Travel Guide Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument is located in the Chiricahua Mountains. The mountains are notable for their extravagant geological formations and their very vertical relief, which has been subject to uneven erosion. This erosion has created large, spectacular natural columns whose tops are made of a rock that is more resistant to erosion - hoodoos, or fairy chimneys. This phenomenon has its origins in a gigantic volcanic eruption that took place 27 million years ago. More than 666 billion cubic meters of magma were ejected, covering an area of more than 3,000 km2 with a layer of glowing ash up to 610 m thick. As a result, it is now possible to walk through a surreal scenery composed of peaks and huge stones in balance.Chiricahua National Monument covers 48.50 km2 and is home to fifteen hikes of varying difficulty that wind through forests and canyons. Moreover, the site is home to a rich fauna: it is not uncommon to come across deer and many varieties of birds. On the other hand, the risk of coming face to face with a black bear or a puma is minimal. In total, more than 70 species of mammals, 45 reptiles and 170 birds live here.