Chiricahua Activities

Hiking

Balanced Rock, Photo Courtesy of the National Park ServiceMore than 20 miles of trails wind through the park, passing unusual rock formations--Duck on a Rock, Totem Pole, and Big Balanced Rock--and exploring park forests. One leads to a small natural bridge and a ledge of volcanic hailstones, evidence of ancient eruptions that created the rock of Chiricahua. Trails range from 1/4 mile to 9 miles round-trip.

Trail Descriptions:

Bonita Creek Loop: an easy 2 miles (round trip), starting at the Bonita Creek parking lot. This short level loop circling the picnic area takes you along the intermittent stream of Bonita Creek, where you'll see Apache plume and prickly poppy blooms in the spring and early summer. This is a good trail for birding and you might also spot whitetail in the lower portion of Bonita Canyon.

Bonita Creek Trail: an easy 5 miles (one way), beginning at the Bonita Creek parking lot or Faraway Ranch parking lot. Following the twists and turns of Bonita Creek, this level trail connects the Faraway Ranch and Bonita Creek Picnic Area. Keep an eye out for quail, migrating birds and deer. You may even see an occasional coatimundi or javelina.

Campground to Silver Spur Meadow Trail/Visitor Center to Silver Spur Meadow Trail: an easy 2 miles (each), beginning by the Group Campsite in the campground or the west end of the Visitor Center. This trail gives visitors an alternative way to get to the Visitor Center, running through excellent birding habitat and riparian forest with a short side trip to Silver Spur Meadow and the site of the Civilian Conservation Corps camp.

Faraway Ranch Historic Trail: an easy 1.2 miles (one way), beginning at the Faraway Ranch parking area. This trail takes you to the historic ranch that was homesteaded by Neil and Emma Erickson, continuing past the Stafford Cabin, one of the original structures in Bonita Canyon and Silver Spur Meadow. Then it splits, allowing visitors to head northeast to the campground or southeast to the Visitor Center. There are several stream crossings, which may be dangerous when water is flowing. Crossing may not be possible when the water level is high.

Grotto in Chiricahua, Photo Courtesy of the National Park ServiceEcho Canyon Loop Trail: a moderate to difficult 3.5 miles (including the Hailstone Trail), beginning near the end of Bonita Canyon scenic drive at Echo Canyon parking area. The trail takes you through spectacular rock formations to a dense wooded area called Echo Park and returns via the Hailstone Trail. Hiking this loop, despite its short length, is one of the most scenic experiences in the park.

Hailstone Trail: a moderate .8 miles, beginning at the junction of the Echo Canyon trail and the Upper Rhyolite trail, or the junction of the Massai Point connection trail. This mostly level trails runs along the sunny south-facing slope, so it gets very hot in the summer. Look for volcanic hailstones about half way between the trail junctions.

Heart of Rocks Trail: a difficult 1.3 miles via Hailstone or 7.2 miles via Sarah Deming, beginning the Echo Canyon or Massai Point parking areas at the end of the 8-mile scenic drive. This trail leads through cool pine and fir forests and offers great views of the Totem Pole, Big Balanced Rock, and many other famous rock features. A short trail (.9 mile loop) just beyond Big Balanced Rock leads into the Heart of Rocks area. The return trip may be made via Sarah Deming Canyon, the Hailstone Trail, or back to Massai Point.

Inspiration Point Trail: a moderate one mile (round trip) beginning at the Heart of Rocks trail, approximately two miles from the Echo Canyon or Massai Point parking areas. This short path through pine and juniper forests offers an excellent opportunity to view the full length of Rhyolite Canyon.

Massai Point Nature Trail: an easy .5 miles, beginning near the exhibit building at Massai Point. This self-guided nature trail offers views of a balanced rock, a lookout point, and Rhyolite Canyon to the west.

Natural Bridge Trail: a moderate to difficult 2.4 miles (one way), beginning at the trailhead on the Bonita Canyon scenic drive, approximately 1.25 miles beyond the Visitor Center. This trail climbs through oak and juniper woodlands to an Apache Pine forest, and features a small natural rock bridge toward the end. The return trip is along the same route.

Rhyolite Canyon Trail: a moderate to difficult 1.5 miles (one way), beginning at the Visitor Center Parking Area. The trail climbs out of lower Bonita Canyon into the upper segments of Rhyolite Canyon and offers access to the Heart of Rocks and Echo Canyon areas. From the junction at Sarah Deming Canyon, the left fork will lead into upper Rhyolite Canyon and access Echo Park. The right fork leads into Sarah Deming Canyon towards the Heart of Rocks area.

Sarah Deming Trail: a difficult 1.5 miles (one way) beginning at the Heart of Rocks trail or Rhyolite Canyon trail. This trail climbs almost 1,200 feet in one and a half miles, running through mostly shaded areas with lots of oak and pine.

The Sugarloaf Mountain Trail: a moderate .9 miles (one way), beginning at the parking area off Bonita Canyon scenic drive near the base of Sugarloaf Mountain. This trail, through one of the highest elevation areas in the park, offers exciting views in all directions. The return trip is along the same route.

Upper Rhyolite Trail: a moderate 1.1 miles (one way), that begins at the junction of the Echo Canyon and Hailstone trails, or the junction of the Rhyolite and Sarah Deming trails. This trail runs mostly downhill from Echo Canyon with one uphill portion after the last stream crossing, crossing Rhyolite Creek in several places. It winds through shaded oak and pine woodland, and offers wonderful opportunities to see seasonal birds.