Chiricahua National Monument covers a 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, since the monument is quite remote and access is difficult - although it is close to interstate 10 there is no direct route south and the main approach is from the west, 40 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 (the Pinery Canyon road) across the Chiricahua Mountains, linking the monument with New Mexico to the east but this is closed during the winter and is 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.
Maps: PDF format maps of Chiricahua National Monument, from the National Park Service:
 Overview area map (688 kb)
Detail map (372 kb)
Hotels: The nearest major towns with hotels close to Chiricahua National Monument are Willcox (34 miles), Tombstone (73 miles) and Benson (74 miles) - follow the links for descriptions and reservations..
Scenic Drive: The Chiricahua National Monument occupies an area only 5 by 6 miles. A winding 8 mile scenic drive climbs steadily from the entrance, past the visitor center to Massai Point (elevation 6,870 feet) where several trails branch off, descending into canyons and towards the main rock formations, which are not visible from the road. On the way, the scenic drive follows the course of a stream along Bonita Canyon for most of the route and passes picnic places, a campsite and various geological features most notably the Organ Pipe formation. This is a sloping cliff face, weathered into many rocky columns. The cliffs behind the campsite 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: The most striking rock formations are in the Heart of Rocks, an area reached by several quite strenuous hikes starting at the end of the scenic drive. One route passes along Echo Canyon - this has some rocky areas but also plenty of shady trees. The path descends almost 1,000 feet over 2.7 miles and into Rhyolite Canyon where the track divides. One branch follows this canyon eastwards for 1.5 miles, rejoining the main road at the visitor center and close to the campground. A daily shuttle bus service runs between the center and Massai Point and so allows hikers to return by walking downhill along this route. The other branch of the trail climbs, often steeply, 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.
Rocks: The formations at Chiricahua are similar in size and shape to those of
Bryce Canyon and
Cedar Breaks in Utah, although without as much color - the rocks are mainly grey but often with a covering of green lichen. A one mile circular route winds through some of the most impressive groups which include several examples of balanced rocks - boulders perched precariously on top of much thinner supporting columns. This area has good climbing and scrambling opportunities. The main trail continues and returns to the scenic drive by a shorter alternative route, one that is only 3 miles long and with less elevation change.
Wildlife: 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. The only animals of interest I saw were a hooded skunk (at the campsite, eating some chicken I was about to cook) and a large Yarrow's spiny lizard, both relatively rare.
History: During the 1860's and 1870's, 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.
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Chiricahua National Monument - Similar Places
Bryce Canyon, Utah - rocky pinnacles and spires, in many shades of brown, pink and orange
Sedona, Arizona - more colorful weathered rocks, covering a large area with a similar mixture of desert and mountain vegetation |
Selected Chiricahua books,
from amazon.com
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