Whetstone Mountains Explained

Whetstone Mountains
Country:United States
Subdivision1:Arizona
Subdivision2 Type:Region
Subdivision2:Northwestern Chihuahuan Desert
Settlement Type:Municipalities
Range Coordinates:31.8115°N -110.4187°W
Length Mi:14
Length Orientation:N-S
Width Mi:9
Width Orientation:E-W
Highest:Apache Peak
Elevation Ft:7711

The Whetstone Mountains is a mountain range in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona.[1]

Geography

The range is located south of Interstate 10, between the Santa Rita Mountains to the west, and the Dragoon Mountains to the east. Higher elevations of the major ranges in the region are in the Madrean Sky Islands ecoregion, with sky island habitats.

Located within the Coronado National Forest, the Whetstone Mountains are in its Sierra Vista Recreation Area, with access via hiking trails.[2]

Kartchner Caverns State Park is in the eastern foothills of the Whetstone Mountains, on Arizona State Route 90. The trailhead for the Foothills Loop Trail is in the park.

Peaks

Peaks in the range include:

History

At Iron Springs, within the Whetstones is where Wyatt Earp fought in a gunfight during the Earp Vendetta Ride, 1882.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Bulletin – United States Geological SurveyBy Geological Survey (U.S.) Published by The Survey., 1909 Item notes: no. 380 Original from Harvard University
  2. http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=74398&actid=50 Coronado National Forest: Sierra Vista Recreation Area