Whetstone Mountains

The Whetstone Mountains is a mountain range in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona.

Whetstone Mountains
Highest point
Peak	Apache Peak
Elevation	7,711 ft (2,350 m)
Dimensions
Length	14 mi (23 km) N-S
Width	9 mi (14 km) E-W
Geography
Country	United States
State	Arizona
Region	Northwestern Chihuahuan Desert
Municipalities	Benson and Sierra Vista
Range coordinates	31°48′41″N 110°25′07″W
Borders on	San Pedro River, San Pedro Valley, I-10, Mule Mountains and Huachuca Mountains

Geography

Whetstone Mountains

The range is located south of Interstate 10, between the Santa Rita Mountains to the west, and the Dragoon Mountains to the east. Higher elevations of the major ranges in the region are in the Madrean Sky Islands ecoregion, with sky island habitats.

Located within the Coronado National Forest, the Whetstone Mountains are in its Sierra Vista Recreation Area, with access via hiking trails.

Kartchner Caverns State Park is in the eastern foothills of the Whetstone Mountains, on Arizona State Route 90. The trailhead for the Foothills Loop Trail is in the park.

Foothills Loop Trail in the Whetstone Mountains foothills

Peaks

Peaks in the range include:

• Apache Peak, 7711 ft
• French Peak, 7675 ft;
• Granite Peak, 7420 ft — southern section.
• Cottonwood Peak, 7100 ft — northeast section.
• East Peak, at 6681 ft — eastern section.

History

Across the Whetstone Mountains

At Iron Springs, within the Whetstones is where Wyatt Earp fought in a gunfight during the Earp Vendetta Ride, 1882.

External links

• Visual overview Saguaro Juniper Corp.