Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument is on the west side of the Chiricahua Mountains about 35 miles south east of Wilcox Arizona and is completely different geologically from the eastside where we stayed earlier. If you have not been here you really should plan a trip. It is an incredible, bucket list worthy place.

For the most part in this blog post we will just show you some of the features that can be easily seen from the road that goes through the canyon. There are many other fascinating formations if you take any one of the many hiking trails that extend within the monument. You can also do an Internet search for Chiricahua National Monument and look at the myriad of fascinating images that are found there. This post is merely a weak introduction at best. You need to get here to see this.

This the entry into the the monument. The main rock formations shown here are in the canyon that is found further up the road.

This information is from the National Park Service web site - https://www.nps.gov/chir/learn/nature/geologicformations.htm

By far the most noticeable natural features in the park are the rhyolite rock pinnacles for which the monument was created to protect. Rising sometimes hundreds of feet into the air, many of these pinnacles are balancing on a small base, seemingly ready to topple over at any time.

The next few images will show some of the variety of formation that can be seen here.

In the parking lot by the Visitor Center is this sign and the start of the trail network. We understand that there are over 17 miles of trails through these gorgeous rocks.

Here is the start of the trail system. Many years ago we hiked several trails in this place. On this occasion, we were only on a day trip and did not have any time to explore further. We will be back.

We couldn't get by without any birds, could we? This is a Mexican Jay. It used to be called a Gray-breasted Jay. We saw them initially on a look through the small campground. This particular Jay appeared to have a cache of seeds on the opposite side of the small branch. He would reach over and come up with a seed, reach down again and another seed. Jays are well documented as caching food sources, remembering where they are, and then going back to eat them.

In this part of Arizona there is not much snow. Certainly not enough to make a snowman and have it last for a while. There is snow on the higher elevations of the Chiricahua but we are down at a much lower elevation. Near the entry to Chiricahua National Monument, the local cattle ranchers made this ingenious group of snow people and accompanying decorations to wish us all a Merry Christmas. Very well done.

Hope you get a chance to come the Chiricahuas, spend some time here, and enjoy this place. It is truly awesome.