Conditions: Cold and icy in 2003, drier and nippy in 2003 Rucker Canyon Road (dirt) leads to campsites from the south, and AZ-80 has access roads allowiong access from the east side. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 39 min to complete. Discover 2,831 listings of land for sale, 1 - 10 acres, under $25K. The creek itself had running water down low, fed by springs. At the top, the trail began a short but steep series of switchbacks. 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. 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. We hiked up the easy grades, took a breakfast break, and followed the trail past Anita Springs and directly up to the summit, 3.5 miles and 2 hours after starting, in exquisite weather. Access to the Chiricahua Mountains and Coronado National Forest is through Willcox from the north, Douglas from the south, and Rodeo from the east. The Chiricahua Mountains are an uplifted structural block of the Basin and Range. Another option are the two Mormon Creek routes, which start lower down. Chiricahua Peak to Monte Vista Peak Loop is a loop trail that provides a good opportunity to view wildlife located near Elfrida, Arizona. To my knowledge none of these are visible on any standard route up Chiricahua Peak. I left home at 4:15 a.m. and arrived to the range by 8:00 a.m. LoJ 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. It's not well-signed, but a map should tell you you're on the right path.For the Turkey Creek/Mormon Creek approach, leave I-10 at exit 331 and travel south on US-191 to the community of Sunizona. Tuff hoodoos in Chiricahua National Monument (photo by que city), Images 85643, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Chiricahua Peak Via Mormon Canyon Trail. View more homes. There are miles of hiking trails amid these fascinating rock formations. . Mileage from I-10: about 35.The roads are mostly passable by passenger vehicles except in the wettest weather.There are other possibilities to approach this peak as well. There are two trails that run parallel along the Mormon Creek drainage. Chiricahua National Monument. Photo by Bradley R. Lots of down pines block the trail. All Rights Reserved. About 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. We met another group back at my truck at Long Park. I can tell the condition used to be pretty good but definitely need more maintenance at this moment. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. 3 Beds. After hiking the steep switchbacks, the trail converged with the upper Mormon trail, meeting at an elevation of 8,700 feet. A couple of days with a few chainsaws and this trail could be seriously revitalized. In the breeze, I grew chilled quickly, and happy to have summitted, I started down. Chiricahua Peak is easy to climb, with a few possible starting points ranging from half-day hikes to longer overnighters. The summit is marked by a benchmark in a boulder situated at the base of a large tree. Date: November 9, 2003 I eased the truck down the road and from Rustler Park, we drove down to the Chiricahua National Monument. Gelemenovo. The northwest end of the Chiricahua mountains continue as the Dos Cabezas Mountains beyond Apache Pass and the Fort Bowie National Historic Site. The trailhead's elevation is approximately 6,400 feet. [2], Following the transition to ceramics,[3] artifacts characteristic of both Mogollon culture and its local variants, the Mimbres culture, are found. Hike along the Crest Trail to 9,763-foot Chiricahua Peak, the highest summit in the range and take in sweeping views that include peaks in New Mexico and Mexico. Another option are the two Mormon Creek routes, which start lower down. Forest fires are weird for sure. A one to two mile wide band of sedimentary rock running southeast to northwest from south of Portal through Paradise and up to the Dos Cabezas Mountains is the source of mineralized deposits. Three lots side by side on Chiricahua Dr. in Sunizona, Az. The Chiricahua Mountains are a large mountain massif located in the southeastern part of the US state of Arizona. Riparian means the forest is found near a water drainage-way. Because of this, over 1000 plant species grow within the Monument's boundary, and many are endemic only to the Chiricahua Mountains. The Chiricahua Mountains from the north View of the Chiricahua Mountains from the Painted Pony Resort in Rodeo, NM. Apache is an Athabaskan (Na-Den) language spoken in central Arizona in the USA. Roger Weller, geology instructor. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The 8-mile paved scenic drive and 17-miles of day-use hiking trails provide opportunities to discover the beauty, natural sounds, and inhabitants of this 12,025 acre site. May finance the purchase of all three, but not one lot. A large fire from a couple years ago had defoliated much of this part of the mountain and the burn scars were still evident. 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). A talus field (with no trees) allowed for excellent views all the way down to the desert floor. Parts of the trail were completely obscured, but periodic cairns alerted me to the route. Like my first time here, the top is wooded and blocks most views. 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. Download the park's bird checklist for your visit. Broadly speaking, there are six basic plant communities, and each supports a unique subset of birds." Going up and over them was often impossible. Chiricahua Mountains Browse Map. Arizona Breathtaking at the top and well worth the effort! Another option are the two Mormon Creek routes, which start lower down. You can now make campground reservations online. A large fire from a couple years ago had defoliated much of this part of the mountain and the burn scars were still evident. I make my way through the burned forest No conditions reported in the past 7 days. [citation needed], The name Chiricahua is believed to originate from the Opata name for the mountains, Chiwi Kawi, meaning "Turkey Mountain". The summit is marked by a benchmark in a boulder situated at the base of a large tree. Then, I met the love of my life, married her, and we came back in November 2003 for another visit, her first time in the range. There are two trails that run parallel along the Mormon Creek drainage. 