Sulphur Springs Valley
Encyclopedia
The Sulphur Springs Valley is a major valley in the eastern half of Cochise County, Arizona
. The valley covers an approximated vertical rectangle west of the Chiricahua Mountains
–Dos Cabezas Mountains
complex; the Chiricahua's have a valley to the northeast, San Simon Valley
, and to the southeast, the San Bernardino Valley
. The Sulphur Springs Valley is the large flatland to the west.
There is a water divide
separating the north of the valley from the south; the moderate sized endorheic basin, named the Willcox Playa
lies in the north. The south of the valley drains southward into Mexico through Douglas, Arizona
–Agua Prieta
, Sonora
as part of the Yaqui River
drainage. The area in times of plentiful rain, or climactic maximums of rainfall, can turn mountain foothills into grasslands. The region is mostly an arid
part of the northeastern Sonoran Desert
, with influences from the Chihuahuan Desert
just southeast in New Mexico
. The highest mountain areas of this southeast Arizona
section contains Madrean Sky Islands
of mountain sky islands
. Sulphur Springs Valley is one of the largest and driest subsections in this otherwise mountain dotted region.
The south end of the valley also has three small ranges
associated with the southern Chiricahua Mountains, the Swisshelm
, Pedregosa, and Perella Mountains. From north to south at the west of the valley are the Little Dragoon Mountains, the Dragoons
, and the Mule Mountains
.
The mountain ranges have a rich history of cowboys, Native American tribes, and outlaws, with outlaw hideouts in the mountain ranges, or various battle locations.
connecting Douglas, AZ north to Willcox
on Interstate 10
, at the Willcox Playa. Arizona 181
in the east accesses the west and northwest Chiricahua's, including Chiricahua National Monument. It is connected to Arizona 186
which traverses the southeastern footlhills of the Dos Cabezas range.
is active in Cochise County and all of southeast Arizona, especially in the Willcox Playa-(Sandhill Crane
s). The Sky Island Alliance also has conservancy programs associated with the sky island mountains and their fauna and flora.
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:...
. The valley covers an approximated vertical rectangle west of the Chiricahua Mountains
Chiricahua Mountains
The Chiricahua Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Arizona which are part of the Basin and Range province of the southwest, and part of the Coronado National Forest...
–Dos Cabezas Mountains
Dos Cabezas Mountains
The Dos Cabezas Mountains are a mountain range in southeasternmost Arizona, USA. The Dos Cabezas Mountains Wilderness lies east of Willcox, Arizona and south of Bowie, Arizona in Cochise County...
complex; the Chiricahua's have a valley to the northeast, San Simon Valley
San Simon Valley
The San Simon Valley is a broad valley east of the Chiricahua Mountains, in the northeast corner of Cochise County, Arizona and southeastern Graham County, with a small portion near Antelope Pass in Hidalgo County of southwestern New Mexico. The valley trends generally north-south but in its...
, and to the southeast, the San Bernardino Valley
San Bernardino Valley (Arizona)
The San Bernardino Valley of Arizona is a northeast by southwest trending valley in extreme southeast Cochise County, Arizona.The north end of the valley merges into the northwest by southeast trending San Simon Valley; both merge in western Hidaldgo County, New Mexico...
. The Sulphur Springs Valley is the large flatland to the west.
There is a water divide
Water divide
A drainage divide, water divide, divide or watershed is the line separating neighbouring drainage basins...
separating the north of the valley from the south; the moderate sized endorheic basin, named the Willcox Playa
Willcox Playa
The Willcox Playa is a large endorheic dry lake or sink in Cochise County. It is located south of and adjacent to Willcox, Arizona, in the Sonoran Desert ecoregion. It is the remnant of Pleistocene pluvial Lake Cochise...
lies in the north. The south of the valley drains southward into Mexico through Douglas, Arizona
Douglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...
