Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument is a neat little park (11,000 acres - maybe not so little) tucked into the southeast corner of Arizona. It is composed of an area of rhyolite tuff that has weathered into fantastic formations. Rhyolite is a volcanic rock composed mostly of silica. The park has 17 miles of hiking trails that take you through the fantastic rhyolite formations.

Entrance Sign

Campsite #9
Bonita Canyon Campground (1998)

Black Tailed Rattlesnake
caught in my campsite

Bonita Canyon Campground (2001)

Could be Bonita Canyon

Yarrow's Spiny Lizard
(Sceloporus jarrovii)

Healthy Prickly Pear

Formations at Massai Point

Lookout Point (Massai Point)
Massai Point Nature Trail

Sugarloaf Mountain
View from Massai Nature Trail

Sugarloaf Mountain
View from Echo Canyon Trail

Fire Lookout Tower
Summit of Sugarloaf Mountain

Rhyolite Hoodoos

Balanced rock formation (1998)

Yarrow's Spiny Lizard
(Sceloporus jarrovii)

Arizona Sister butterfly

Rhyolite Hoodoos

Chiricahua Mountains?

Big Balanced Rock Trail

Rhyolite Pinnacles (hoodoos)

Could be Sulphur Springs Valley

Don't know the name, but I like it.

Manzanita

Alligator Juniper

Totem Canyon

Another large balanced rock

Kind of looks like a pirate

Balanced rock wannabe (2001)

Yarrow's Spiny Lizard (best picture)

"Big Balanced Rock"
Big Balanced Rock Trail

Heart of Rocks

I believe that Heart of Rocks area has the best of the tuff formations, many of which are named. Totem canyon is a close second, though.

"Indian Chief" (1998)

"Camel Rock" (1998)

View from Heart of Rocks Loop Trail?

"Punch and Judy" (1998)
Heart of Rocks Loop Trail

"Duck on a Rock" (1998)
Heart of Rocks Loop Trail

"Kissing Rocks" (1998)

"Kissing Rocks" (2001)

You name it.

"Duck on a Rock" (2001)

Sugarloaf Mountain View from Heart of Rocks Loop Trail

"Punch and Judy"

"Punch and Judy" (2001)

Barrel cactus in bloom

"Camel Rock" (2001)

"Indian Chief" (2001)

"Pinnacle Balanced Rock" (2001)

Faraway Ranch

Faraway Ranch is a historic District because of its significance in the settlement of southeatern Arizona and the end of the frontier. Neil Erickson, and his wife Emma, homesteaded and ranched in Bonita Canyon from 1887 to 1917, at which time the ranch was turned over to their daughter, Lillian. Lillian added guest facilities to the ranch and continued to manage it until her death in 1977. Her husband, Ed Riggs, was intrumental in promoting the area of rhyolite tuff to the southeast of the ranch, which became Chiricahua National Monument.

Faraway Ranch

Ranch House

Out building

Could be part of a windmill
Stover Manufacturing Freeport, IL

Coues' White-tailed deer

Footbridge (1998)

Stephanie on Footbridge (2001)

Bathing or drinking?

Stafford Cabin