Growler Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Growler Mountains is a 23-mile, (37-km) long north-south trending mountain range
of far western Pima County
, Arizona that lies 12 miles (19 km) west of Ajo, Arizona
. This desert region of southern Arizona lies in the north and central Sonoran Desert
, and is one of the drier desert areas of North America.
The highest peak of the Granite Mountains is Unnamed at 3294 feet (1,004 m) and is located in the south; Growler Peak is located at the north end of the range at 3029 feet (923 m).
The Growler Range has the distinction of being on a water divide
between two northwest-draining washes to the Gila River
. The Growler's are at the headwaters of Growler Valley
west of the range which is the southeast drainage to the San Cristobal Wash
. The north end of the range is south and southwest of Childs Valley
which is part of the Tenmile Wash
Drainage. The two drainages are at the beginning of the Gila River's turn from going south-to-west and exiting southwest Arizona with its confluence with the Colorado River
at Yuma
, Arizona-Winterhaven
, California.
; the south end of the range abuts the northern perimeter of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
, famous for scenery, and wildflower
s in wet winters, and also the Organ Pipe Cactus
. The center of the range is 12 miles west of Ajo, Arizona and State Route 85, and the northern end of the range lies about 40 miles (64 km) south of Sentinel, Arizona on Interstate 8 by unimproved dirt road. Summer conditions of high temperature and no water make dirt road travel dangerous at the height of summer.
The Growler Mountains are located at 32.2428-N, 113.0279-W.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
of far western Pima County
Pima County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.3% White*3.5% Black*3.3% Native American*2.6% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.7% Two or more races*12.4% Other races*34.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Arizona that lies 12 miles (19 km) west of Ajo, Arizona
Ajo, Arizona
Ajo is a census-designated place in Pima County, Arizona, United States. The population was 3,705 at the 2000 census. Ajo is located on State Route 85 just from the Mexican border. It is the closest community to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument....
. This desert region of southern Arizona lies in the north and central Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
, and is one of the drier desert areas of North America.
The highest peak of the Granite Mountains is Unnamed at 3294 feet (1,004 m) and is located in the south; Growler Peak is located at the north end of the range at 3029 feet (923 m).
The Growler Range has the distinction of being on a water divide
Water divide
A drainage divide, water divide, divide or watershed is the line separating neighbouring drainage basins...
between two northwest-draining washes to the Gila River
Gila River
The Gila River is a tributary of the Colorado River, 650 miles long, in the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona.-Description:...
. The Growler's are at the headwaters of Growler Valley
Growler Valley
The Growler Valley is a valley of south-central Arizona west of Ajo, Arizona.Growler Valley is a 65-mile long valley paralleling the Growler Mountains on the east-, and the Granite Mountains on the west....
west of the range which is the southeast drainage to the San Cristobal Wash
San Cristobal Wash
The San Cristobal Wash is an ephemeral wash and watercourse of the San Cristobal Valley, flowing north into the Gila River Valley of the southwestern desert region of Arizona...
. The north end of the range is south and southwest of Childs Valley
Childs Valley
The Childs Valley is a valley in the Sonoran Desert of south-central Arizona west of Ajo. Upstream sections are located in far western Pima County; downstream it merges into the Gila River Valley in southwestern Maricopa County...
which is part of the Tenmile Wash
Tenmile Wash
Tenmile Wash is an ephemeral wash and watercourse about long in the northern Sonoran Desert of south-central Arizona. It forms the eastern drainage of a two drainage system of dry washes into the Gila River Valley; both flow northwesterly, and the western drainage is the San Cristobal Wash...
Drainage. The two drainages are at the beginning of the Gila River's turn from going south-to-west and exiting southwest Arizona with its confluence with the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
at Yuma
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
, Arizona-Winterhaven
Winterhaven, California
Winterhaven is a census-designated place in Imperial County, California. Winterhaven is located east of Pilot Knob, The population was 394 at the 2010 census, down from 529 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'El Centro, California Metropolitan Statistical Area'...
, California.
Location, and points of interest
The Growler Mountains are located in the east end of the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife RefugeCabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge
The Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge is located in the Sonoran Desert in southwestern Arizona in the United States. The refuge, established in 1939 to protect Desert Bighorn Sheep, is located along of the U.S.-Mexico border, and covers 860,010 acres — larger than the land area of the state...
; the south end of the range abuts the northern perimeter of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a U.S. National Monument and UNESCO biosphere reserve located in extreme southern Arizona which shares a border with the Mexican state of Sonora. The park is the only place in the United States where the Organ Pipe Cactus grows wild...
, famous for scenery, and wildflower
Wildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
s in wet winters, and also the Organ Pipe Cactus
Organ Pipe Cactus
The Organ Pipe Cactus is a species of cactus native to Mexico and the United States. The species is found in rocky desert. Two subspecies are recognized based on their distribution and height. The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is named for the species.It is locally known as pitahaya dulce,...
. The center of the range is 12 miles west of Ajo, Arizona and State Route 85, and the northern end of the range lies about 40 miles (64 km) south of Sentinel, Arizona on Interstate 8 by unimproved dirt road. Summer conditions of high temperature and no water make dirt road travel dangerous at the height of summer.
The Growler Mountains are located at 32.2428-N, 113.0279-W.