Summary: These mountains surrounded by desert were created twenty seven million years ago during volcanic eruptions. The Turkey Creek Caldera eruption poured out two thousand feet of highly ash and pumice. This mixture fused into a rock called rhyolitic tuff, which is a lithified deposit of airfall volcanic ash sometimes mixing with original mudstones to form tuffites (now you know I copied this).

Over time, with wind and rain causing erosion, some very unusual and much easier to pronounce rock formation came into being. Chiricahua is the Apache word for "standing rocks".

Now you can drive or hike through these formations. The altitude also gives this area a longer visitation season than might be found in other local attractions.

Features: Massai Point Nature Trail, Echo Canyon, Bonita Canyon Drive, Natural Bridge, Organ Pipe Formation, Stafford Cabin, Faraway Ranch. The trails vary from the easy Massai Point Nature Trail to more difficult trails through the canyon.

Area Attractions:
Tombstone, Cochise Stronghold, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Kartchner Caverns State Park. The area is an agricultural bread basket. You can find lots of fresh produce and pistachio farms along the way.

Food & Sundries:
Get anything you need in Willcox or Benson before you come. You won't see anything between Chiricahua and Willcox except for cows and the INS.

Directions:

Obtain gas in Willcox; gasoline is not available at or near the monument.

Local Towns:
Benson ,  Willcox

Local Accommodations:
Benson ,  Willcox

Camping & RV:
There's camping in park at Bonita Canyon Campground. No hook-ups are available, though there is water around the campgrounds. First come, first served when I was there.

There's also a tent only group campsite for between 8 - 24 people. Reservations required for this site.