Chiricahua Wilderness
More than a century ago the Chiricahua Apache Tribe called the Chiricahua Mountains their own. From here the Apache defended their homeland by launching surprise attacks on U.S. Army troops and pioneer settlements, and here the Chiricahua Apache Indian Reservation stood for a short time. Today, the Wilderness adjoins Chiricahua National Monument, home to some of the most starkly spectacular geology of the southwestern United States. This mountainous realm rises to a climax of 9,797 feet at Chiricahua Peak. Many of the unusual birds that live here are most often seen in Mexico.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arizona |
| Size | 87,182 acres |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 31.84° N, 109.28° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 16) |
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 9 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.
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Trails
47 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 191 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Crest ↗ | 25.7 | |
| Witch Ridge ↗ | 13 | |
| Rattlesnake ↗ | 8 | |
| Rock Creek ↗ | 7.9 | |
| Snowshed ↗ | 7.9 | |
| Red Rock Canyon ↗ | 7 | |
| South Fork ↗ | 6.8 | |
| Burro ↗ | 6.6 | |
| Raspberry Ridge ↗ | 6.5 | |
| Price Canyon ↗ | 5.8 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedDouglas Piles Rx
8 mi from the center point · 46 acres
- PrescribedCamp Rucker Piles Rx
8 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
- 13.7 miFort Bowie National Historic Site ↗National Historic Landmark
- under 0.1 miCima Park Fire Guard Station ↗Douglas, AZ
- under 0.1 miMonte Vista Lookout Cabin ↗Elfrida, AZ
- 0.6 miPortal Ranger Station ↗Portal, AZ
- 0.7 miRustler Park Fire Guard Station ↗Douglas, AZ
- 1.4 miBarfoot Lookout Complex ↗Portal, AZ
- 2.3 miSilver Peak Lookout Complex ↗Portal, AZ
- 3.9 miStafford Cabin ↗Willcox, 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 Wilderness?
87,182 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Chiricahua Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Chiricahua Wilderness in?
Arizona.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Chiricahua Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1964.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Chiricahua 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 Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 31.840° N, 109.280° W. Chiricahua National Monument is 4 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Chiricahua Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Douglas Piles Rx at 8 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Chiricahua Wilderness?
Chiricahua National Monument (4 mi) and Fort Bowie National Historic Site (14 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Chiricahua Wilderness?
The National Register has 10 listings within 15 miles, including Fort Bowie National Historic Site and Cima Park Fire Guard Station.
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.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- 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.