Hiking Chiricahua National Monument

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Last Updated on February 20, 2024 by Grant

 I just couldn’t help it. I walked around another bend and the view staggered me. Hiking in Chiricahua National Monument just seemed to do this to us.

“Wow. Just wow.” 

Bonnie was right there with me. We would hike for a few minutes, come around a bend and pull out our phones to take yet another picture. 

There are so many amazing views of the rock formations in Chiricahua National Monument.
There are so many amazing views of the rock formations in Chiricahua National Monument.

“This place is amazing.” 

That’s how we spent a two-hour hike in this out-of-the-way national monument in southeastern Arizona. To be honest, we had originally planned on spending half a day here and the other half at nearby Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Fortunately, Bonnie was reading Dear Bob and Sue, Season Three and decided we needed to spend a full day here. Yes, there is some amazing hiking in Chiricahua National Monument. 

By the time we were leaving, we were already planning on coming back. We want to come back and camp here for a few days to do even more hiking. 

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What is Chiricahua National Monument

Nestled in the Chiricahua Mountains, this park preserves several canyons with incredible rock formations scattered throughout. Formed by past volcanic eruptions, these rocks form a wonderland you can hike through among the pines and firs.

The Chiricahua Mountains are also a “sky island.” The mountains form an island of vegetation and animals surrounded by a sea of desert grass. 

Chiricahua National Monument is called a "Wonderland of Rocks."
A “Wonderland of Rocks.”

The mountains are also a crossroads for four different biological areas: the Sonoran Desert, the Chihuahuan Desert, the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Madre Mountains. This makes for some interesting wildlife present in the park, like black bears, coatimundi, javelina, mountain lions and even the very rare jaguar though it’s been around a hundred years since one was spotted.

Getting to Chiricahua National Monument

You have to want to go to Chiricahua NM. It is located about 37 miles southeast from Willcox, AZ, which is 83 miles east of Tucson, AZ.

The drive there will take you through miles of ranches and not much else. Seriously, other than the hamlet of Dos Cabezas, you will see very little and there are no services, so make sure you gas up and grab some food before you leave Willcox. 

The Chiricahua Mountains in the distance.
The Chiricahua Mountains in the distance.

Still, the drive has a certain appeal if you love wide open spaces like we do. 

What to do in Chiricahua National Monument

On your way into the park, be sure to stop at the Faraway Ranch and walk out to see the ranch and the Stafford Cabin. It’s about a mile round trip along the valley floor, right along Bonita Creek. 

The Faraway Ranch is an old homestead turned into a guest ranch by the Riggs family, who cut trails up into the mountain to take their guests to see the wonderland of rocks. 

The Faraway Ranch served as a guest ranch with tours in the nearby rock formations in Chiricahua National Monument.
The Faraway Ranch served as a guest ranch with tours in the nearby rock formations.

Just past the ranch is the Stafford Cabin, one of the oldest homesteads still standing in southeastern Arizona. The Staffords lived in the cabin for many years until an earthquake damaged the cabin and they sold it to the Riggs to be part of their guest ranch. 

This was an easy walk and a perfect introduction to the park.

The Stafford Cabin is one of the oldest homestead cabins remaining in southeast Arizona.
The Stafford Cabin is one of the oldest homestead cabins remaining in southeast Arizona.

Be sure to stop at the visitor center as you head further into the park. We always like to watch the movie, check out the exhibits and talk to the rangers about the conditions of the park and what to watch out for on our hike.

For most folks, the highlight of the park is the scenic drive. The eight-mile drive ascends to 6,870 feet at Massai Point. The views are staggering along the drive but the top is more than worth the drive.

Sugarloaf Mountain from Massai Point in Chiricahua National Monument.
Sugarloaf Mountain from Massai Point

Massai Point provides a 360-degree panorama of Ryholite Canyon, Echo Canyon and Sarah Demming Canyon. You are able to see the massive collections of rock pinnacles, known by the Chiricahua Apache as the “Land of Standing Up Rocks.”

There are a couple of pullouts on the way back down the drive to view some of the more interestingly shaped rock formations. 

Driving the Bonita Canyon Drive in Chiricahua National Monument with a bit of snow still on it.
Driving the Bonita Canyon Drive with a bit of snow still on it.

Hiking Chiricahua National Monument

For us, the biggest attraction at Chiricahua NM is the trails. You can easily spend two to three days hiking the trails here and not get bored. 

Aside from walking the trail to the Faraway Ranch, we hiked the 3.2-mile Echo Canyon Loop. Normally, the rangers recommend going counter-clockwise on this trail and we can certainly see why. The slope is steeper down than back up going that way and we would recommend that direction.

Bonnie hiking in the snow in Chiricahua National Monument.
Bonnie hiking in the snow.

