towards I-10, Benson, and the southeast of the Rincon Mountains....
, the major valley and river of western Cochise County. The river is northward flowing to meet the Gila River
Gila River
The Gila River is a tributary of the Colorado River, 650 miles long, in the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona.-Description:...
; its headwaters are south of the US-Mexico border in northern Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
. A small part of the Little Rincon range's southwest lies in Pima County
Pima County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.3% White*3.5% Black*3.3% Native American*2.6% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.7% Two or more races*12.4% Other races*34.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
.
Description
The Little Rincon Mountains are a 15 mi long range, that trends southwest to northeast. It is a linear range, about 8 mi wide and is created by a canyon that separates it from the eastern flank of the mostly north-south, central block of the Rincon MountainsRincon Mountains
The Rincon Mountains are a significant mountain range east of Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, in the United States. The Rincon Mountains are one of five mountain ranges surrounding the Tucson valley...
. The canyon is named Paige Canyon, and the major peaks of the range lie near its headwaters in the southwest. The peaks from south to north are: San Juan Hill, at 5269 feet (1,606 m), North Star Peak at 6041 feet (1,841 m), Forest Hill, at 6114 feet (1,864 m), Bald Mountain, at 5324 feet (1,623 m), and Wildhorse Mountain.
The highest point of the range is Forest Hill (peak) at 6114 feet (1,864 m). located at 32.1276°N 110.4317°W
San Pedro Valley
In the San Pedro ValleySan Pedro Valley (Arizona)
The San Pedro Valley of western Cochise County Arizona is a 50 mile long, mostly north-south valley, trending northwesterly. It drains from Sierra Vista Southeast north towards I-10, Benson, and the southeast of the Rincon Mountains....
, the Little Rincon's lie directly on the course of the San Pedro River, and force an excursion of the river around the mountain range's southeast, east, and northeast flank. To the north the valley narrows between mountain ranges; to the south, the San Pedro River flows mostly due north from the Mexican border, though trends northwesterly. The San Pedro Valley also widens extensively in some locales associated with perimeter mountain ranges, or low hill regions. Various tributary wash
Arroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
es enter this wider valley region. The largest tributary enters from the southwest, the Babocomari River, from north of the Huachuca Mountains
Huachuca Mountains
The Huachuca Mountain range is part of the Sierra Vista Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest. The Huachuca Mountains are located in Cochise County, Arizona approximately south-southeast of Tucson and southwest of the city of Sierra Vista, Arizona...
and south of the Whetstone
Whetstone Mountains
The Whetstone Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Arizona. Major ranges in the region are part of sky island ranges called the Madrean Sky Islands. Part of the Coronado National Forest, the range is one of the least accessible areas...
's. The Babocomari drains from the Canelo Hills
Canelo Hills
The Canelo Hills Cienega Reserve, is a nature preserve southeast of Sonoita, Arizona on the east side of the Canelo Hills. The area's are a mix of rare cienega wetland and Black Oak and Arizona Fescue fields. The preserve is notable for the extremely rare Canelo Ladies Tresses Orchid and the...
between the northwest Huachuca's and the eastern, high-elevation Santa Rita Mountains
Santa Rita Mountains
The Santa Rita Mountains, located about 65 km southeast of Tucson, Arizona, extend 42 km from north to south, then trending southeast. They merge again southeastwards into the Patagonia Mountains, trending northwest by southeast...
.