Mount Graham is the highest peak in southeastern Arizona’s Pinaleño Mountains. Located within the Coronado National Forest, Mount Graham rises to an elevation of 10,724 feet (3,269 m) and dominates the skyline. The mountain and its surrounding area are home to a diverse landscape rich in natural and cultural history. From its pine-forested slopes to its summit above the tree line, Mount Graham offers plenty of mysteries and curiosities for the curious mind to ponder.
In this article, we will explore 55 riddles centered around Mount Graham and provide the answers to unravel its many secrets. Some riddles will test your knowledge of Mount Graham’s geography and natural features, while others focus on the history and legends surrounding this unique mountain. A few may even require some creative thinking or lateral logic to solve! Each riddle provides a fun way to learn something new about Mount Graham and the amazing diversity found within its sky island ecosystem.
So put on your thinking cap and get ready to be challenged and entertained by these 55 riddles about Mount Graham, Arizona!
The Riddles
Riddle 1
I am the highest point you can reach within the Pinaleño range. Many trees grow upon my slopes, but none can survive at my peak. What am I?
Answer: Mount Graham
Riddle 2
I am a rare species of squirrel found only in the Pinaleño Mountains. With tufted ears and a white belly, I am specially adapted to my high elevation forest home. What am I?
Answer: Mount Graham red squirrel
Riddle 3
We are Arizona’s southernmost glacier, hidden in the shadows of Mount Graham’s summit. Though small, we persist by accumulating new ice each winter. What are we?
Answer: Mount Graham glaciers
Riddle 4
I am the last wild population of this elk subspecies in the United States. I was reintroduced to the Pinaleño Mountains in the 1990s after being eliminated from Arizona decades before. What am I?
Answer: Rocky Mountain elk
Riddle 5
I am one of the rarest bat species in North America, named for the leaf-like flap of skin on my nose. I roost in Mount Graham’s forests during the summer. What am I?
Answer: Lesser long-nosed bat
Riddle 6
One of Mount Graham’s most famous residents, I operate a collection of some of the world’s most advanced telescopes from the mountain’s summit. What am I?
Answer: Mount Graham International Observatory
Riddle 7
I am the rarest flycatcher in the United States, with fewer than 100 breeding pairs left. My native habitat is Mount Graham’s oak and pine forests. What am I?
Answer: Mexican spotted owl
Riddle 8
I am a rodent measuring up to 2 feet long with a bushy tail. I am mostly nocturnal and make my home in burrows amongst boulders and trees. What am I?
Answer: Mount Graham red squirrel
Riddle 9
I am a species of sparrow named for the distinct markings on my crown. I breed predominantly in the higher elevation coniferous forests of mountain ranges like the Pinaleños. What am I?
Answer: Brown-capped rosy finch
Riddle 10
We only occur above 9,000 feet in Arizona’s Sky Islands, including the summit forests of Mount Graham. With our yellow tapered bills, black caps, and bright plumage, we add a pop of color to the subalpine landscape. What are we?
Answer: Red-faced warbler
Riddle 11
I am North America’s heaviest flying bird and one of the largest owls on the continent. With distinctive ear tufts and brown streaking, I make my home in the mixed conifer forests of the Pinaleños. What am I?
Answer: Great horned owl
Riddle 12
Named for the cinnamon coloring of my underwings, I am a falcon that can achieve speeds of over 200 mph in flight. I nest on cliff ledges and hunt birds across Mount Graham’s slopes. What am I?
Answer: Peregrine falcon
Riddle 13
With yellow eyes and brown fur, I am Mount Graham’s largest carnivore. I hunt under the cover of darkness and use the mountain’s rocky terrain for den sites. What am I?
Answer: Mountain lion
Riddle 14
I am Arizona’s state mammal, recognizable by my forked antlers. I forage for plants across Mount Graham’s mountain meadows and forests. What am I?
Answer: White-tailed deer
Riddle 15
I am a rodent with big ears, large hind feet, and a long tail. My nocturnal rock piles and burrows provide shelter during the day. What am I?
