Top Desert Parks: Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona

Ironwood Forest National Monument is a relatively little-known section of the Sonoran Desert, managed by the BLM rather than the NPS, and so largely lacking any visitor facilities. Like much of southern Arizona, most of the land consists of wide plains separated by isolated mountain ranges, all home to abundant cacti, and other hardy plants including the desert ironwood after which the park is named. The preserve extends for about 30 miles across the desert northwest of Tucson, between Interstate 10 and the Tohono O'Odham Reservation, and in common with several similar places, offers many opportunities for backcountry exploration and primitive camping.

Ironwood Forest: details