Molino Canyon is a steep-sided, boulder-strewn canyon in the

Santa Catalina Mountains The Santa Catalina Mountains, commonly referred to as the Catalina Mountains or the Catalinas, are north and northeast of Tucson in Arizona, United States, on Tucson's north perimeter. The mountain range is the most prominent in the Tucson area, w ...

northeast of

Tucson, Arizona , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...

, next to the Molino Basin Campground. The canyon is located within the

Coronado National Forest The Coronado National Forest is a United States National Forest that includes an area of about 1.78 million acres (7,200 km2) spread throughout mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. It is located in parts of ...

, and encompasses a wide variety of flora and fauna, ranging from lush pine forest in the canyon's upper reaches to

Sonoran Desert The Sonoran Desert ( es, Desierto de Sonora) is a desert in North America and ecoregion that covers the northwestern Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur, as well as part of the southwestern United States (in Ariz ...

cactus forest in the lower reaches. Catalina Highway was cut into the western side of the lower part of the canyon. At the bottom of Molino Canyon is Molino Creek, a seasonal stream that flows southwest over large granite outcroppings, forming a series of small waterfalls and pools. Stream-flow is greatest in the spring, as the winter snow melts, and during the monsoon season. The banks of the creek are lined with

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...

, cottonwood and

Arizona sycamore ''Platanus wrightii'', the Arizona sycamore, is a sycamore tree native to Arizona and New Mexico with its range extending south into the Mexican states of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa.Laferriere, J.E. Platanaceae, "Sycamore or Plane Tree Fam ...

trees. The Molino Canyon Vista is located along Catalina Highway in the transition zone between Sonoran Desert cactus forest and oak-studded grassland, one mile south of the Molino Basin Campground, and provides foot access to Molino Creek. Molino Canyon Vista Sign Arizona 2014.JPG, A sign at the Molino Canyon Vista Molino Canyon From Vista Santa Catalina Mountains Arizona 2014.JPG, View of Molino Canyon from the Molino Canyon Vista Molino Creek Santa Catalina Mountains Arizona 2014.JPG, A water pool and a small waterfall along Molino Creek

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* – * – {{authority control Canyons and gorges of Arizona Santa Catalina Mountains Coronado National Forest Rivers of Pima County, Arizona Protected areas of Pima County, Arizona Geography of Tucson, Arizona Landmarks in Tucson, Arizona Tourist attractions in Tucson, Arizona Rivers of Arizona

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