Answer: Ringtail
Riddle 16
With red fur and a bushy white-tipped tail, I am the smallest canine in North America. I use hollow logs and rocky dens for shelter in the Pinaleño woodlands. What am I?
Answer: Gray fox
Riddle 17
Spanning over two billion years, I am one of the oldest exposed rock formations in North America. I form the base of Mount Graham and the central Pinaleño range. What am I?
Answer: Pinal schist
Riddle 18
Born of volcanic eruptions 30-40 million years ago, I consist of ash flow tuff and andesite lava. I form the upper slopes and peak of Mount Graham. What am I?
Answer: Galiuro Volcanics
Riddle 19
Named for an ore once mined in the region, I am an evergreen tree with scaly brown bark. My twisted form and ability to withstand harsh conditions make me a dominant tree near Mount Graham’s summit. What am I?
Answer: Bristlecone pine
Riddle 20
I am a species of oak known for my dark green leathery leaves with three lobes. I produce plenty of acorns, an important food for wildlife in the Pinaleño woodlands. What am I?
Answer: Emory oak
Riddle 21
One of the major forest types in the Pinaleños, I am characterized by evergreen trees like Douglas fir and southwestern white pine. I cover much of the middle elevations of Mount Graham. What am I?
Answer: Mixed conifer forest
Riddle 22
Named for 19th century naturalists, my subalpine meadows dot the heights of Mount Graham and other Arizona Sky Islands. Bright wildflowers bloom here in summer. What am I?
Answer: Merriam’s alpine tundra
Riddle 23
I am North America’s southernmost body of water of my kind. Formed within the crater of a volcano, I can be found at high elevations in the Pinaleños. What am I?
Answer: Alpine lake
Riddle 24
Carved over millennia by water and ice, my steep and narrow walls were an obstacle for early explorers of Mount Graham’s heights. What am I?
Answer: Canyon
Riddle 25
Born of snowmelt and rainfall, we begin as small streams before combining into a creek plunging over 2,000 feet off Mount Graham’s slopes. What are we?
Answer: Graham Falls
Riddle 26
I am a natural cave carved into limestone cliffs by dissolving water. My entrance located near the summit provides shelter at high elevation. What am I?
Answer: Ice Cave
Riddle 27
Located on Mount Graham’s west side, I am a sharp rock projection where Apache warriors once ambushed the U.S. Cavalry in the 1870s. What am I?
Answer: Rifle Sight Notch
Riddle 28
Built in the early 1930s, I am a stone shelter standing at 10,200 feet elevation. I provided refuge for the Civilian Conservation Corps as they worked on the mountain. What am I?
Answer: Heliograph Peak Lookout
Riddle 29
I am a flat area carved into granite cliffs, once used by the Apache to grind acorns into meal. Numerous examples can be found on boulders near Mount Graham. What am I?
Answer: Bedrock mortar
Riddle 30
I am the remains of this Native American culture’s settlements and hilltop lookouts found throughout the Pinaleños. Housing, food storage, and fortifications were built of stone and timber. What was I?
Answer: Mogollon ruins
Riddle 31
Perched at 10,724 feet, I am the tallest building on Mount Graham and all of southern Arizona. I am home to some of the world’s most powerful telescopes. What am I?
Answer: Large Binocular Telescope
Riddle 32
Built in the 1950s and still operating today, this rotating restaurant offers panoramic mountain views from the heights of Mount Graham. What is its name?
Answer: High Point Restaurant
Riddle 33
Winding up the mountain’s east slope, I am the scenic byway and only paved road accessing the peak. I provide views of the Pinaleño high country. What am I?
Answer: Swift Trail Parkway
Riddle 34
I am the recreational pastime of sliding down snowy slopes on a board or sled. My steep trails can be found near Mount Graham’s summit after heavy snowfalls. What am I?
Answer: Skiing
Riddle 35
During summer, I am the pursuit of walking through forests and meadows to encounter wildlife and mountain scenery. Well-marked trails allow me on Mount Graham. What am I?
Answer: Hiking
Riddle 36
In this popular autumn activity, I am the seeking of antlers shed by elk, deer, and other animals. Permits are required for those who wish to try me on the mountain. What am I?
