Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness
About 27 million years ago the Turkey Creek volcano, in the heart of the Chiricahua Mountains, spewed forth more than 100 cubic miles of white-hot ash and pumice that settled, fused, and cooled into a...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 10,290 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.0119, -109.3401 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 9 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 1 moreHide
Fire nearby
- PrescribedDouglas Piles Rx
18 mi from the center point · 14 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 8.6 miFort Bowie National Historic Site ↗National Historic Landmark
- 0.1 miStafford Cabin ↗Willcox, AZ
- 0.4 mi
- 4.5 miBarfoot Lookout Complex ↗Portal, AZ
- 5.3 miRustler Park Fire Guard Station ↗Douglas, AZ
- 7.8 miSilver Peak Lookout Complex ↗Portal, AZ
- 8.1 miCima Park Fire Guard Station ↗Douglas, AZ
- 9.9 miPortal Ranger Station ↗Portal, AZ
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?
10,290 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Bonita Canyon Campground, 0.2 miles out. 9 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.012, -109.340. Chiricahua National Monument is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Douglas Piles Rx at 18 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 20 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?
Chiricahua National Monument (adjacent) and Fort Bowie National Historic Site (9 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?
9 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Fort Bowie National Historic Site and Stafford Cabin.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.