Tucson, Arizona Sabino Canyon

Over one million visitors a year head to this desert oasis, some to explore the scenic trails, others to view the wildlife, some to ride the trolleys, and still others to enjoy or study the unusual, rich, diverse, fauna, flora, and geology. Visitors to the canyon are treated to panoramic views that only 12 million years of Mother Nature's efforts can create. These stunning geological sights, along with the abundance of wildlife and indigenous flora, draw many Tucsonans for their daily morning and evening walks. No matter whether you’re a visitor to the Tucson area, or one of its residents, Sabino Canyon is an exciting and worthwhile destination that offers something different every day.

The four mountain ranges that encircle Tucson are the Santa Rita Mountains in the south; the Rincons to the east; the Tucson Mountains on the west; and the Santa Catalina Mountains to the north. Located on the south side of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Sabino Canyon enjoys protection from the north winds, but sits in the watershed of its natural protector. At one time, some of the waters of the canyon were held back and contained by a small dam built in the lower canyon. The dam created a small desert lake that was enjoyed by Tucsonans for many years, but has since been filled in for the most part, and now supports a varied, important myriad plants and animals with a small, picturesque pond.

The "size" of mountains and valleys is an interesting topic, and one which deserves brief mention herein. Mountains and valleys can cover a relatively small area (footprint) but have a very large land mass. You can see this easily with a piece of standard sized paper: 8.5" x 11" in size. If you place the piece of paper flat on the table and do the math, you'll find that it has 93.5 square inches of surface area, and covers the same amount of space with is footprint. Now, fold the piece of paper in half width-wise (making it 8.5" x 5.5"). Now stand it back on the table and look at the tiny footprint it now consumes, and yet it still has the same surface area. If your paper 'tent' is 1" wide where it touches the table, then its footprint has dropped from 93.5 square inches to 8.5 square inches, and yet the surface area has not changed. This shows how it works with mountains. Turn the paper upside down and you see the same effect occurs on valleys.

Gold mines, Rattlesnake Creek, Apache Trail, bridges of natural rock, and a dam that would have turned the majestic canyon into a lake are all part of the canyon's intriguing past – and alluring present. Sabino Canyon has been attracting visitors to its grandeur since the 1800's, and every year it only gets better. Of course people have been going to the canyon since as long ago as 12,000 - 15,000 years, when the Clovis hunters found water, game, and refuge there. And a mere 8,000 years ago the Cochise enjoyed Sabino's hospitality and facilities. When you visit the canyon, you'll no doubt leave your tracks over those of the many people who have walked and ridden there for hundreds of generations.

One of the apparent anomalies of the canyon is the holes in the walls that create the visible relief. These holes are actually easily explained, as a result of evolving geological processes and techniques, and the high level of interest shown in the area by professional geologists, and University of Arizona Geology Department students. In 1892 a Colonel Sykes, along with some cohorts, staked out their claim to some gold mines at the mouth of the Rattlesnake Creek. Their consortium, later named the Sabino Gold Mining Company, ultimately grew to a holding of ten mines. The mines never yielded much gold, and so the group finally dissipated, but the starts of the mines are still clearly visible – and no doubt these tunnels now provide safe haven for a variety of wildlife– large and small.

:: :: :: Next Page >>