Behind Southern Arizona’s Fascinating Sky Islands

Southern Arizona is one of America's most fascinating regions. It's the home of the wild, wild west, housing world famous cities like Tombstone and Bisbee who were known to be the roughest, wildest parts of the frontier.

Southern Arizona is home to another type of wild as well, but this time, we mean natural wild...

What are "Sky Islands"?

While these may sound like something you'd read about in a fantasy novel, Sky Islands are a real thing, and Southeastern Arizona is littered with them. While not technically floating islands, they do earn their unofficial nickname.

Portal, AZ's Jaw Dropping Cave Creek Canyon

Specifically, these are mountains across Southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Northern Mexico that are so tall, they contain multiple different ecosystems, biomes, and habitats that change the higher you go. As such, these peaks are known as "sky islands", as they're a drastically different habitat than what we're used to, so high in the sky.

Want to Dive Into Arizona's Most Fascinating Sky Island? Check Out the History and Geology of Chiricahua National Monument!

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Where are Arizona's Sky Islands?

Arizona is home to dozens of these Sky Island Mountain ranges, and most of them are open for exploration. Tucson's Mt. Lemmon is a perfect example, with the base being covered in mostly arid desert, but the higher you go, you'll find pine covered forests and a much cooler atmosphere than what you've come to expect.

The Alien Landscapes of Willcox's Chiricahua National Monument

Cochise County is full of these, from the alien-looking Chiricahua National Monument, to the stunningly grand Huachuca Mountains. In fact, Cochise County is known as the Sky Island region for its abundance of these ecosystems. If you ever want to experience all the state of Arizona has to offer, come on down for a spell and see these fantastical natural wonders.