Seeing Mount Wrightson from a plane3 ★
At about 9,450 ft the highest point near Tucson, in the Santa Rita Mountains, next door to the Whipple Observatory domes on Mount Hopkins. Look for a sharp summit rising from desert grassland south of the city.
10 of our routes pass it. Arizona · rated 3 of 10
The easy pick
Dallas-Fort Worth to Tucson: sit on the left, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth to Tucson | Left | on the way down |
| Denver to Tucson | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | on the way down |
| Las Vegas to Guadalajara | Left | 55 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Tucson | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | on the way down |
| Phoenix to Puerto Vallarta | Left | 21 min after takeoff |
| Phoenix to San Jose del Cabo | Left | 22 min after takeoff |
| Phoenix to Guadalajara | Left | 23 min after takeoff |
| Phoenix to Hermosillo | Left | 23 min after takeoff |
| Phoenix to Monterrey | Left | 24 min after takeoff |
| Phoenix to Mazatlan | Left | 25 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day. Where the best seat for the whole flight is on the other side, you'd trade this sight for more elsewhere.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Mount Wrightson from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (8 of 10). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Mount Wrightson from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Tucson Mount Lemmon Chiricahua Peak Mount Turnbull Sonoran Desert Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Denver (DEN) Las Vegas (LAS) Los Angeles (LAX) All routes