Arizona’s rugged Chiricahua landscape gets national park designation

WILLCOX, Ariz. – Over a century after becoming a national monument, 12,000 acres of rugged volcanic landscape, diverse wildlife, and cultural history in Arizona is now Chiricahua National Park.

This redesignation from national monument to national park “recognizes the national significance of the area’s extraordinary natural and cultural resources and marks a new chapter for one of Arizona’s most distinctive landscapes,” according to the National Park Service.

Located in the southeastern corner of Arizona, the park protects a landscape of towering rhyolite rock spires and balanced rocks formed by an ancient volcanic eruption roughly 27 million years ago.

The area supports biodiversity in areas where desert, grassland, and forest ecosystems meet, and the natural environment and existing infrastructure provides opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, birding, and stargazing.

The area also know for its importance as the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache and its legacy of early homesteading families at Faraway Ranch.

“Chiricahua’s towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage and remarkable biodiversity make it one of America’s most extraordinary landscapes,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “This new designation will shine a national spotlight on one of Arizona’s hidden gems, creating opportunities to welcome more visitors, strengthen local economies and share this incredible landscape with more Americans.”

The park lies about two hours east of the nearest airport in Tucson, AZ. A park information page says a private car is the best, if not only way to reach the park. Rideshare apps and taxi services do not exist or operate in the park or nearby communities.