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 2,000-foot-thick layer of grey volcanic rock known as rhyolite. Then, nature’s sculptors (ice, water, wind) began whittling away at the rock to eventually create craggy grottoes, towering rock spires, massive stone columns, and balanced rocks weighing hundreds of tons. Known to the Chiricahua Apache Nation as "Land of the Standing-Up Rocks," this wonderland of rocks was renamed Chiricahua National Monument by the National Park Service in 1924.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 10,290 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.01° N, 109.34° W |
| 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.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 7 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedDouglas Piles Rx
18 mi from the center point · 46 acres
- PrescribedCamp Rucker Piles Rx
18 mi from the center point
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.
Guidebooks for Arizona
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
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?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.012° N, 109.340° W. 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?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Douglas Piles Rx at 18 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
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?
The National Register has 9 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.