The prominant species include manzanita, Arizona Sycamore, alligator juniper, oaks, pines, Arizona cypress, madrone, and acacia. After a mile, the trail came to a spring and remnants of an old pump station. View more homes. A dichotomous key to the workers is included. Parts were nice, parts had downed trees and branches obstructing the way, and all of it was covered under a heavy mat of pine needles, cones and leaves. wellerr@cochise.edu. We suited up and got things in order, starting the hike at 9:10 a.m. I left home at 4:15 a.m. and arrived to the range by 8:00 a.m. 1. If I could get us there, our hike would be relatively short. The creek itself had running water down low, fed by springs. Page 162 of 164. Led at first by Chief Cochise (for whom the county is named), and after Cochise's death, by Geronimo, the Apache, numbering just a few hundred, fought vigorously and remained at large until 1886, when Geronimo was captured. Each are one acre. Cave Creek Canyon on the east side is home to the American Museum of Natural History Southwest Research Station and the small towns of Portal and Paradise. The Chiricahua Mountains are located in southeast Arizona in Cochise County and the summit, Chiricahua Peak, is the highest point of the county and one of just 57 "Ultra" prominent peaks in the lower-48 states, with over 5,000 feet of prominence above the desert floors. Second Visit, November 2003: and I planned to hike another Arizona county highpoint while the weather state-wide remained mild. Another option are the two Mormon Creek routes, which start lower down. Generally, this peak can be climbed about 9 months of the year. It is flat for a few hundred yards, then swings left, where a sign mentions the distance to the peak as 5 miles. I decided to follow the Crest Trail (signed) north to the saddle between Chiricahua and Anita Peaks, elevation 9,500 feet. 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. Chiricahua Peak is easy to climb, with a few possible starting points ranging from half-day hikes to longer overnighters. Using technology, we can bring the wonders of Chiricahua to YOUR classroom or organized group. The highest point, Chiricahua Peak, rises 9,759 feet above sea level, approximately 6,000 feet above the The benchmark's elevation is listed as 9,795 feet, which is probably a mistake. Easily find farms for sale at FARMFLIP.com. [2], Following the transition to ceramics,[3] artifacts characteristic of both Mogollon culture and its local variants, the Mimbres culture, are found. . mining, farming, etc. These natural features, preserved in the Chiricahua National Monument, are composed of Rhyolite Canyon Tuff. The influx of other indigenous peoples, such as the Chiricahua Apaches, including the leaders Cochise and Geronimo occupied the area until forced removal in the late 19th century. LoJ However, I could readily see some of the nearby peaks such as Anita Peak. 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. A little disconcerting too. Visit the Faraway Ranch Historic District to discover more about the people who have called this area home. Chiricahua Mountains LoJ There are other sites in Turkey Creek and along Rucker Canyon Road. Main Apache is an Athabaskan (Na-Den) language spoken in central Arizona in the USA. Second Visit, November 2003: and I planned to hike another Arizona county highpoint while the weather state-wide remained mild. [1], The earliest evidence of humans in the vicinity of the Chiricahua Mountains are Clovis archeological sites such as Double Adobe Site in the Whitewater Draw tributary of Rucker Creek north of Douglas. We drove the roads and took a walking tour of Faraway Ranch, the home of the Ericksons, homesteaders whose efforts led to the formation of the Chiricahua National Monument years later. Quality of the trail ranged from good to scant. Cochise County 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. Prominence: 661 feet The exit took 90 minutes, and our hike had required just 4 hours. It was along this stretch I encountered the first of the treefall. We drove out to our hotel in Willcox the day before, and enjoyed some authentic Mexican food for our pre-hike dinner that night. 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. 