Overview
Chiricahua National Monument was formed twenty-seven million years ago when an eruption from the nearby Turkey Creek Caldera spewed thick, white-hot ash that cooled and hardened into rhyolite tuff. Through years of erosion of volcanic material, the dark rhyolite towers that populate the national monument emerged.
The Chiricaha Apaches called the rhyolite hoodoos that make up Chircahua National Monument the “standing up rocks.” From the 1400s to 1886, the Chokonen, one of four major bands of the Chiricahua Apaches lived in and around the Chiricahua Mountains. Known as fierce warriors, they were a largely nomadic band that fended off colonization by Spanish explorers in the 1500s. In the early 1800s, Mexican independence and an influx of western settlers presented more challenges. By the late 1800s, Cochise and Geronimo engaged in a protracted war with the United States, until eventually surrendering and being relocated to Oklahoma in 1886.
Swedish immigrants Neil and Emma Erickson began operations at Faraway Ranch on what is today the edge of the national monument in 1888. During the 1920s, their daughter Lillian and her husband Ed Riggs turned the ranch into a guest ranch, built trails, and led guests on horseback through the “Wonderland of Rocks.” They lobbied for the area to come under federal protection. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge used the Antiquities Act to create the national monument. Faraway Ranch became part of the national monument when the last of Neil and Emma Erickson’s children passed away.
In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps arrived and built the incredible Echo Canyon Trail along with many other improvements. More recently, efforts to elevate the national monument to national park status in 2022 and 2023 failed in Congress – but this national monument is no less spectacular as a result.
Bonita Canyon Drive
Leaving from the visitors center, Bonita Canyon Drive climbs eight miles of curves and switchbacks to Massai Point at an elevation of 6,870 feet. The drive has some pull outs that overlook rhyolite pinnacles.
Echo Canyon Loop
The Echo Canyon Loop may be the most popular hike in the park. To complete the loop, hikers use the Echo Canyon Trail, the Hailstone Trail, and the Ed Riggs Trail. The Echo Canyon Trail begins at the Echo Canyon Picnic area. As it descends into the canyon, it passes by a series of balanced rocks and pinnacles. We hiked the loop with our one year old daughter in a front facing carrier. She squealed with joy for the unique rock formations.
At about .5 miles in, the trail reaches the Grottos, an interesting set of cave-like formations that are fun to explore. Descending further into the canyon, hikers pass through another fun formation known as Wall Street before reaching Echo Park. We enjoyed the peaceful solitude in Echo Park before starting on Hailstone.
The Hailstone Trail is mostly flat with nice views of the surrounding pinnacles and intriguing desert plants.
It leads to the Ed Riggs Trail which gradually climbs 400 feet back to the Echo Canyon Picnic Area. The entire loops is 3.3 miles. Hiking through these unique rock formations was our favorite part of our visit to Chiricahua!
Sugarloaf Mountain Trail
We also hiked the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail. It is 1.8 miles round trip and rated as moderate. It begins at the Sugarloaf Mountain Picnic Area and gradually climbs to the top of Sugarloaf, one of the highest points in the national monument at 7,310 feet. The trial offers nice views down into the canyon below, and can be a nice alternative if the Echo Canyon parking area is full.
Massai Point
Named for Massai, an Apache warrior from Geronimo’s band, it is located at the end of Bonita Canyon Drive. There is short, self-guided nature trail that provides information about the formation of the monument’s rhyolite pinnacles and the unique plants and animals who call the monument home.
Visiting nearby Saguaro National Park, check out our blog post for more information.
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