That said, snow fell a couple of days earlier in Chiricahua NM and snow and ice covered the trail. So, the rangers recommended going the opposite direction to avoid slipping in the steep parts and we followed that recommendation. 

We followed the gentle downhill of the Ed Riggs Trail through a forest of pine trees framing the pinnacles all around us. As we turned onto the Hailstone Trail, the view opened up to a grand view of the Rhyolite Canyon. 

The Hailstone Trail as it winds through Rhyolite Canyon in Chiricahua National Monument.
The Hailstone Trail as it winds through Rhyolite Canyon.

Pro Tip: If hiking in the snow/cold, make sure you dress in layers here. While we were chilly at the trailhead, by the time we got here, we shed our coats. Further along, when we hit the shade again, we put our layers back on.

Check out our 10 essentials for hiking here | Read more about hiking in the winter here

We stopped so many times to take pictures. Honestly, the best views always seemed to be behind us, definitely reinforcing the normal recommendation to hike the trail in the counter-clockwise direction. 

It was time for a snack, so we stopped for a moment at the intersection of the Hailstone Trail and the Echo Canyon Trail and just admired the view. We could see the Lower Rhyolite Canyon Trail making its way down to the visitor center in the distance. 

There's nothing like a tasty trail beer for admiring the view in Chiricahua National Monument.
There’s nothing like a tasty trail beer for admiring the view.

That’s the moment we decided on coming back. We want to catch a ride on the park’s free hiker shuttle back up to the trailhead and hike all the way down to the visitor center. The views are simply that gorgeous. 

We started up the Echo Canyon Trail and immediately found ourselves immersed in the tight Echo Park, with plenty of trees and Bonita Creek trickling through the ice. As we made our way up to the trailhead, we ascended 450 feet in 1.6 miles, which had us huffing but the views more than made up for the steepness. As we got closer to the top, the trail started winding through slots in the rocks, essentially winding through the pinnacles, making for some great views and framing. 

Bonnie hiking the gap.
Bonnie hiking the gap.

We noticed a lot of thick ice among rocks. Knowing my ability to find a slick spot to slip and fall (like Arches NP in December 2015 and Custer State Park in January 2019), the ranger’s advice rang true. 

Still, I want to do the hike again during the spring and see it the “right way,” not to mention the other hikes in the park!

Fort Bowie National Historic Site

Not far from Chiricahua NM is Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Started in 1862 following the Battle of Apache Pass, the Army built the fort to protect the Butterfield Overland Mail route through this essential pass. 

What makes this pass so important was Apache Spring, a constant source of fresh water in the desert. For both the Chiricahua Apache and those traveling the stage route, this was an essential source of water.

The ruins of the stage station for the Butterfield Overland Mail.
The ruins of the stage station for the Butterfield Overland Mail.

For years, the Apache and the Butterfield Stage operators existed cooperatively, and the tribe, known for raiding for supplies, only attacked the stage once. 

Then came the Bascom Affair in January 1861. A local rancher accused the Chiricahua Apache of raiding his livestock and kidnapping the son of a Mexican woman who lived with him. The government sent the Army to deal with the raid. 

The Army commander, Lt. George Bascom, lured the Chiricahua Apache Chief Cochise. He held Cochise hostage until the return of the livestock and boy. Cochise, angry about the false accusation, cut his way out of Bascom’s tent and escaped. 

An Apache shelter, which is designed to conceal the family in the brush and shelter them from the elements. It's also designed to be easy to move.
An Apache shelter, which is designed to conceal the family in the brush and shelter them from the elements. It’s also designed to be easy to move.

Six months later, as the Army marched through the pass to the water at Apache Spring, the Chiricahua Apache ambushed them, firing on them from above. The Army ended up holding the spring but conflict with Cochise and the Chiricahua Apache and later Geronimo continued for a decade. Fort Bowie served as the hub of the conflict, continuing to secure Apache Pass and Apache Spring.

Getting to Fort Bowie National Historic Site

Fort Bowie NHS is another one of those park sites that require you to really want to get there.

The site is located a bit more than 30 miles from Willcox, AZ or about 13 miles from Bowie, AZ. 

Either way you go, you will have to drive a dirt road to get out to the trailhead. We drove from Bowie and had no problems with the road. We heard that further up the road was a bit more difficult to deal with due to snow. 

The weather looked a bit sketchy for the hike out to Fort Bowie.
The weather looked a bit sketchy for the hike out to Fort Bowie.

Once you get to the trailhead, it is an easy to moderate 1.5-mile hike to the fort and visitor center. Yes, you read that correctly. You have to hike to get to the visitor center. While most folks should be able to handle the hike, there is a gentle uphill climb as you get close to the visitor center and fort.

Hiking to Fort Bowie National Historic Site

It was a cold, blustery, snowy day when we got to Fort Bowie NHS. We bundled up, grabbed our packs and headed off into the falling snow. Fortunately, it was just warm enough to keep the snow from sticking. Still, it made for a really cool experience.