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. The exit took 90 minutes, and our hike had required just 4 hours. AZ 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. We enjoyed ourselves and it was nice to be back, especially with B.. After about 20 minutes, we started the leisurely hike out, following the same route as we took coming up. 2.5h up 1.5h down. The weather was breezy but nice, with temperaturess around 50. There are miles of hiking trails amid these fascinating rock formations. Part of the range lies within the 87,700-acre (35,500ha) Chiricahua Wilderness, managed by the Coronado National Forest. These relics span the period from 150 BCE 1450. Vehicles longer than 24 feet (RV or vehicle + trailer) are NOT permitted on the scenic drive beyond the campground. Chiricahua National Monument has a great variety of trees and shrubs. This is a 14.6 mile loop hike with 4600 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 7-10 hours to complete. I eased the truck down the road and from Rustler Park, we drove down to the Chiricahua National Monument. Chihuahuan desert scrub is characterized by shrubs such as, creosote, whitethorn acacia, sandpaper bush, and tar bush. Scrambling through hundreds of trees on their sides is quite difficult, the tangle of logs and branches nearly impenetrable. The Chiricahua National Monument Visitor Center is 5,400 feet (1,646 meters) above sea level. So here it was, a month later. I tried to go underneath as often as I could, preferring not to touch or put any weight on these massive logs. AZ P1K Rock the Rhyolite Hike for Your Health! There were also many standing dead trees, and they creaked in the slight breeze. However, I could readily see some of the nearby peaks such as Anita Peak. Then, I met the love of my life, married her, and we came back in November 2003 for another visit, her first time in the range. The fort was decommissioned in 1894 and today is just stone foundations and the occasional adobe walls that look like they're melting into the earth. Read more to find out how. . Too much deadfall. Easily find land for sale at LANDFLIP.com. The Chiricahua Mountains and other associated ranges, along with Sulphur Springs Valley on the west and the San Simon Valley on the east, form the eastern half of Cochise County in southeast Arizona. When it settles, it "welds" together to form tuff, which erodes easily into rounded domes and interesting spires. Chiricahua Peak is easy to climb, with a few possible starting points ranging from half-day hikes to longer overnighters. (24), Climber's Log Entries I went in February after a month-long dry spell and encountered just patches of snow and ice near the top. From here it was a consistently moderate uphill grade along nice wide trail. The other notable attraction in these mountains is the Chiricahua National Monument, which features thousands of spires and "hoodoos", formed by the erosion of the tuff that resulted from the eruption. mining, farming, etc. The range takes its name from the Chiricahua Apaches native to the region. This includes views across the Basin and Range to Mount Lemmon, Mount Graham, and Mount Wrightson. Lots 7, 8, & 9. There were also many standing dead trees, and they creaked in the slight breeze. Distance: 2 miles The benchmark's elevation is listed as 9,795 feet, which is probably a mistake. Hike a combined 5 mi / 8 km in the park and earn a commemorative pin from a park ranger.   earth first! After a mile, the trail came to a spring and remnants of an old pump station. Chiricahua Mountains The exit took 90 minutes, and our hike had required just 4 hours. The day was mild but cold, and snow from a recent storm still everywhere. The Chiricahua Mountains dominate southeast Arizona. The Chiricahua Mountains dominate southeast Arizona. I tried to go underneath as often as I could, preferring not to touch or put any weight on these massive logs. However, it may not be the fastest. Chiricahua is about 120 miles east of the major city of Tucson, which has good air service. View back along the Silver Peak Trail as the trail heads northwest. In the breeze, I grew chilled quickly, and happy to have summitted, I started down. 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. The high point in the Chiricahua Mountains - Chiricahua Peak - is 9,795 feet (2,986 meters) above sea level. The weather was spectacularbreezy and cool, but not cold. [7], More recently, the Chiricahuas have fallen into use by people smugglers and drug cartels, who position lookouts on their peaks to warn of Border Patrol activities.[8][9]. There are also speakers of Western Apache in the San . This is a 8.8 mile out-and-back hike with 3000 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 3-5 hours to complete. I didn't have any plans, so I decided to go back to the Chiricahua Range on a whim. There are other sites in Turkey Creek and along Rucker Canyon Road. Arizona Using technology, we can bring the wonders of Chiricahua to YOUR classroom or organized group. The day was clear and brilliant, with 200-mile views in some directions, or five-foot views into the trees. 2:30 Ascent; 1:30 Descent. 12174 E Chiricahua Pl, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. The background picture on this page show the rock formations that I believe are found in Chiricahua National Monument. Hiking info, trail maps, and 19 trip reports from Chiricahua Peak (9,759 ft) in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona Hiking info, trail maps, and 19 trip reports from Chiricahua Peak (9,759 ft) in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona Chiricahua Peak - Arizona | peakery peakery Log a climb Join/Login Log a climb Latest Peak Map Peak List Chiricahua Peak is located in southeastern Arizona, and is one of the Ultra-Prominent peaks of the lower 48 and also an Arizona 2000 ft. prominence peak. beltane edition may 1, 1984 the no-compromise environmental journal vol. Map includes a larger scale (1:40,000) inset of the Cave Creek Canyon and Rustler Park areas. Since the wildfire that went thru here years ago, the area is pretty devastated. I don't know which is best, but I can tell you the best views I found were on the Crest Trail south of the peak. Sugarloaf Peak The spiky plants can be a painful problem. 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