Ajo Mountain Drive Stop 10

Moonrise over the double arches

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Mile 8.7 [km 14] along the Ajo Mountain Drive

Stop 10

The Cooler Climate of Canyon Country

The Ajo Mountains receive more rain than any other part of the monument and have cooler summer weather. Reflecting the high country climate, the jojoba bush and the evergreen scrub community is restricted to the rocky outcrops, boulder slopes and deep canyons of the Ajo range.

The high country plant communities support the elusive bighorn sheep and white tail deer that inhabit this area. Their hooves have adapted to allow them to cling to rocky slopes and steep ravines. The mountain environment is especially attractive to turkey vultures, eagles and ravens that nest in the canyons and ride the air currents that canyons provide. Caves and rock shelters within the canyon walls are also great roosting places for bats. The lesser long-nosed bats, which have already been mentioned, especially like to roost in the cool shaded canyons during the heat of a summer day.

Just up the road is the Arch Canyon trailhead parking. There are picnic tables and signs describing the geology of arch formation here in the monument, as well as a two-mile round trip trail that leads hikers into the foothills of the high country. The parking area is also a great place to pull over for scenic views of the arches – there are two visible, if you look closely.