Chiricahua National Monument: Worthwhile Travel
Posted in National Park, Scenery, Southwest, Travel | By Shelley Gillespie | Tags: Desert, Hiking, Southwest, Travel
If you’re looking for a challenging hiking experience that promises – and delivers on – scenery, a visit to Chiricahua National Monument is in order.
Entering Chiricahua after driving through miles of open and desolate desert (about an hour south of Willcox, Arizona), you arrive at the visitors center. After all of that driving, you begin to wonder why you made the drive…and then you get into the park a bit and it’s like you’re in another world!
The wow factor is definitely there as you are stunned by the hoodoos, rock formations that thrust upward with varying thicknesses. Are you in Bryce Canyon? (See our Bryce entry on April 28.) No, but close, and without the crowds.
Hoodoos
Formed many millions of years ago from volcano eruptions and eroded over time to form eye-catching scenery, Chiricahua is an underappreciated gem in the National Park System.
Nestled in the southeastern corner of Arizona, Chiricahua National Monument is a rugged park that can work on a limited basis for those in wheelchairs, but be prepared for limited, but satisfying, options.
The Park Rangers are helpful and offer maps and information, but don’t expect food and any services except for restrooms. Pay the admission fee, examine the exhibits and use the rest facilities. Bring what you need.
With a short time to visit, drive to the end of the 8-mile scenic drive to Massai Point, a natural, open amphitheater that provides views from every direction. (Beyond the paved area, the walks are not handicap accessible.)
Amphitheater
On the way to Massai, driving around a bend, cliffs surprise travelers. Erosion and weather have created an amazing amphitheater which changes as travelers turn every corner.
If staying in the vicinity of Massai, several interesting “photo-ops” are available. A photogenic twisted tree near the top of the path from Massai Point and a balancing rock provide memorable photos.
Twisted tree in Chiricahua
Balancing rock
With more time to explore, plan a hike. Allow several hours or more. Bring what you need as there are no amenities on the trail. Except for a rustic restroom at Massai Point, there are no services along the trails.
You can begin a hike right from the visitor center or from the Massai Point area. Allow lots of time and start early. We found out the hard way that, without enough time, we almost wound up trying to finish our hike in the dark. We kept pushing ahead to see more amazing scenery and didn’t plan our time well.
Mostly, enjoy the amazing views. It takes an effort to get to Chiricahua, but once you’re there, you realize it was worth it!
Note: Elevations of over 9,000 feet should alert those with respiratory concerns to be prepared. The Park Service warns to be aware of snakes.
Resources
National Park Service information on Chiricahua National Monument.