This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The home is currently under renovation, but the grounds are available for self-guided visits. I tried to go underneath as often as I could, preferring not to touch or put any weight on these massive logs. After a mile, the trail came to a spring and remnants of an old pump station. Check out our basemaps. Prominence: 661 feet There is one stretch of this, once you climb out of the canyon and traverse along the first big switchback, that is back into old forest like you expect from Southern Arizona's island ranges. Chiricahua Peak is the highest peak of the range, but not that obvious from down below. Discover 2,831 listings of land for sale, 1 - 10 acres, under $25K. For example, the I wasn't keen on battling this for another five miles, so I abandoned the hike and returned to my truck. I have climbed the peak twice, in 2000 by myself, and again in 2003. Chiricahua Mountains Trails ranging from short nature walks to long loops are available, intermingling with the amazing spires.The mountains are named after the Chiricahua Apache Indians that lived in the area. The day was clear and brilliant, with 200-mile views in some directions, or five-foot views into the trees. AZ P1K I went in February after a month-long dry spell and encountered just patches of snow and ice near the top. The exit took 90 minutes, and our hike had required just 4 hours. The story begins in the earliest days of European settlement in Arizona the late 17th century, when Spanish missionaries from Mexico and Santa Fe began to push into the Sonoran Desert, then a. I was back home just in time to catch The Simpsons on TV. Hike a combined 5 mi / 8 km in the park and earn a commemorative pin from a park ranger. Time: 1 hour Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 3 min to complete. Chiricahua National Monument. Date: November 9, 2003 Cochise himself died in 1874. Leave US-191 at AZ-181 and proceed due east through Sunizona. The quadrangle is located about 70 km southeast of Willcox, Ariz. Trees down everywhere, trail is washed out in a few places. Like my first time here, the top is wooded and blocks most views. Second Visit, November 2003: and I planned to hike another Arizona county highpoint while the weather state-wide remained mild. We chose to approach the peak via the Crest Trail, with Rustler Park as our first choice but also keeping our options open depending on road conditions and other factors. I met with a couple of hikers at Point 8,700, the only people I saw the whole day on the route. Crossing these obstacles was easy at first, but soon, especially on the final approach heading south of the saddle to the peak, the quantity of deadfall was enormous. Apache is an Athabaskan (Na-Den) language spoken in central Arizona in the USA. I was back home just in time to catch The Simpsons on TV. I hiked a mile in soft snow, but the snow was up to my hips. This is a 14.6 mile loop hike with 4600 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 7-10 hours to complete. The creek itself had running water down low, fed by springs. We met another group back at my truck at Long Park. The hike down was quick, although the loose rocks were more treacherous as I moved downhill. Download the park's bird checklist for your visit. They had come up the upper Mormon Creek trail and they mentioned there were good views along this route. Two possibilities: Rustler Park (north approach): In Willcox on Interstate-10, take exit 340 south through town and continue south and east on AZ-186 which will lead to the monument. We followed the Crest Trail south, contouring past Flys Peak, coming to a meadow at Round Park, then contoured around smaller peaks before coming to Cima Park ("Park" is used in these cases to refer to saddles along the range crest). [citation needed], The first recorded mining claim in the Chiricahua Mountains was the Hidden Treasure claim filed in 1881, and mining has continued intermittently to the present with the greatest periods of activity occurring in the 1920s and 1950s. Time: 6 hours in 2000, 3 hours in 2003 From Long Park, we followed a mostly-level trail south for two-thirds of a mile to the Crest Trail (Trail 270). The next day we returned to the Monument and did two hikes: a 3.5-mile loop through the Heart of Rocks and its spectacular rock formations, and a 2-mile hike up Sugarloaf Peak. mining, farming, etc. I have climbed the peak twice, in 2000 by myself, and again in 2003. The summit is marked by a benchmark in a boulder situated at the base of a large tree. Numerous peaks above 9,000 feet are found in the range. We met another group