Ragged Top | |
Elevation Ft: | 3907 |
Elevation Ref: | [1] |
Prominence Ft: | 1347 |
Isolation Mi: | 2.40 |
Isolation Ref: | [2] |
Parent Peak: | Silver Bell Benchmark |
Map: | Arizona#USA |
Map Size: | 230 |
Label Position: | bottom |
Location: | Ironwood Forest National Monument Pima County, Arizona, U.S. |
Range: | Silver Bell Mountains |
Coordinates: | 32.4495°N -111.4901°W |
Coordinates Ref: | [3] |
Topo: | USGS Silver Bell East |
Type: | volcanic plug[4] |
Rock: | Rhyolite |
Age: | Cretaceous to Tertiary |
Easiest Route: | scrambling |
Ragged Top is a 3907adj=midNaNadj=mid mountain summit located within Ironwood Forest National Monument, in Pima County of southern Arizona.[3] It is situated 35 miles northwest of Tucson, in the Silver Bell Mountains, where it rises over 1700feet above the surrounding terrain as a landmark of the area. Ragged Top is the biological and geological crown jewel of the monument for sightseeing and wildlife viewing, such as the Desert bighorn sheep and the desert tortoise. Ragged Top contains the greatest richness of species within the Sonoran Desert, including 401 plant species.[5] Cathestecum erectum (common name false grama) is only found on Ragged Top in the state of Arizona. Saguaro and ironwood forests cover the bajadas surrounding this mountain. This geographical feature lies within the Gila River drainage basin. Four small arches are located on this mountain.[6]
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Ragged Top is located in a hot arid climate zone.[7]