Chino Valley (Arizona) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chino Valley (Arizona) |
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 Chino Valley (Arizona)
Location in Arizona
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| Length | 70 mi (110 km) NW-SE |
| Width | 10 mi (16 km) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Regions | Arizona transition zone and Coconino Plateau |
| Counties | Yavapai and Coconino |
| Population centers | Chino Valley, AZ, (Paulden) and Seligman |
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The Chino Valley is a big valley in Arizona. It's about 70 miles (113 km) long! You can find it in the northwest part of Yavapai and southwest Coconino counties. This valley sits at the edge of the Coconino Plateau. It's also in a special area of Arizona called the transition zone, where different types of land meet.
A main waterway called Big Chino Wash flows through the middle of the valley. This wash helps feed the Verde River. The Verde River eventually joins the Salt and Gila Rivers near Phoenix. The towns of Chino Valley and Paulden are located at the southern end of this large valley.
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Exploring Chino Valley's Geography
The Chino Valley has a section that runs north-south for about 23 miles (40 km). This part is located north of the town of Seligman. As you move south, the valley leaves the flat areas of the Coconino Plateau. It then starts to curve southeast.
This southern part of the valley is nestled between mountain foothills. To the west and southwest, you'll find these hills. On the northeast side, there's a large flat-topped hill called Big Black Mesa. There's also a steep slope, or escarpment, that borders the lower southern section. Big Chino Wash flows about 4 miles southwest of this escarpment.
Where Does the Valley End?
The very end of the southern section of Chino Valley is at Sullivan Lake. This lake doesn't always have water; it can dry up sometimes. It's also where Big Chino Wash flows into. Sullivan Lake is the starting point of a small canyon section of the Verde River. The town of Paulden is right near Sullivan Lake. It's also in the lower part of the Chino Valley's southern area.
The town of Chino Valley is about 9 miles south of Paulden. It's located at the north and west side of a different valley called Little Chino Valley. Arizona State Route 89 is a main road that goes north and south. It connects Prescott to Ash Fork. This road passes right through both Chino Valley and Paulden. Little Chino Valley is to the east of this road near Chino Valley, Arizona. The road then climbs up into the higher parts of the Coconino Plateau. This happens about 5 miles northeast of Paulden, at the eastern edge of Big Black Mesa.
Plants and Trees in Chino Valley
The valleys and lower mountain slopes in northwest Arizona are often covered with certain types of trees. These include junipers and pinyons. They form a special kind of forest called a pinyon-juniper woodland. This type of forest is a mix of different plant communities.
Types of Trees You Might See
In some parts of Chino Valley, you'll find the Colorado Pinyon pine and the Utah juniper. These trees are often part of the Prescott National Forest. Sometimes, people are allowed to collect juniper trees for firewood. They need a special permit from the government to do this.
