Chiricahua National Monument
Located in a remote spot in southeastern Arizona, Chiricahua National Monument is a gem most people have never heard of. But a stop at this monument, which was established in 1924, is well worth the time and effort required to get here. The park is called a sky island because it is an isolated mountain range that seems to mysteriously arise from the surrounding grasslands. At its highest point, the sky island rises to 9,763 feet.
Rock Pinnacles in Chiricahua
A wonderful part of the park is seen when you follow a winding, mountain road into the heart of the park. Rock pinnacles loom over the road and stretch for miles in every direction. Hiking in the wilderness areas which comprise 80% of the park is a rather solitary experience.
Lime Green Lichen
Lichens decorate the rocks and add a yellow, white, or even a lime green sheen to the rock surfaces.
The park is especially noteworthy in that four ecosystems meet in this range. There are the northern slopes seen in the first photograph which are covered with Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine, most typically found in the Rocky Mountains. If you look to the southern slopes, the second photo, you will see Apache pine and Mexican pinyons which are common in the Sierra Madre range in nearby Mexico. Yuccas from the Chihuahuan Desert meet with the prickly pear cactus of the Sonoran Desert. In all, there are over 1,200 species of plants documented in less than 12,ooo acres of land.
And to make things even better, the campground is nestled in a pine forest, with roomy sites, and staffed with friendly rangers. It all makes the experience just about perfect.
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