New River Mountains
Encyclopedia
The New River Mountains are a small 14-mi (23 km) long, mountain range
in central Arizona
, and on the north border of the Phoenix
valley; the range is located on the southwest perimeter of the Arizona transition zone
. The range is a sub-part of landforms extending south from the Black Hills
of Yavapai County
. Rivers and canyons border east and west; the south of the range is located in Maricopa County
, the location of much of the Phoenix metropolitan area
.
also flows south to enter the Phoenix valley.
The small sub-range is about 14 mi long. Hills are attached south and southeastwards of the New River Mesa on the mountain range's south, and meet the cities at the north of Phoenix, Cave Creek
and Carefree
. The north of the New River Mountains are attached to two mesas: Squaw Creek Mesa which extends west towards the Black Canyon, and Cooks Mesa which extends east towards West Cedar Mountain. West and East
Cedar Mountain lie on the southwest of Tangle Creek, whose outfall lies on the Verde River, and borders the west of the extensive north-south Mazatzal Wilderness.
The center of the range is located near Benchmark Mountain, 5855 feet (1,785 m), and the highpoint of the range is at the range's north, Squaw Mountain, 5905 feet (1,800 m), located at the east perimeter of Squaw Creek Mesa.
.
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...
in central Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, and on the north border of the Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
valley; the range is located on the southwest perimeter of the Arizona transition zone
Arizona transition zone
The Arizona transition zone, or Transition zone is a diagonal northwest-by-southeast region across central Arizona. The region is a transition from the higher elevation Colorado Plateau to the northeast in Northeast Arizona and the Basin and Range region of southwest and south regions of lower...
. The range is a sub-part of landforms extending south from the Black Hills
Black Hills (Yavapai County)
The Black Hills of Yavapai County are a large mountain range of north-central Arizona in southeast Yavapai County. It is bordered on the northeast, and in the south on the east by the southeast-flowing Verde River in the Verde Valley...
of Yavapai County
Yavapai County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. Rivers and canyons border east and west; the south of the range is located in Maricopa County
Maricopa County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.0% White*5.0% Black*2.1% Native American*3.5% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*12.7% Other races*29.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, the location of much of the Phoenix metropolitan area
Phoenix Metropolitan Area
The Phoenix metropolitan area, often referred to as The Valley of the Sun, is a metropolitan area, centered on the city of Phoenix, that includes much of the central part of the US state of Arizona...
.
Description
The New River Mountains are part of a region extending southwards from the southeast of the Black Hills of central Arizona. The region contains mesas, hills, and mountain peaks; the region is bordered on the west by the Black Canyon, where the Agua Fria River flows south towards Phoenix, and on the east, canyons where the Verde RiverVerde River
The Verde River is the north and northwestern watershed of the Salt River–Verde River Watershed that co-join and enter the Gila River at Phoenix, Arizona, located in the U.S. state of Arizona...
also flows south to enter the Phoenix valley.
The small sub-range is about 14 mi long. Hills are attached south and southeastwards of the New River Mesa on the mountain range's south, and meet the cities at the north of Phoenix, Cave Creek
Cave Creek, Arizona
Cave Creek is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona in the United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 4,951.-Geography:...
and Carefree
Carefree, Arizona
Carefree is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 3,799.-History:...
. The north of the New River Mountains are attached to two mesas: Squaw Creek Mesa which extends west towards the Black Canyon, and Cooks Mesa which extends east towards West Cedar Mountain. West and East
Cedar Mountain lie on the southwest of Tangle Creek, whose outfall lies on the Verde River, and borders the west of the extensive north-south Mazatzal Wilderness.
The center of the range is located near Benchmark Mountain, 5855 feet (1,785 m), and the highpoint of the range is at the range's north, Squaw Mountain, 5905 feet (1,800 m), located at the east perimeter of Squaw Creek Mesa.
Access
The New River Mountains are easily accessed from Interstate 17 which borders the range on the west. The cities on I-17, directly west and southwest of the range are Black Canyon City, Rock Springs, New River, and Desert HillsDesert Hills, Arizona
Desert Hills is a census-designated place in Mohave County, Arizona, United States. The population was 2,183 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Desert Hills is located at ....
.