It’s a preserve of rugged rock summits, bounding bighorn sheep and some of the longest-living trees in the Sonoran Desert — but many Tucsonans have never been there even though it lies just northwest of the city.
The preserve is Ironwood Forest National Monument, and a “Meet the Monument” event Saturday could provide an excellent introduction to the scenic site.
The free event, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., is organized by the Friends of Ironwood Forest Group. Activities will include:
- Guided hikes
- Walkabouts to explore the natural history of the area and learn about nature photography
- Talks on bighorn sheep, cacti, archaeology of the area, and Tohono O’odham culture and traditions as related to the ironwood forest
“It’s a beautiful place — a 129,000-acre national monument in Tucson’s back yard,” said Gary Borax, a member of the Friends of Ironwood Forest. The event “is a way to let more people know about it.
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“The ironwood trees are so pretty, especially when you’re looking down on them from Ragged Top,” a prominent summit in the monument, Borax said. “And there’s a pretty good chance of seeing a bighorn sheep out there.”
Getting a closeup look at ironwood trees is, in itself, a good reason for visiting the monument.
The trees can live as long as 800 years — and even longer according to some estimates. They are a pleasing sight any time of the year, but they are especially striking when they bloom in the spring.
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