Skip to content

Tumamoc Desert Laboratory

Tumamoc Desert Laboratory from directly overhead

Tumamoc Desert Laboratory is a nature reserve in Arizona, at a modelled elevation of 809 m. Cathedral Rock stands 2,426 m to the northeast, 15 miles off. The nearest named place is Tumamoc Hill, a peak 0.5 miles away. Sky Island Scenic Byway passes 16 miles off.

What to expect

Operated by
University of Arizona

How to reach it

Coordinates32.22008, -111.00321

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
  • Tumamoc Hill: 0.5 mi
  • Sentinel Peak: 0.9 mi
  • Tolson Peak: 1.6 mi
  • Enchanted Peak: 2.1 mi
  • Bactrian Summit: 2.6 mi
Parks
Nature reserves
  • Sentinel Peak Park: 0.9 mi
  • Tumamoc Hill: 0.9 mi
  • Painted Hills Natural Resource Park: 1.3 mi
  • Linear Park: 1.5 mi
  • West Branch Santa Cruz: 1.7 mi
Springs
  • Finger Rock Spring: 10.6 mi
  • Pima Spring: 13.0 mi
  • Rancho Fundoshi Spring: 13.4 mi
  • Rock Ledge Spring: 14.0 mi
  • Barrel Spring: 14.2 mi
Artworks: 56
Gardens: 54
  • El Rio Community Garden: 1.0 mi
  • Mission Garden: 1.0 mi
  • Desert Survivors: 1.3 mi
  • Alene Dunlap Smith Garden: 1.6 mi
  • Sonoran Landscape Laboratory: 3.1 mi
Attractions: 47
  • The big "A": 0.9 mi
  • Snob Hollow: 1.6 mi
  • La Pilita Mural: 1.7 mi
  • Community Mural: 1.7 mi
  • Tucson Presidio: 1.8 mi
Museums: 24
Historic sites: 23
Picnic sites: 10
Waterfalls: 7
Cliffs: 6
  • Honey Bee Canyon: 16.3 mi
  • Jailhouse Rock: 18.0 mi
  • Mr Meanor Wall: 18.0 mi
  • Alcatraz: 18.1 mi
  • Sun Spot: 20.1 mi

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 18.5 miles of Tumamoc Desert Laboratory. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Cathedral RockNE 39°2,425.64 m14.8 mi
Window PeakNE 39°2,277 m13.8 mi
Mount KimballNNE 34°2,213.56 m13.1 mi
Little KimballNE 36°2,171 m12.8 mi
Gorp PeakNE 36°2,037 m12.3 mi
Rattlesnake PeakNE 48°2,030.51 m15.1 mi
Prominent PointNNE 32°2,017.75 m11.8 mi
Finger GuardNNE 32°1,972.4 m11.9 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox06:2918:0418:36
June solstice05:1918:5819:34
September equinox06:1317:5018:22
December solstice07:2216:4717:24

Local time (America/Phoenix).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: Oct–May.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F535662687685888783726153
Precip in1.00.90.60.30.20.32.02.01.00.70.61.1

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Tucson U OF A #1, 3 mi away.

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap element way/36857666

More nature reserves in Arizona

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Tumamoc Desert Laboratory.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens