Click here for larger-size photo. Second Visit, November 2003: and I planned to hike another Arizona county highpoint while the weather state-wide remained mild. Our "hunt" had been a success. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The range is a result of a massive volcanic event, the Turkey Creek eruption, from 27 million years ago. I took the "lower" one, the one literally in the creekbed (the "upper" one's trailhead is about a half-mile west of the lower's trailhead, but there is no convenient parking for that trailhead). Our "hunt" had been a success. 10139 E Circlestone Ct, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. The trail begins at the end of the Sycamore campsites off a spur from Turkey Creek Road. , Crossing these obstacles was easy at first, but soon, especially on the final approach heading south of the saddle to the peak, the quantity of deadfall was enormous. 1. I followed the same route as I had come up. At the top, the trail began a short but steep series of switchbacks. Chiricahua Peak is located in southeastern Arizona, and is one of the Ultra-Prominent peaks of the lower 48 and also an Arizona 2000 ft. prominence peak. After another three-quarters of a mile, it crossed the creek bed, then paralled up the left side for another 1.5 miles. I met with a couple of hikers at Point 8,700, the only people I saw the whole day on the route. Broadly speaking, there are six basic plant communities, and each supports a unique subset of birds." Cochise himself died in 1874. The exit took 90 minutes, and our hike had required just 4 hours. 10766 E Secret Canyon Rd, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. We followed the Crest Trail south, contouring past Flys Peak, coming to a meadow at Round Park, then contoured around smaller peaks before coming to Cima Park ("Park" is used in these cases to refer to saddles along the range crest). In 2007 there were about 14,000 speakers of Western Apache, about half of whom belong to the White Mountain Apache tribe and can be found on the Fort Apache Reservation. Turn right (south) on AZ 186 and continue for 23 miles. Your IP: I salvaged the day with a drive up the Coronado Highway and a visit to the Greenlee County Highpoint, plus a speeding ticket. Since you're in the area, definitely spend a day in the Chiricahua National Monument. With this ascent, I had my 11th Arizona County highpoint completed, a task I would finish a few months later. After another three-quarters of a mile, it crossed the creek bed, then paralled up the left side for another 1.5 miles. I took the "lower" one, the one literally in the creekbed (the "upper" one's trailhead is about a half-mile west of the lower's trailhead, but there is no convenient parking for that trailhead). Quality of the trail ranged from good to scant. I had a choiceloop south then east and approach the summit from the southeast, or loop north. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. Route down to the spring exists but first part is overgrown and hard to follow. The Chiricahua Mountains are located in southeast Arizona in Cochise County and the summit, Chiricahua Peak, is the highest point of the county and one of just 57 "Ultra" prominent peaks in the lower-48 states, with over 5,000 feet of prominence above the desert floors. These relics span the period from 150 BCE 1450. Parts were nice, parts had downed trees and branches obstructing the way, and all of it was covered under a heavy mat of pine needles, cones and leaves. Parts of the trail were completely obscured, but periodic cairns alerted me to the route. Easily find farms for sale at FARMFLIP.com. Chiricahua Peak is easy to climb, with a few possible starting points ranging from half-day hikes to longer overnighters. In the post-colonial era the establishment of so-called 'peaceparks' that straddle the borders of states has come to be seen as a key not only to increasing tourism in the Southern African region, but also to the modernizing of conservation policies and the development of rural economies. It is located at just a kilometre to the north of Trakiya motorway. From Willcox the drive is about 35 miles to the start of the dirt road, and another 14 miles to the Rustlers Park campground. I arrived back to my truck at 2 p.m. There is a cabin and lookout tower on this peak. From point 8,700, I proceeded south a half-mile to the Chiricahua Saddle, elevation 9,100 feet. The eruption was so massive, it created a literal wall of mountains, where the range crests stay above 9,000 feet for miles at a time, resulting in numerous bumps of nearly equal height. Conditions: Sunny and cool The other notable attraction in these mountains is the Chiricahua National Monument, which features thousands of spires and "hoodoos", formed by the erosion of the tuff that resulted from the eruption. I followed the same route as I had come up. A couple of days with a few chainsaws and this trail could be seriously revitalized. I met with a couple of hikers at Point 8,700, the only people I saw the whole day on the route. We drove the roads and took a walking tour of Faraway Ranch, the home of the Ericksons, homesteaders whose efforts led to the formation of the Chiricahua National Monument years later. The summit is marked by a benchmark in a boulder situated at the base of a large tree. The trail begins at the end of the Sycamore campsites off a spur from Turkey Creek Road. With this ascent, I had my 11th Arizona County highpoint completed, a task I would finish a few months later. Rucker Canyon Road (dirt) leads to campsites from the south, and AZ-80 has access roads allowiong access from the east side. It is the highest summit in the Chiricahua Mountains and the highest point in Cochise County. Apache is an Athabaskan (Na-Den) language spoken in central Arizona in the USA. The most popular route comes in from the north via Rustler Park campground, high on the main range crest. Led at first by Chief Cochise (for whom the county is named), and after Cochise's death, by Geronimo, the Apache, numbering just a few hundred, fought vigorously and remained at large until 1886, when Geronimo was captured. Read more to find out how. There are two trails that run parallel along the Mormon Creek drainage. Much of current-day Cochise County had been formed into an Indian Reservation, but new settlers thought the area could be better put to use, e.g. Hike a combined 5 mi / 8 km in the park and earn a commemorative pin from a park ranger. However, it may not be the fastest. [2], Following the transition to ceramics,[3] artifacts characteristic of both Mogollon culture and its local variants, the Mimbres culture, are found. Dates: (1) February 20, 2000; (2) November 8, 2003 Encompassing approximately 1,000 square miles, elevations vary from 4,000 feet in the San Simon Valley to 9,796 feet at the summit of Chiricahua Peak. The Chiricahua Crest. See my trip report on PeakBagger: https://peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=1279987, View Chiricahua Peak Image Gallery - 24 Images. Cindy Barks. The trailhead's elevation is approximately 6,400 feet. You can now make campground reservations online. The quadrangle is located about 70 km southeast of Willcox, Ariz. I make my way through the burned forest The summit from the nearby trail So here it was, a month later. iv, no. Prominence: 661 feet We suited up and got things in order, starting the hike at 9:10 a.m. From Long Park, we followed a mostly-level trail south for two-thirds of a mile to the Crest Trail (Trail 270). Small cactus are present in this zone like prickly pear, cholla, barrel and hedgehog cactus. You could also hike this portion as well, then meet the crest trail. The benchmark's elevation is listed as 9,795 feet, which is probably a mistake. After gathering my gear and talking with some guy camping, I hit the trail. Photo by Graeme Rankine. Phone +1 520-824-3560. After hiking the steep switchbacks, the trail converged with the upper Mormon trail, meeting at an elevation of 8,700 feet. The trail leads through some pretty meadows. The trail begins at the end of the Sycamore campsites off a spur from Turkey Creek Road. (3), Additions & Corrections But just before the monument entrance, turn right at a signed junction (Pinery Canyon) and then follow a good, if steep, dirt road up into the mountains to the Rustler Park campgrounds. It was so nice, I laid in the bed of my truck and took a catnap for a half-hour before packing up, changing into dry clothes and proceeding home. Still a few downed trunks here and there but way less than before. It was hunting season and we came upon a father and son sitting along the trail, rifles on their laps. We spent a little more time here, trying to see things from various points around the summit area. If I could get us there, our hike would be relatively short. We hiked up the easy grades, took a breakfast break, and followed the trail past Anita Springs and directly up to the summit, 3.5 miles and 2 hours after starting, in exquisite weather. Date: November 9, 2003 Gain: 500 feet The Chiricahua Peak quadrangle includes the crest of the Chiricahua Mountains and offers unusual ecologic diversity that ranges from Sonoran desert through . There is so much trail maintenance needed on this trail, it's a shame it's not been done. The The next day we returned to the Monument and did two hikes: a 3.5-mile loop through the Heart of Rocks and its spectacular rock formations, and a 2-mile hike up Sugarloaf Peak. Going up and over them was often impossible. Visitors love Chiricahua for its stunning rock columns (hoodoos), hiking trails, and bird watching opportunities. The creek itself had running water down low, fed by springs. The Chiricahua Mountains from the north Prominence: 661 feet I followed Turkey Creek Road into the range to the Mormon Creek trailhead area. Purchase one for $3,495 or all three for $9,000. The summit team Cochise County Anita park is depressing. After hiking the steep switchbacks, the trail converged with the upper Mormon trail, meeting at an elevation of 8,700 feet. We chose to approach the peak via the Crest Trail, with Rustler Park as our first choice but also keeping our options open depending on road conditions and other factors. Where AZ-181 makes a hard bend left, stay straight, now on dirt Turkey Creek Road. it's kind of hard to find where it starts back up. 1/4 to 2/3 of the trail, spikes and thorns, many fallen trees, a big problem. I took the "lower" one, the one literally in the creekbed (the "upper" one's trailhead is about a half-mile west of the lower's trailhead, but there is no convenient parking for that trailhead). Led at first by Chief Cochise (for whom the county is named), and after Cochise's death, by Geronimo, the Apache, numbering just a few hundred, fought vigorously and remained at large until 1886, when Geronimo was captured. Elevation: 7,310 feet From Long Park, we followed a mostly-level trail south for two-thirds of a mile to the Crest Trail (Trail 270). The mountains and the eponymous highpoint get their name from the Chiricahua band of Apache Indians, who lived and roamed these lands for centuries before becoming part of the United States after the Gadsden Purchase in 1854. The eruption was so massive, it created a literal wall of mountains, where the range crests stay above 9,000 feet for miles at a time, resulting in numerous bumps of nearly equal height. Chiricahua offers a range of day hiking options from easy to strenuous. I met with a couple of hikers at Point 8,700, the only people I saw the whole day on the route. Lots of trees provide food and shelter for wildlife. The Apache, of course, wanted no part of this, and for the better part of 30 years, fought a guerrilla-style war against American explorers and settlers in this region. With maps in hand, you have a choice of trailheads. 2:30 Ascent; 1:30 Descent. See campground regulations and map. PB LoJ It's not super difficult in terms of steepness, nor length. (See also www.roguegeopolitics.com). We suited up and got things in order, starting the hike at 9:10 a.m. We followed the Crest Trail south, contouring past Flys Peak, coming to a meadow at Round Park, then contoured around smaller peaks before coming to Cima Park ("Park" is used in these cases to refer to saddles along the range crest). We spent a little more time here, trying to see things from various points around the summit area. If I could get us there, our hike would be relatively short. Leave US-191 at AZ-181 and proceed due east through Sunizona. mining, farming, etc. Thankfully, this segment wasn't too long and soon I arrived at the summit, exactly three hours after starting my hike. I didn't have any plans, so I decided to go back to the Chiricahua Range on a whim. From here it was a consistently moderate uphill grade along nice wide trail. A collection of horror stories, urban legends, and the occult from Arizonas unexamined past. Performance & security by Cloudflare. After a mile, the trail came to a spring and remnants of an old pump station. A large fire from a couple years ago had defoliated much of this part of the mountain and the burn scars were still evident. The hike down was quick, although the loose rocks were more treacherous as I moved downhill. Manzanita is threatening to take over near the top but can still get through. AZ For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. There are also speakers of Western Apache in the San . I wasn't keen on battling this for another five miles, so I abandoned the hike and returned to my truck. It is flat for a few hundred yards, then swings left, where a sign mentions the distance to the peak as 5 miles. [7] Make Your Campground Reservations You can now make campground reservations online. Please love me. [13], The Chiricahua Mountains are a bio-diverse area which is composed of numerous sky islands. At just over a mile high in elevation, Chiricahua National Monument enjoys fairly mild weather year round. From Long Park, we followed a mostly-level trail south for two-thirds of a mile to the Crest Trail (Trail 270). Rustler Park is the best option for hikes starting from the north on the Crest Trail. After a mile, the trail came to a spring and remnants of an old pump station. The item Geologic map of the Chiricahua Peak quadrangle, Cochise County, Arizona, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey ; by Edward A. du Bray and John S. Pallister represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Indiana State Library. The Chiricahua Mountains massif is a large mountain range in southeastern Arizona which is part of the Basin and Range province of the west and southwestern United States and northwest Mexico; the range is part of the Coronado National Forest. I tried to go underneath as often as I could, preferring not to touch or put any weight on these massive logs. Our "hunt" had been a success. I arrived back to my truck at 2 p.m. The exit took 90 minutes, and our hike had required just 4 hours. It was hunting season and we came upon a father and son sitting along the trail, rifles on their laps.   The Chiricahua Mountains are located in southeast Arizona in Cochise County and the summit, Chiricahua Peak, is the highest point of the county and one of just 57 "Ultra" prominent peaks in the lower-48 states, with over 5,000 feet of prominence above the desert floors. Near the top, a bit of ice, not a big problem. I stayed 15 minutes at the top. We spent a little more time here, trying to see things from various points around the summit area. I left home at 4:15 a.m. and arrived to the range by 8:00 a.m. The hike down was quick, although the loose rocks were more treacherous as I moved downhill. Parts of the trail were completely obscured, but periodic cairns alerted me to the route. Gain: 3,300 feet in 2000, 700 feet in 2003 Cabin and lookout tower on this trail could be seriously revitalized I had come.... 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