“a true Sonoran desert showcase!”
Taking its name from one of the longest living trees in the Arizona desert, the 129,000-acre Ironwood Forest National Monument is a true Sonoran Desert showcase. Keeping company with the ironwood trees are mesquite, palo verde, creosote, and saguaro, blanketing the monument floor beneath rugged mountain ranges named Silver Bell, Waterman and Sawtooth. In between, desert valleys lay quietly to complete the setting. Elevations here range from 1,800 to more than 4,200 feet. Three areas within the monument, the Los Robles Archeological District, the Mission of Santa Ana del Chiquiburitac and the Cocoraque Butte Archeological District, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ragged Top Mountain is the biological and geological crown jewel of the national monument. Several endangered and threatened species live here, including the Nichols turk’s head cactus and the lesser long-nosed bat. The national monument also contains habitat for the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl. The desert bighorn sheep dwelling in the region are the last viable population indigenous to the Tucson basin. The area holds abundant rock art sites and other archaeological objects of scientific interest. Humans have inhabited the area for more than 5,000 years. More than 200 sites from the prehistoric Hohokam period (600 A.D. to 1440 A.D.) have been recorded in the area. In more modern times, the area was a source of minerals and continues to support active mining operations today.
Very poor access without 4-wheel drive. Not worth the rough road in my opinion. We came to a water pool on the road that appeared to be uncrossable, but found another route around. All in all, the time trying to figure out how to get a road out of there was stealing time from the enjoyment of the desert and cactus beauty.
A very beautiful and peaceful drive through the desert. The road was washboard-y, but still nice to get out in the stark scenery of the Sonoran desert. I loved the towering Saguaro cactus. Navigating the roads wasn't too tough, but there was one point where I had to cross through a deep (1 foot) body of water. Water levels may vary, so def get out and check it before driving across it.
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Ironwood Forest National Monument
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Wheelchair Accessible
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