Highlights:
Eroded volcanic pinnacles and other strange rock formations, with varied plants and unusual wildlife, in the remote southeast corner of Arizona close to the Mexican border. Best explored by hiking, along 15 intersecting trails
Nearby town:
Willcox, 34 miles
Management:
Location:
Seasons:
Open all year. Not excessively hot in summer, and although the mountains may receive snow in winter, the amount is usually low
Rating (1-5):
★★★★★
Weather
Featured Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Willcox
Overlooks undeveloped surroundings on the north side of Willcox, beside the Interstate 10 exit, near a few shops and restaurants. 35 miles from ChiricahuaCheck Rates
Chiricahua National Monument covers a relatively small section of the Chiricahua Mountains in the extreme southeast of Arizona, and contains large expanses of volcanic rocks eroded into dramatic pinnacles and spires, an interesting variety of vegetation and some unusual wildlife species. Not many people visit, however, since the monument is quite remote and access is difficult - although close to Interstate 10 there is no direct route south and the main approach is from the west, 34 miles along AZ 186 from Willcox.
The only other possible paved entrance road is south, from Douglas on the Mexican border. There is one dirt track (Pinery Canyon Road) across the Chiricahua Mountains, linking the monument with New Mexico to the east but this is closed during the winter and in bad condition most of the year. The mountains are particularly susceptible to thunderstorms during the summer months so the area is best visited in spring or autumn.
Some photogenic scenery can be seen along the road, but Chiricahua is one park best explored by hiking, along one of more of the 15 trails, many of which intersect, allowing for various loop trips.
The only other possible paved entrance road is south, from Douglas on the Mexican border. There is one dirt track (Pinery Canyon Road) across the Chiricahua Mountains, linking the monument with New Mexico to the east but this is closed during the winter and in bad condition most of the year. The mountains are particularly susceptible to thunderstorms during the summer months so the area is best visited in spring or autumn.
Some photogenic scenery can be seen along the road, but Chiricahua is one park best explored by hiking, along one of more of the 15 trails, many of which intersect, allowing for various loop trips.
Chiricahua Table of Contents
Location
Map of Chiricahua National Monument.
Photographs
28 general views of Chiricahua National Monument.
Chiricahua Scenic Drive
Chiricahua National Monument occupies a relatively small area, only 5 by 6 miles. A winding, 8 mile scenic drive climbs steadily from the entrance, past the visitor center, campground and several roadside viewpoints to Massai Point (elevation 6,870 feet) where several trails branch off, descending into ravines and towards the main rock formations, which are in general not visible from the road. On the way, the scenic drive follows the course of the stream through Bonita Canyon for most of the route, within sight of various geological features most notably the Organ Pipe formation; a sloping cliff face, weathered into many rocky columns. The cliffs behind the campground are quite easy to climb, and give good views of the Organ Pipes, as well as distant views of the flat desert to the west.
Hiking at Chiricahua
The most striking volcanic pinnacles are in the Heart of Rocks, reached by several moderately strenuous hikes starting at the end of the scenic drive. One trail passes along the rim and later the floor of Echo Canyon, which has many huge boulders and eroded formations including the Grottoes and Wall Street (a straight, narrow passageway), but also plenty of shady trees. A continuation path descends into adjacent Rhyolite Canyon where the route divides; one branch follows the canyon westwards (downstream) for 1.5 miles, rejoining the main road at the visitor center, close to the campground. A daily shuttlebus runs between the center and Massai Point and so allows hikers to return by walking downhill along this route. The other branch of the path (Sarah Deming Trail) climbs steadily for 1.6 miles to the edge of the Heart of Rocks where the vegetation is less dense and huge weathered pillars and spires of rock are visible in all directions. This location is also reachable by a slightly shorter route from Massai Point/Echo Canyon (Ed Riggs, Mushroom Rock and Big Balanced Rock trails), while all places may be seen along the 9.5 mile Big-Loop. Featured trails are listed below.
Volcanic Rocks
| Chiricahua - one of the 20 least visited national monuments in the West |
Plants and Animals of Chiricahua National Monument
Due to the relatively high elevation, the climate in the Chiricahua Mountains is quite different to that of the surrounding deserts. This means that unusual species of plants and animals are present, many of them native to Mexico and not found elsewhere in the USA. In particular, rare species of birds such as the elegant trogon and Mexican chickadee may be seen, also mountain lions, javelinas and ocelots, although it is of course unlikely that the casual visitor will encounter-anything-this-unusual. Plants include species from the Sonoran Desert to the west, the Chihuahuan Desert to the east and the mountains of northern Mexico; there are around 16 species of cactus, three of yucca and two of agave.
History
During the 1860s and 1870s, the Chiricahua Mountains provided a refuge for the Apache tribe who, led by the famous chiefs Cochise and Geronimo, carried out the last major series of attacks on white settlers before finally being defeated in 1886, though their descendants still inhabit the surrounding lands. One well-preserved fortress from this era is the Cochise Stronghold, in the Dragoon Mountains 40 miles west of the Chiricahua Monument.
Featured Trails of Chiricahua National Monument
Big Loop Trail
★★★★★
★★★★★
9.5 miles, 1,800 feet
Circular route through the best scenery in the park, including Echo Canyon, Rhyolite Canyon, Inspiration Point and Heart of Rocks
Natural Bridge Trail
★★★★★
★★★★★
2.4 miles, 400 feet
Lesser-used trail along two wooded canyons and across an open plateau, ending at a viewpoint of a large rhyolite bridge
Silver Spur-Faraway Trail
★★★★★
★★★★★
1.4 miles, 150 feet
Easy path through woodland and meadows, past three historic sites: a ranch, a cabin and a ruin
Sugarloaf Mountain Trail
★★★★★
★★★★★
0.9 miles, 470 feet
This path climbs to a fire lookout tower on a summit between Rhyolite and Bonita canyons, overlooking many miles of the Chiricahua MountainsChiricahua Wildflowers
Chiricahua - Nearby Places
- Coronado National Memorial (80 miles) - mountains near the Mexican border
- Fort Bowie National Historic Site (20 miles) - military outpost used during the 19th century Apache wars
- Tombstone (65 miles) - historic wild west town
Chiricahua - Similar Places
- Bryce Canyon, Utah - rocky pinnacles and spires, in many shades of brown, pink and orange
- Pinnacles National Monument, California - volcanic mountains with eroded formations including spires, cliffs, boulders, ridges and caves
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