back at my truck at Long Park. Chiricahua Peak is easy to climb, with a few possible starting points ranging from half-day hikes to longer overnighters. Teammates: The tallest and most prominent peak is Chiricahua Peak at 9,750 feet (2,972 m) tall with 5,134 feet (1,565 m) of prominence. PB LoJ I didn't have any plans, so I decided to go back to the Chiricahua Range on a whim. Led at first by Chief Cochise (for whom the county is named), and after Cochise's death, by Geronimo, the Apache, numbering just a few hundred, fought vigorously and remained at large until 1886, when Geronimo was captured. The hike down was quick, although the loose rocks were more treacherous as I moved downhill. The trail begins at the end of the Sycamore campsites off a spur from Turkey Creek Road. MM BH Pass . We drove out to our hotel in Willcox the day before, and enjoyed some authentic Mexican food for our pre-hike dinner that night. Another option are the two Mormon Creek routes, which start lower down. Tourism in Southern Africa is synonymous with the wildlife safari. Scrambling through hundreds of trees on their sides is quite difficult, the tangle of logs and branches nearly impenetrable. From our hotel in Willcox, we followed State Route AZ-186 for 35 miles southeast toward the Chiricahua National Monument, then right (south) another 14 miles up the Pinery Canyon Road toward Onion Saddle and Rustler Park (FR-42 and FR-42D). The weather had been mild and I hoped the snow had melted off. Quality of the trail ranged from good to scant. It was so nice, I laid in the bed of my truck and took a catnap for a half-hour before packing up, changing into dry clothes and proceeding home. Arizona They had come up the upper Mormon Creek trail and they mentioned there were good views along this route. Main The NM features thousands of eroded tuff spires and hoodoos, similar (but different in origin) to those you would see in Utah at Bryce Canyon. There are miles of hiking trails amid these fascinating rock formations. Date: November 9, 2003 The trail begins at the end of the Sycamore campsites off a spur from Turkey Creek Road. 10139 E Circlestone Ct, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. From point 8,700, I proceeded south a half-mile to the Chiricahua Saddle, elevation 9,100 feet. Like my first time here, the top is wooded and blocks most views. It is the highest summit in the Chiricahua Mountains and the highest point in Cochise County. (from 20 different species), snow geese, and tundra swans during peak season, in November. Chiricahua Peak is the name of a 9,763 feet (2,976 m) peak located in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, located about 35 miles (56 km) north of the United States-Mexico border. (c) 2000 - 2019 Scott Surgent. I left home at 4:15 a.m. and arrived to the range by 8:00 a.m. A talus field (with no trees) allowed for excellent views all the way down to the desert floor. Scrambling through hundreds of trees on their sides is quite difficult, the tangle of logs and branches nearly impenetrable. Page 149 of 149. We followed the Crest Trail south, contouring past Flys Peak, coming to a meadow at Round Park, then contoured around smaller peaks before coming to Cima Park ("Park" is used in these cases to refer to saddles along the range crest). . We followed the Crest Trail south, contouring past Flys Peak, coming to a meadow at Round Park, then contoured around smaller peaks before coming to Cima Park ("Park" is used in these cases to refer to saddles along the range crest). A not well-maintained trail, not recommended. It was hunting season and we came upon a father and son sitting along the trail, rifles on their laps. View back along the Silver Peak Trail as the trail heads northwest. Encompassing approximately 1,000 square miles, elevations vary from 4,000 feet in the San Simon Valley to 9,796 feet at the summit of Chiricahua Peak. The Chiricahua Mountains dominate southeast Arizona. From Long Park, we followed a mostly-level trail south for two-thirds of a mile to the Crest Trail (Trail 270). Arizona It is flat for a few hundred yards, then swings left, where a sign mentions the distance to the peak as 5 miles. The road segment to Long Park is rough, needing 4-wheel drive, but I took it slow and we arrived at Long Park in cool, clear conditions. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 39 min to complete. Elevation: 7,310 feet News Sports Business Entertainment Lifestyle . This trail is great for hiking and running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. With maps in hand, you have a choice of trailheads. [4][5][6] The Chiricahuas were once known for an abundance of wild turkeys. Browse Map. NOTE: Two lots (same size) 50 &51 down the street are priced at. Parts were nice, parts had downed trees and branches obstructing the way, and all of it was covered under a heavy mat of pine needles, cones and leaves. The mountains and the eponymous highpoint get their name from the Chiricahua band of Apache Indians, who lived and roamed these lands for centuries before becoming part of the United States after the Gadsden Purchase in 1854. A "Wonderland of Rocks" is waiting for you to explore at Chiricahua National Monument. It was hunting season and we came upon a father and son sitting along the trail, rifles on their laps. We chose to approach the peak via the Crest Trail, with Rustler Park as our first choice but also keeping our options open depending on road conditions and other factors. [19], Trees and hoodoos, Chiricahua National Monument. I make my way through the burned forest The Chiricahua Mountains are a large mountain massif located in the southeastern part of the US state of Arizona. Look for an unlocked gate near some FS buildings on the far "left" end of the campground. If I could get us there, our hike would be relatively short. I left home at 4:15 a.m. and arrived to the range by 8:00 a.m. Thankfully, this segment wasn't too long and soon I arrived at the summit, exactly three hours after starting my hike. There are two trails that run parallel along the Mormon Creek drainage. A large fire from a couple years ago had defoliated much of this part of the mountain and the burn scars were still evident. Turn right (south) on AZ 186 and continue for 23 miles. Parts of the trail were completely obscured, but periodic cairns alerted me to the route. Some deadfall to work around as get near top of Mormon canyon trail before turning off to the peak. It was $3 to park at the Rustler Park TH in November 2003, or $10 to camp. Main Phone +1 520-824-3560. The eruption was so massive, it created a literal wall of mountains, where the range crests stay above 9,000 feet for miles at a time, resulting in numerous bumps of nearly equal height. Hot dry exposed the whole way but trail clear. The Apache, of course, wanted no part of this, and for the better part of 30 years, fought a guerrilla-style war against American explorers and settlers in this region. The next day we returned to the Monument and did two hikes: a 3.5-mile loop through the Heart of Rocks and its spectacular rock formations, and a 2-mile hike up Sugarloaf Peak. We spent a little more time here, trying to see things from various points around the summit area. The influx of other indigenous peoples, such as the Chiricahua Apaches, including the leaders Cochise and Geronimo occupied the area until forced removal in the late 19th century. There are two trails that run parallel along the Mormon Creek drainage. The trailhead's elevation is approximately 6,400 feet. View of the Chiricahua Mountains from the Painted Pony Resort in Rodeo, NM. These natural features, preserved in the Chiricahua National Monument, are composed of Rhyolite Canyon Tuff. iv, no. As with the rest of the Chiricahua Mountains, the peak was formed as the result of a violent volcanic . I wasn't keen on battling this for another five miles, so I abandoned the hike and returned to my truck. It is the highest summit in the Chiricahua Mountains and the highest point in Cochise County. Cindy Barks. 12856 E Rhyolite Creek Rd Growing at elevations from around 5000 to over 7000 feet, the habitat transitions from lowland desert scrub to upper elevation pine-fir forests. As you enter the monument from the west, you will drive through grasslands with over 50 species of grasses, as well as many cacti and succulent species of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. Gelemenovo. Of note is that perhaps the last remaining jaguar in the United States is found here, a male named Sombra by wildlife officials. Chiricahua National Monument has a great variety of trees and shrubs. Distance: 11 miles in 2000, 7 miles in 2003 Chiricahua Mountains Chiricahua Peak to Monte Vista Peak Loop is a loop trail that provides a good opportunity to view wildlife located near Elfrida, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. Past the campgrounds and trailheads at Rustler Park, we drove to the guard station buildings and found the gate to a lesser road leading to Long Park. We drove the roads and took a walking tour of Faraway Ranch, the home of the Ericksons, homesteaders whose efforts led to the formation of the Chiricahua National Monument years later. 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