The hike out to the fort is really a hike through the past. The first thing you will pass on the trail is an old miner’s cabin. From there, you will find the old stage station. The park service has interpretive signs all along the way. 

Bonnie on the trail out to Fort Bowie.
Bonnie on the trail out to Fort Bowie.

Right by the ruins of the stage station is where Lt. Bascom camped when he confronted Cochise. Just past that is the fort cemetery where several soldiers who died fighting the Chiricahua Apache are buried. 

As the trail joins with the spring and follows it uphill, you will come upon the site of the Battle of Apache Pass. The battle was relatively small if you are used to Civil War battles. The battle was significant in terms of the Indians Wars with 138 Union troops coming under fire from around 500 Chiricahua Apache warriors. 

The Union forces deployed two artillery pieces which forced the eventual withdraw of the Chiricahua Apache. 

The Fort Bowie Post Cemetery. Several of the graves are for Civil War veterans who fell to the Apache.
The Fort Bowie Post Cemetery. Several of the graves are for Civil War veterans who fell to the Apache.

A little further up the trail and you will find the headwaters of the Apache Spring and the ruins of the first fort, which overlooked the spring. From there, it is a short walk up to the visitor center and the ruins of the second fort. 

The visitor center has a small bookstore and a few exhibits. The fort, itself, is not much more than the outlined walls of various buildings scattered about the plateau. While you can see the outline of the shape of the buildings, there is not much more than that. 

The remains of the adobe walls of the cavalry barracks at Fort Bowie.
The remains of the adobe walls of the cavalry barracks at Fort Bowie.

Hiking Back to the Car

Overlooking Fort Bowie
Overlooking Fort Bowie

While it requires a bit of uphill from the visitor center, be sure to take the Overlook Ridge Trail back to the parking lot. 

As you hike up the ridge, if you turn back, you will be rewarded with the best views of the fort and the Chiricahua Mountains. 

The Apaches fired down from here on the troops that were moving up this valley toward Apache Springs.
The Apaches fired down from here on the troops that were moving up this valley toward Apache Springs.

As you continue along the ridge, there is a spur trail that will take you to the overlook. This is where the Chiricahua Apache hid, firing upon the soldiers during the battle. 

The trail switches back and forth down from the ridge, bottoming out at the Butterfield Overland Mail stage road. The trail then reconnects with the main trail back to the parking lot.

A word of warning: this trail crosses both a wash and a creek bed. Both of them can easily flood in a rain. Be wary. 

The trail is great but it does cross washes which could be a problem if it were raining.
The trail is great but it does cross washes which could be a problem if it were raining.

Where to Stay When Visiting Chiricuahua and Fort Bowie

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Lordsburg, NM for four days. It served as a central location for visiting these two sites and Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. The hotel was only 10,000 points per night, making it a decent spot for a reward stay from a points perspective.

Read Trip Advisor Reviews | Book It

Bonnie on the trail in Echo Canyon.
Bonnie on the trail in Echo Canyon.

That said, we cannot recommend staying in Lordsburg for anything more than one night. Quite simply, there’s not much in the way of places to eat and what is there isn’t that good. 

If we had the ability to do this trip over again, we would have stayed in Willcox, AZ while visiting Chiricahua NM and Fort Bowie NHS. While there wasn’t a Hilton property in town, there were several decent hotels in town plus a good number of restaurants.

Looking through the gap at Chiricahua National Monument.
Looking through the gap at Chiricahua National Monument.

We also saw a few decent-looking RV campgrounds in Willcox but can’t attest to their quality. Other than Bonita Creek campground in Chiricuahua NM, which can only accommodate tents and small RVs, there is nowhere else nearby to stay. 

I wish I could recommend a place to eat around here but I simply can’t recommend anything we tried in Lordsburg.  

Final Thoughts on Chiricauahua and Fort Bowie

Be sure to take the return trail over the ridge at Fort Bowie to get some amazing views like this.
Be sure to take the return trail over the ridge at Fort Bowie to get some amazing views like this.

We had a lot of fun visiting these two sites. Seeing snow in the desert made for a cool, unique experience. We really enjoy getting off the beaten path and getting to these two sites certainly required it.

I love that Fort Bowie NHS requires a hike to get out to it. We learned a lot about the site on that hike before we even got to the visitor center. Hiking in the falling snow/sleet was a bonus. 

Rhyolite Canyon in Chiricahua National Monument.
Rhyolite Canyon in Chiricahua National Monument.

Chiricahua NM, though, stole our hearts. The area is called the “Wonderland of Rocks” and we can certainly see why. Our hike through the snow here was one of the most fun things we have ever done.

We are so excited to return here some spring in the future to hike more of the park. This site just joined our list of National Parks Hidden Gems. It’s that good.


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