Sierra Chivato

One of the more obscure Sky Islands, located just southeast of where the Santa Cruz River makes a u-turn to head back north. It is a fairly dry range and is generally monotonous and composed of a scrubby and short-statured woodland of oak and juniper with large areas of oak savannah in the lower zones. There are substantial amounts of grass and grasslands on this range.

Unlike many Sonoran Sky Islands, the Sierra Chivato has large numbers of pinyon pine (Pinus cembroides var discolor), especially in the higher elevations. Alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana), many of decent size, are also prevalent.

It is a granitic range and there are large boulder fields in some areas. There are not a lot of large drainages. Arroyo Los Alisos on the east flank has native fish and sections of permanent water.