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About the Overlook
About the Overlook
The Javelina Rocks Overlook is the third stop along the scenic 8 mile Cactus Forest Loop Drive in Rincon Mountains of the Saguaro National Park- East. This is a fantastic spot to pull over and stretch your legs, with narrow dirt trails and rocks to climb! It is perfect for people of all ages, with places for children to climb and run around, and stunning, scenic views for a more mature audience. The Rincon Mountain District is open through sunset, and the Javelina Rocks Overlook is one of the best locations to see a spectacular sunset in Tucson. There are small paved parking lots, but they fill up quickly, especially in the spring and summers. I reccomend arriving early before the sunset to get a parking spot and then climbing to the top of the rocks and trails beforehand. If you drive a little farther down the Cactus Forest Loop you'll find the the Javelina Picnic Area. From the picnic area begins the trailhead for the Tanque Verde Trail, which is a popular hike in Tucson and also worth checking out if you have some extra time beforehand.
Image: (Shelter, 2021)
Wildlife
A plethora of wildlife can be found in the Rincon Mountain District of the Saguaro East. This national park was created to protect the unique wildlife that can be found there, and it was even named after the Saguaro cactus. Altough the Rincon Mountan District is in the desert, there is much more to it than just sand and cacti! The Rincon Mountain District elevation goes as high as 8,666 feet, which allows for six biotic communties, including desert scrub, desert grassland, oak woodland, pine-oak woodland, pine forest, and mixed conifer forest. Some of the animals that live here include the black bear, Mexican spotted owl, Arizona mountain king snake, white-tailed deer, and javelina. The Javelina Rocks Overlook is composed of an ancient granite called the Catalina Gneiss, which is something to look out for while you visit!
Mylonitic Gneiss
Mylonitic Gneiss
This is a rock that can be found in the Saguaro East, and along the Tanque Verde Trail. The Rincon Mountain Range is part of a metamorphic core complex. This is why the rocks of the mountain range stretch and the mineral constituents of the mylonitized metamorphic gneiss are deformed.
Image: (Arizona Geological Survery)
Javelina
Javelina
Javelinas, although they look like wild pigs, are actually a part of the "peccary" family originating in South America. They have gray, black, and brown hair and tend to exist in herds. They are more active at night, and while they have a sharp sense of smell, their eyesight is lacking. They are mostly accustomed to humans, and will ignore you, but may defend themsleves with their long tusks if threatened.
Image: (Ballou)
Saguaro Cactus
Saguaro Cactus
The Saguaro Cactus is only found in the Sonoran Desert. They are tall, large, tree-like plants, that grow arms as they age (although some never grow any arms at all). These cacti can live for 150-200 years, although water and temperature are massive growth factors for them.
Image: (National Park Service)
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