–Agua Prieta
Agua Prieta
Agua Prieta is a pueblo and municipality in the northeastern corner of the Mexican state of Sonora . It stands on the U.S.–Mexico border, adjacent to the town of Douglas, Arizona, USA. The municipality covers an area of 3,631.65 km²...
, 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....
as part of the Yaqui River
Yaqui River
The Yaqui River is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, the Yaqui river is used for irrigation....
drainage. The area in times of plentiful rain, or climactic maximums of rainfall, can turn mountain foothills into grasslands. The region is mostly an arid
Arid
A region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life...
part of the northeastern Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
, with influences from the Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
just southeast in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. The highest mountain areas of this southeast 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...
section contains Madrean Sky Islands
Madrean sky islands
The Madrean Sky Islands are enclaves of Madrean pine-oak woodlands, found at higher elevations in a complex of small mountain ranges in southern and southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico. The sky islands are surrounded at lower elevations by the Sonoran and...
of mountain sky islands
Sky Islands
Sky Islands is a 1993 Jazz album by Ramsey Lewis released on GRP Records.The album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.-Track listing:-Personnel: *Tony Carpenter - Percussion, Background Vocals...
. Sulphur Springs Valley is one of the largest and driest subsections in this otherwise mountain dotted region.
The south end of the valley also has three small ranges
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...
associated with the southern Chiricahua Mountains, the Swisshelm
Swisshelm Mountains
The Swisshelm Mountains are a small mountain range adjacent to the southwest corner of the Chiricahua Mountains of eastern Cochise County, Arizona...
, Pedregosa, and Perella Mountains. From north to south at the west of the valley are the Little Dragoon Mountains, the Dragoons
Dragoon Mountains
Dragoon Mountains are a range of mountains located in Cochise County, Arizona. The range is about 25 mi long, running on an axis extending south-south east through Willcox.- Geography :...
, and the Mule Mountains
Mule Mountains
The Mule Mountains are a north/south running mountain range located in the south-central area of Cochise County, Arizona. The highest peak, Mount Ballard, rises to...
.
The mountain ranges have a rich history of cowboys, Native American tribes, and outlaws, with outlaw hideouts in the mountain ranges, or various battle locations.
Routes
The valley is traversed north-south by U.S. Route 191U.S. Route 191
U.S. Route 191 is a spur of U.S. Route 91 that has two branches. The southern branch runs for 1,465 miles from Douglas, Arizona on the Mexican border to the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. The northern branch runs for 440 miles from the northern part of Yellowstone National Park to...
connecting Douglas, AZ north to Willcox
Willcox, Arizona
Willcox is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,769. Professional wrestler Ted Dibiase lived his formative years in Willcox, as did singer Tanya Tucker.-History:...
on Interstate 10
Interstate 10 in Arizona
In the U.S. state of Arizona, Interstate 10, the major east–west Interstate Highway in the southern United States, runs east from California, enters Arizona and continues through Phoenix and Tucson and exits at the border with New Mexico.-Route description:...
, at the Willcox Playa. Arizona 181
Arizona State Route 181
State Route 181 is a highway in Cochise County, Arizona that runs from its junction with US 191 east of Pearce to the Chiricahua National Monument...
in the east accesses the west and northwest Chiricahua's, including Chiricahua National Monument. It is connected to Arizona 186
Arizona State Route 186
State Route 186 is a highway in Cochise County, Arizona that runs from its junction with Interstate 10 in Willcox to its junction with SR 181 west of the Chiricahua National Monument. It is a northwest-southeast diagonal route....
which traverses the southeastern footlhills of the Dos Cabezas range.
Conservancy
The Southeastern Arizona Bird ObservatorySoutheastern Arizona Bird Observatory
The Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory is a nonprofit membership-supported scientific and educational organization founded in 1996 in Bisbee, Arizona, USA...
is active in Cochise County and all of southeast Arizona, especially in the Willcox Playa-(Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane
The Sandhill Crane is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills in the American Midwest...
s). The Sky Island Alliance also has conservancy programs associated with the sky island mountains and their fauna and flora.
