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About Gates Pass
About Gates Pass
Ask anyone in Tucson where to see the sunset, and almost all of them will say Gates Pass. It is a popular spot to watch the sunset, and for good reason. It is nothing short of breathtakingly beautiful. Gates Pass provides a cliff-side view of the sun as it sets behinds the mountains, with a vast desert terrain laid out below. The overlook is located in the Tucson Mountain Park, right off of Gates Pass Road. Gates Pass Road was built in the 1880s by Thomas Gates. Gates was a local Tucson rancher, miner, and pioneer who built the road himself after the goverment denied his request to create a shortcut through the Tucson Mountains so he could get to work faster. At the overlook, there are short trails and rocks to climb to get a higher view up the cliff, although there are small stone huts and a large gazebo for those who cannot or do not want to climb or hike. I recommend getting to Gates Pass early, as it a popular spot (especially on weekends), to take time to explore and chose a good sunset spot! Gates Pass is a personal favorite of mine, and is a place that my friends and I often find ourselves at!
Image: (DPReview, 2019)
Wildlife
The wildlife in the Tucson Mountains where Gates pass is located is also a fun part of the sunset experience. The Tucson Mountains are rich with wildlife, due to factors like geographical location, elevational range and habitat diversity. The monsoon rains, and warm winters also help the plants and animals that live there thrive. There are two biotic communities in the Tucson Mountains, desert scrub and desert grasslands. If you are lucky enough, you may spot animals like the coyote or desert tortoise.
Coyote
Coyote
Coyotes, with a similar look to medium sized dogs, have a long and bushy black-tipped tail, pointy ears, and a long and pointy snout. Their fur is light brown or gray. They typically hunt in packs, and are extremely adaptable to new environments. In the Tucson Mountains, they eat cactus fruit, mesquite beans, flowers, insects, rodents, lizards, rabbits, birds, and snakes. They live for about 10-15 years, and are preyed upon by bears, wolves, and mountain lions.
Image: (Gonzales, 2020)
Desert Tortoise
Desert Tortoise
The desert tortoise has a high domed shell and elephantine legs that are heavily scaled in the front. These tortoises burrow to escape the extreme desert heat, and can go for long periods of time without water or food. They are typically found in rocky canyons and on hillsides. To survive they feed on grasses, herbs, flowers, cacti and their fruits, and dry forage. They typically live for about 35-40 years.
Image: (Wilson)
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