Maricopa and Sand Tank Mts., Arizona
Within Sonoran Desert National Monument
These photos were taken at Sonoran Desert National Monument, a remarkably
pristine patch of BLM land about an hour south of Phoenix. The monument encompasses
the Maricopa Mts., including the South Maricopa Mts. Wilderness where most of these
images were captured. Just south of the Maricopa Mts., and also within Sonoran
Desert National Monument, are the wonderfully wild Sand Tank Mts. All the photos
showing spring wildflowers or the Isanaklesh Peaks are from the Sand Tanks.


A cholla skeleton and saguaro cactus in the South Maricopa Mt. Wilderness at Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona.
  Cholla and saguaro cacti at sunset in the South Maricopa Mt. Wilderness, part of Sonoran Desert National Monument in southern Arizona.   Cholla cactus at sunset in the South Maricopa Mt. Wilderness, part of Sonoran Desert National Monument in southern Arizona.   Mexican Goldpoppies and a saguaro in the spring in the Sand Tank Mts., Arizona.  

  A cholla skeleton and saguaro cactus in the South Maricopa Mt. Wilderness at Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona.   A cholla skeleton and saguaro cactus in the South Maricopa Mt. Wilderness at Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona.   A cholla skeleton and saguaro cactus in the South Maricopa Mt. Wilderness at Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona.
  A cholla skeleton beneath a living cholla in the Maricopa Mts, Arizona.  

  A saguaro beneath the Isanaklesh Peaks in the Sand Tank Mts., Arizona.     Cholla beneath the Isanaklesh Peaks in the Sand Tank Mts., Arizona.    

        Cholla and saguaro cacti at sunset in the South Maricopa Mt. Wilderness, part of Sonoran Desert National Monument in southern Arizona.   A cholla skeleton and saguaro cactus in the South Maricopa Mt. Wilderness at Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona.   A live cholla surrounded by a cholla skeleton in the Maricopa Mts, Arizona.   A saguaro in front of a cholla, when photographed as a silhouette, creates the illusion of a hybrid "choguaro".