Answer: Shed hunting
Riddle 37
This recreational activity involves following tracks and signs to observe wildlife in their natural habitats. Between elk, deer, bears and birds, I provide plenty of opportunities on Mount Graham’s slopes. What am I?
Answer: Wildlife watching
Riddle 38
I am a permit required to access and camp overnight in Coronado National Forest lands, including wilderness areas around Mount Graham. What am I?
Answer: Recreation pass
Riddle 39
We are the spring months from May to June when melting snow unleashes Mount Graham’s waterfalls and wildflowers bloom across its mountain slopes. What are we?
Answer: Runoff season
Riddle 40
I am the regional Native American tribe associated with the Pinaleño Mountains going back over 5,000 years. My members still visit Mount Graham today for spiritual pilgrimages. Who am I?
Answer: San Carlos Apache Tribe
Riddle 41
I am the name early Spanish explorers gave to Mount Graham. I reference the pine trees covering its slopes. What am I?
Answer: Sierra de los Pinos
Riddle 42
I was the first American explorer who thoroughly documented Mount Graham and its surrounding region in the 1840s. I share my name with the state’s longest river. Who am I?
Answer: Lt. Amiel Whipple
Riddle 43
I was the legendary frontiersman and fur trader who guided the Mormon Battalion on an expedition through Arizona that brought the first non-natives to Mount Graham’s summit in 1846. Who am I?
Answer: Kit Carson
Riddle 44
In 1881, I was the fort established at the base of Mount Graham to subdue Native American resistance in the area. I was named for a U.S. general. What was I called?
Answer: Fort Grant
Riddle 45
Built in the 1920s, I was the first true summit road accessing Mount Graham’s peak. I allowed automobile travel but proved unsuitable for heavy construction equipment. What was I named?
Answer: Red Squirrel Trail
Riddle 46
Authorized in 1900 by President Theodore Roosevelt, I protected Mount Graham and over 300,000 acres of public lands from unrestricted logging, mining, and grazing. What am I?
Answer: Mount Graham Forest Reserve
Riddle 47
Designated in 1933, I banned all hunting on Mount Graham to protect its unique wildlife. I was the first such refuge established at a state level. What am I?
Answer: Mount Graham Game Refuge
Riddle 48
In 1989, I provided federal wilderness protection to nearly 60,000 acres of Mount Graham and surrounding landscape. What am I?
Answer: Mount Graham Wilderness Area
Riddle 49
I am over 3,000 acres spanning five distinct ecosystems from desert scrub to alpine tundra. In 2018, UNESCO designated me as an International Biosphere Reserve. What am I?
Answer: Mount Graham Biosphere Reserve
Riddle 50
We are the sister Sky Island peaks visible from Mount Graham’s summit on clear days. Our names mean “Black Mountain” and “Big Mountain” in Spanish. What are we?
Answer: Mount Baldy and Escudilla Mountain
Riddle 51
I am the major city located 50 miles northwest of Mount Graham. Settled in the 1870s, today I am the county seat of Graham County. What is my name?
Answer: Safford
Riddle 52
Flowing north from the Pinaleños, I am the river that passes through Mount Graham’s eastern foothills. I merge with the Gila River near Safford. What am I called?
Answer: San Carlos River
Riddle 53
Located 20 miles south, I am the small mountain community and popular recreation hub for hiking, fishing and camping in Mount Graham’s shadow. What am I?
Answer: Pinetop-Lakeside
Riddle 54
Built in the 1870s, I am the historic ranch and museum found at the base of Mount Graham. My name recalls a food staple of Apache and settlers. What am I called?
Answer: Wheatfields Ranch
Riddle 55
I am the major highway linking Safford to Mount Graham via a scenic route through the foothills. Part of historic US Route 666, sections of me are still signed that way! What am I?
Answer: US Route 191
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this collection of 55 riddles exploring the many intriguing aspects of Mount Graham, Arizona! From wildlife and geology to history and landmarks, these brain teasers help uncover some of the wonders that make this Sky Island mountain unique. Learning about places through interactive puzzles and games makes education fun for all ages. Let these Mount Graham riddles spark your curiosity to go explore this natural gem for yourself someday!
