Things to do / Travel Guide
Southern Arizona is home to the state's two largest cities: Phoenix, which sits at the northern end of the region and Tucson, located near the region's south-eastern corner. In between Phoenix and Tucson is the expansive Gila River Indian Reservation.
To the north of the region, half a state away, is the majestic Grand Canyon, while roads heading due south will take you across the border to Mexico. Head east and you're in the middle of Apache country and the rugged White Mountains of eastern Arizona. To the west of the region's other large Indian reservation, the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, is the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, which marks the region's southwestern border.
Although the rapid growth of Phoenix and Tucson have made Arizona the second fastest growing state in the United States (after Nevada), southern Arizona is still best known for its dramatic, craggy mountains and magnificent desert landscape.
Phoenix, or the “Valley of the Sun,” as it's commonly called, is surrounded by mountains, including the landmark Camelback Mountain to the northeast, the South Mountains to (you guessed it) the south, the Sierra Estrellas and the White Tank Mountains to the west, and the Superstition Mountains to the east.
Tucson is encircled by five minor mountain ranges: the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Tortolita Mountains to the north, the Santa Rita Mountains to the south, the Rincon Mountains to the east, and the Tucson Mountains to the west. The Santa Catalina Mountains can boast of the southernmost ski destination in the continental United States: Mount Lemmon (9,157 feet).
Of course the region wouldn't be very inhabitable if there weren't any rivers. Phoenix is located near the Salt River, which, despite its name, has been providing fresh water for farming since the Hohokam Indians built their irrigation system some 2,300 years ago. The Hohokams also established farming settlements around the town that would one day be called Tucson, which is located near the Santa Cruz River.
If you're outside of the big cities you're probably in Indian Reservation country. South of Phoenix is the Gila River Indian Reservation, which has a population of about 14,000. The Tohono O'odham tribe, whose main reservation is west of Tucson, numbers about 25,000 people. On these reservations, the Native American population strives to create a balance between living in the modern world and retaining their ancient traditions. Southern Arizona is also scattered with national parks and forests including Saguaro National Park, Ironwood Forest National Monument, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
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