Chiricahua National Monument Hike in Snow

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In southeastern Arizona, about a two hour drive away from Tucson you’ll find the beautiful and somewhat isolated Chiricahua National Monument. Called a sky island – with mountains that rise to a height of 9,763 feet (2,978 m) above the surrounding plains, it’s an area that is great for hiking and birding.

We were there in mid-December – during a snow storm. So much for getting away from the cold of Calgary!

However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The rock pinnacles are particularly beautiful when dressed in snow. Chiricahua National Monument hiking may not be ideal under snowy conditions but the snow keeps people away so we almost had the trails to ourselves.

The only people we met were from out of the country aside from a couple of guys from Chicago who were on a trip and following in the footsteps of author Cormac McCarthy and two girls from California on a spiritual outing (one of whom warned me that parts of California would fall into the ocean the next day. It didn’t happen.)

History of the area

According to the literature from the monument, the Chiricahua Apache named the pinnacles “standing up rocks.” The grey rock – called rhyolite was formed 27 million years ago after the eruption of the Turkey Creek Volcano.

Weathering over the millennia has resulted in a fantastic assortment of rock shapes and spires. The pinnacles are best viewed by hiking though the Bonita Canyon Drive is reportedly very beautiful as well.

Chiricahua National Monument hiking trails

All told there are 17 miles of day-use hiking trails in Chiricahua.

There are six hiking trails in the easy category with distances ranging from 0.2 miles to 1.2 miles. In the moderate category there are three hikes ranging from 1.8 to 4.8 miles. There are three difficult hikes with one called the Big Loop – a 9.5 mile outing that covers the best of the wilderness scenery.

Dogs are allowed on a leash on some trails but check on at the Visitor Centre to see which ones when you visit.

Even the drive to Chiricahua National Monument is beautiful

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A change in plans because of snow

We did have to change our hiking plans because of a road closure. We couldn’t drive past the Visitor Centre in Chiricahua National Monument because of snow so The Big Loop – that starts at Echo Canyon and takes in the best of the scenery was not in the cards.

Instead we started at the Visitor Center, hiked up the Lower Rhyolite Canyon Trail to the Sarah Deming Trail and from there to Balanced Rock. There was about four inches of snow by the time we got to Balanced Rock – with no sign of letting up – and a cold wind so we turned around here. It was a very beautiful hike with a moderate amount of elevation gain.

Although we did a fraction of the 17 miles of day-use trails in Chiricahua National Nonument – I still feel like we got a good sense of the place.

I know Chiricahua National Mounument is also well-known for birding, and I wish we’d had more luck in that regard.

Hazards hiking in Chiricahua National Monument

Do note that there are certain hazards – including heat, rattlesnakes and cacti in the summer and snow and ice in the winter.

Snowstorms are most likely to occur from December until March. Thunderstorms tend to be a summer phenomena.

There's not much snow when we start the hike — There’s not much snow when we start the hike

Our first really good view of the rock pinnacles

The vegetation is equally interesting with 1,200 species of plants in the national monument

Within 20 minutes we're into a full snow on the trail — Within 20 minutes we’re into lots of snow on the trail

Were getting into a very interesting landscape — We are not prepared for all the snow!

Rhyolite formations at Chiricahua National Monument — One of the balanced rocks we saw

Balanced Rock in Chiricahua National Monument

I'm such a big fan of the rock pinnacles — I’m such a big fan of the rock pinnacles

Fabulous lichen on the rocks in Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument hiking would be that much more fabulous without the fog

I was thankful John had brought an extra hat along

Camping in Chiricahua National Monument

You can make reservations online for camping in the Bonita Canyon Campground, located in a pine and oak forest. Peak season is January 1 – July 6th and again from October 1 – December 31. Sites are available on a six month rolling basis. There are 24 individual campsites and most are shaded.

Good news if you decide to visit Chiricahua National Monument – entrance is free and it’s open year round for both day and overnight visitors. It’s an overlooked part of Arizona but one definitely worth visiting. For more information, check out the park website.