Ironwood Forest National Monument

Ironwood Forest National Monument protects 129,055 acres of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, where ancient desert ironwood trees help sustain a rich desert ecosystem by sheltering plants and supporting insects, birds, and other animals. The area also includes elephant tree and the endangered Nichols turk's head cactus, along with notable wildlife such as desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and a recorded lesser long-nosed bat roost. Its human history stretches from more than 200 Hohokam archaeological sites and early turquoise mining to silver and copper mining that began around 1850. Established in 2000, it is managed for multiple uses while restricting new mining claims and motorized off-road travel.

Arizona · United States