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. (29), Comments 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. With this ascent, I had my 11th Arizona County highpoint completed, a task I would finish a few months later. Route down to the spring exists but first part is overgrown and hard to follow. The eruption was so massive, it created a literal wall of mountains, where the range crests stay above 9,000 feet for miles at a time, resulting in numerous bumps of nearly equal height. The range is a result of a massive volcanic event, the Turkey Creek eruption, from 27 million years ago. Many pines at the top, no overlook view at the peak. The peak contains one of the southernmost Engelmann spruce stands in the world. The NM features thousands of eroded tuff spires and hoodoos, similar (but different in origin) to those you would see in Utah at Bryce Canyon. It is the highest summit in the Chiricahua Mountains and the highest point in Cochise County. Breathtaking at the top and well worth the effort! The trail begins at the end of the Sycamore campsites off a spur from Turkey Creek Road. Page 149 of 149. Led at first by Chief Cochise (for whom the county is named), and after Cochise's death, by Geronimo, the Apache, numbering just a few hundred, fought vigorously and remained at large until 1886, when Geronimo was captured. After hiking the steep switchbacks, the trail converged with the upper Mormon trail, meeting at an elevation of 8,700 feet. We hiked this trail this past June, and it is definitely the shortest route to the top of Chiricahua Peak. 12856 East Rhyolite Creek Road, Willcox, AZ 85643, USA. The weather had been mild and I hoped the snow had melted off. The best times to visit this trail are March through November. The Chiricahua Mountains massif is a large mountain range in southeastern Arizona which is part of the Basin and Range province of the west and southwestern United States and northwest Mexico; the range is part of the Coronado National Forest. Summer could be too hot even at this elevation and one would have to deal with frequent thunderstorms. I decided to follow the Crest Trail (signed) north to the saddle between Chiricahua and Anita Peaks, elevation 9,500 feet. AZ P1K The range is a classic 'sky island', containing flora and fauna endemic just to that range. I have climbed the peak twice, in 2000 by myself, and again in 2003. In the breeze, I grew chilled quickly, and happy to have summitted, I started down. I arrived back to my truck at 2 p.m. The Forest Service has done a superb job in removing the deadfall that blocked so many of the trails, especially the final spur to the summit. The summit is marked by a benchmark in a boulder situated at the base of a large tree. I met with a couple of hikers at Point 8,700, the only people I saw the whole day on the route. Generate a high-quality PDF. [7] The weather was spectacularbreezy and cool, but not cold. The Apache, of course, wanted no part of this, and for the better part of 30 years, fought a guerrilla-style war against American explorers and settlers in this region. Lots of trees provide food and shelter for wildlife. The summit is marked by a benchmark in a boulder situated at the base of a large tree. LoJ (c) 2000 - 2019 Scott Surgent. Distance: 2 miles The hike starts within the Chiricahua National Monument so obey any rules there but the actual peak lies outside the Monument; see map below. From here it was a consistently moderate uphill grade along nice wide trail. Like my first time here, the top is wooded and blocks most views. Encompassing approximately 1,000 square miles, elevations vary from 4,000 feet in the San Simon Valley to 9,796 feet at the summit of Chiricahua Peak. Another option are the two Mormon Creek routes, which start lower down. 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. Distance Learning I wasn't keen on battling this for another five miles, so I abandoned the hike and returned to my truck. From Willcox the drive is about 35 miles to the start of the dirt road, and another 14 miles to the Rustlers Park campground. Conditions: Cold and icy in 2003, drier and nippy in 2003 I stayed 15 minutes at the top. 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. Cochise County The most popular route comes in from the north via Rustler Park campground, high on the main range crest. We suited up and got things in order, starting the hike at 9:10 a.m. I hiked the peak from Mormon Creek (lower) trailhead, which had a large parking area. The Chiricahua Mountains dominate southeast Arizona. Mormon Ridge Trail and Mormon Canyon Trail Loop. Parts of the trail were completely obscured, but periodic cairns alerted me to the route. The hike down was quick, although the loose rocks were more treacherous as I moved downhill. Chiricahua Peak is the highest peak of the range, but not that obvious from down below. The day was clear and brilliant, with 200-mile views in some directions, or five-foot views into the trees. 