Chiricahua Natl Monument

As you enter the Chiricahua from the otherwise flat landscape, you'll understand why the Chiricahua Apaches called this vertical island "the land of standing up rocks." Rhyolite rock formations formed 27 million years ago surround you as you drive the eight-mile scenic drive within the park.

For a close up, several hiking trails wind through the sculpted pinnacles, allowing you delightful panoramas of the 12,000 acres of unaltered wilderness.

Near the entrance to the park is Faraway Ranch and its few remaining buildings, built and homesteaded by Swedish immigrants and later turned into a guest ranch.

Located deep in Arizona's southeast corner, the park is not the only highlight. The drive in via State Highways 186, 181 and 191 is spectacular, offering views of the vast grassland and the Dragoon Mountains in the distance.

The rocks were formed when a volcano spewed ash over the entire area. The ash particles melted together and formed layers of gray rock called rhyolite. Thousands of years of weathering, cooling, ice wedging, water erosion and other natural conditions have enlarged the cracks as well as worn away weaker material in the rock, constantly sculpting them into spires, pinnacles and myriad other shapes. And so will it continue for eons to come.

Hiking trails meander around huge rock formations, offerning great panoramic views as well as close ups of the pinnacles and sculptures. Some 17 miles of hiking trails are available, ranging from wheel-chair accessible to strenuous. Most seem to be in the moderate range. Whereas in this picture, the trail may look like it is on the edge of a cliff, it is not. If you're afraid of heights and drop-offs, as I am, not to worry on this Echo Canyon Loop Trail.

My second trip to Chiricahua was a two-day hiking trek that was absolutely exhilirating. As exhausting as it was, every step was well worth the effort. The crystal blue cloudless sky brought out the bright yellow-green lichen formed on so many of the rocks.

On the first day, my two travel partners and I hiked a portion of the Echo Canyon Loop Trail going counter-clockwise. On day two, we took in Faraway Ranch and a portion of the Massai Point Nature Trail with a .3-mile hike that led to the Ed Riggs section of the Echo Canyon Loop. We then continued clockwise along the Ed Riggs Trail to the Hailstone Trail and then did a repeat of the west side of the loop through Echo Park and the grotto.

Considered a moderate hike, Day Two was about seven miles of gentle ups and downs on otherwise easy rocky trails. It's recommended by the Visitor Center staff that the trail be hiked in a counter-clockwise direction, I think because the incline is a bit more gradual.

Because we couldn't get a parking spot at the Echo Canyon Loop trailhead, we ended up parking at the Massai Point lot and walking the .3-mile trail to hook up to the Echo Canyon loop. However, when we finished the loop, we were too exhausted to return to the lot where our car was. A very kind couple took pity and offered one of us a ride over to the Echo Canyon loop parking lot to retrieve the car. Yes, there are still good people in our beautiful but chaotic nation.

The images below were taken on this wonderful return trip to one of the lesser-known national monuments in Arizona.

In 1934 a dedication ceremony took place here at what is called Speaker's Rock at the Massai Point, a plateau that offers vast panoramic views of the rhyolite hoodoos that grace the hillside as well as the distant mountain ranges that provide a calming backdrop while hiking the trails.

The ceremony took place when the Chiricahua control shifted from the U.S. Forest Service to the National Park Service. More than 6000 people attended the party along with notable speakers, a marching band and tons of beans, beef, bread and coffee.

Today, the plateau offers the same views although the vegetation that was cleared out for the ceremony as now regrown.

The Massai Point Nature Trail is a .4-mile loop at an elevation of 6,870 ft (2,094 meters). Part of it is paved, therefore wheelchair accessible, but a larger portion is rocky and with steps.