Santa Rita Mountains
| Santa Rita Mountains | ||
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 View of the Santa Rita Mountains from Mount Hopkins Road |
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| Highest peak | Mount Wrightson ( 2881 m ) | |
| location | Arizona (USA) | |
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| Coordinates | 31 ° 43 ′ N , 110 ° 53 ′ W | |
The Santa Rita Mountains are a mountain range 40 miles southeast of Tucson , Arizona that is part of the Coronado National Forest . Its highest point is Mount Wrightson with a height of 2881 meters, the highest point in the Tucson area.
In these mountains lies the Madera Canyon ( 31 ° 43 ′ N , 110 ° 53 ′ W ), which is a bird breeding area and resting place for migratory birds. In the nearby, on Mount Hopkins , which is Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution .
The Santa Rita Mountains are located in Santa Cruz County above the Santa Cruz River. The area is sparsely populated. The largest town is Patagonia (approx. 900 inhabitants) on Sonoita Creek. This is also where Patagonia Lake State Park is located .