Arizona’s Chiricahua ‘wonderland’ becomes national park near SoCal

Move over, Grand Canyon. Arizona officially has a new national park to brag about — and it’s practically next door to millions of outdoor lovers in Southern California.

Chiricahua National Park became America’s 64th “best idea” on Tuesday, after President Trump signed a bill to redesignate the Chiricahua Mountains scenic spot, which for years held national monument status. The park is the country’s first new national park in six years.

Nicknamed “The Wonderland of Rocks,” Chiricahua, located southeast of Tucson, is known for its remarkable rock formations called sky islands, which formed following a volcanic eruption about 27 million years ago.

Visitors to San Diego parks have the easiest drive from major SoCal cities to this scenic spot – about 6 hours from the eastern part of San Diego County.

Arizona is home to several other national parks, including the Grand Canyon, but also Petrified Forest National Park and Saguaro National Park.

“Chiricahua’s towering rock spiers, rich Apache heritage and remarkable biodiversity make it one of America’s most extraordinary landscapes,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum..

“This new designation will highlight one of Arizona’s hidden gems, creating opportunities to welcome more visitors, strengthen local economies and share this incredible landscape with more Americans.”

The park had about 70,000 visitors last year, according to Burgum.

Chiricahua was first protected as a national monument in 1924. The 12,000-acre park is home to a diverse wildlife ecosystem, including coati and javelinas, and is the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache Band of Apache Native Americans, who call the area “the land of the standing rocks.”

“Today is a historic day for Arizona. Making Chiricahua a national park has been a priority of mine since I came to the Senate, so I’m thrilled that this day has finally arrived,” Senator Mark Kelly said in a press release.

“A bipartisan effort from the start, this is a victory for the communities of southeastern Arizona and all who have worked to protect this extraordinary place so our children and grandchildren can enjoy it.”

The park has 17 miles of trails to explore, including the 8-mile Bonita Canyon Drive, which takes you up to Massai Point, where you can enjoy 360-degree views of the landscape from more than 6,800 feet above sea level.

If you’re looking to get away from the big city lights, Chiricahua is the perfect destination. In 2021, the preserve was named Dark Sky Park, meaning it has one of the darkest night skies in the world – a distinction it shares with much of southern Arizona.

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