Pajarito Mountains (Arizona)

Pajarito Mountains
Looking west towards the Pajarito Mountains from Nogales, Arizona. The international border between the U.S. and Mexico crosses the mountains.
Highest point
PeakPajarito Peak
Elevation4,629[1] ft (1,411 m)
Coordinates31°21′05″N 111°05′58″W / 31.35149°N 111.09954°W / 31.35149; -111.09954
Dimensions
Length6 mi (9.7 km) N-S
Width12 mi (19 km) E-W
Geography
Pajarito Mountains is located in Arizona
Pajarito Mountains
Pajarito Mountains
Pajarito Mountains in Arizona
CountryUnited States, Mexico
StatesArizona and Sonora
RegionsTumacacori Highlands and Sonoran Desert
DistrictSanta Cruz County, Arizona
Borders onAtascosa Mountains, Peña Blanca Lake, U.S.-Mexico border and Sierra La Esmeralda

The Pajarito Mountains is a small mountain range of western Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States,[1] that extend south into Sonora, Mexico. The range is adjacent the Atascosa Mountains at its north, with both ranges in the center of a north-south sequence of ranges called the Tumacacori Highlands. The Highlands have the Tumacacori Mountains at the north, and south of the U.S.-Mexico border, the Sierra La Esmeralda range (the Emerald Mountains). The Tumacacori Highlands are part of a regional conservancy study of "travel corridors" for cats, called Cuatro Gatos, Four Cats,[2] for mountain lions, ocelot, bobcat, and jaguar.

The lower elevation Cerro Colorado Mountains to the northwest, and the San Luis Mountains, west are also part of the Highlands region. At the west of the Pajaritos and adjacent to the San Luis range, and Cobre Ridge peaks, is the Pajarita Wilderness. East of the Highlands is the Santa Cruz River Valley corridor.

  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pajarito Mountains
  2. ^ Arizona Highways Magazine, Emerald Isle, p 40-43.