10139 E Circlestone Ct, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. The weather was breezy but nice, with temperaturess around 50. Past the campgrounds and trailheads at Rustler Park, we drove to the guard station buildings and found the gate to a lesser road leading to Long Park. In the post-colonial era the establishment of so-called 'peaceparks' that straddle the borders of states has come to be seen as a key not only to increasing tourism in the Southern African region, but also to the modernizing of conservation policies and the development of rural economies. Learn about people who have called Chiricahua home over the years. Another option are the two Mormon Creek routes, which start lower down. It was hunting season and we came upon a father and son sitting along the trail, rifles on their laps. Enjoy this 8.6-mile out-and-back trail near Rodeo, New Mexico. Lots 7, 8, & 9. Please love me. [17], With the base of the Chiricahuas at about 3,600 feet (1,100m),[18] the range covers about 6,000 feet (1,800m) in elevation. A talus field (with no trees) allowed for excellent views all the way down to the desert floor. The trailhead's elevation is approximately 6,400 feet. The range contains 85 named peaks and lies within the Basin and Range Province. For the first time I had an actual view of the peaks above me, although Chiricahua's summit was still hidden by trees. Spanning 12,025 acres in southern Arizona, Chiricahua National Monument is the result of the eruption of Turkey Creek Volcano millions of years ago; as the ash cooled, it formed rhyolite layers that eroded . From Long Park, we followed a mostly-level trail south for two-thirds of a mile to the Crest Trail (Trail 270). The trailhead's elevation is approximately 6,400 feet. Chiricahua Peak, Arizona Prominence: 5139 ft, 1567 m Elevation: 9759 feet, 2975 meters True Isolation: 64.19 mi, 103.31 km Other Photos Views on the Crest Trail just south of Chiricahua Pek (2019-11-15). Leave US-191 at AZ-181 and proceed due east through Sunizona. We drove the roads and took a walking tour of Faraway Ranch, the home of the Ericksons, homesteaders whose efforts led to the formation of the Chiricahua National Monument years later. The weather was breezy but nice, with temperaturess around 50. 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. Time: 1 hour We chose to approach the peak via the Crest Trail, with Rustler Park as our first choice but also keeping our options open depending on road conditions and other factors. There were also many standing dead trees, and they creaked in the slight breeze. Small cactus are present in this zone like prickly pear, cholla, barrel and hedgehog cactus. I salvaged the day with a drive up the Coronado Highway and a visit to the Greenlee County Highpoint, plus a speeding ticket. We chose to approach the peak via the Crest Trail, with Rustler Park as our first choice but also keeping our options open depending on road conditions and other factors. I salvaged the day with a drive up the Coronado Highway and a visit to the Greenlee County Highpoint, plus a speeding ticket. Time: 6 hours in 2000, 3 hours in 2003 Elevation: 7,310 feet High Point: Chiricahua Peak, 9,759 feet Elevation Change from Base: 5,259 feet Vegetation at Highest Elevations: Douglas-fir-mixed conifer forest; pine forest Johnson Peak Loop. The road requires high clearance and 4wd is recommended. [citation needed], The first recorded mining claim in the Chiricahua Mountains was the Hidden Treasure claim filed in 1881, and mining has continued intermittently to the present with the greatest periods of activity occurring in the 1920s and 1950s. Our "hunt" had been a success. Photo by Graeme Rankine. Centella Point, Chiricahua Peak and Flys Peak, are within easy distance along connecting trails. Prominence: 5,139 feet I didn't have any plans, so I decided to go back to the Chiricahua Range on a whim. The Pedregosa Mountains are found at the southern end of the Chiricahua Mountains, while the Swisshelm Mountains are located to the southwest. A large fire from a couple years ago had defoliated much of this part of the mountain and the burn scars were still evident. The Geological history of the Chiricahua Mountains, "Coronado National Forest Chiricahua Wilderness", "Arizona Memory Project: Compound Object Viewer", "Chiricahua National Monument Historic Designed Landscape: Landscape Architecture Month: National Register of Historic Places Official Website--Part of the National Park Service", "Border Crackdowns and the Battle for Arizona", "CVO Website Arizona Volcanoes and Volcanics", "Hilltop Mine (Hand Mine; Kasper tunnel; Gray Mine; Dunn shaft; Blacksmith shaft; Rhem adit), Rustler Park, California District, Chiricahua Mts, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA", "Sky Islands of North America: A globally unique and threatened inland archipelago", "Audubon: Birds & Science [-109.28, 31.9057] Chiricahua Mountains, Coronado National Forest", "The mission to return jaguars to the US: 'We aren't right without them', "Southwestern Research Station | American Museum Natural History", "Winter Views of the Eastern Chiricahuas The Firefly Forest", The Nature Explorers Chiricahua Expedition, Chiricahua Peak Summit, trails, mountainzone.com, (coord), Map of Chiricahua and Dos Cabezas Mountains, Chiricahua Peloncillo Historical Society, Chiricahuas: Mountain Islands in the Desert (1998), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chiricahua_Mountains&oldid=1134366760, Mountain ranges of Cochise County, Arizona, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 January 2023, at 09:36. 3 Beds. 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