View from Massai Point. Photo: NPS Photo
- Entrance
- Free
- Nonresident fee
- None
- Park annual pass
- Not sold
- Payment
- Not listed
Work out the cost for your group
About Chiricahua
Explore rhyolite pinnacles and balanced rocks on foot or by car. Relax at the campground under star-filled, dark skies. See how a mountain range rising between two deserts creates a home for diverse wildlife. Imagine history here. Prehistoric peoples, Apaches, Buffalo Soldiers, Civilian Conservation Corps, ranchers, and homesteaders inhabited Chiricahua.
Things to do
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Birdwatching at Chiricahua
Chiricahua is a haven for birdwatchers, with over 200 different bird species documented in the area!
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Bonita Canyon Drive
This 8-mile paved drive winds up the valley through rock formations, oak, cypress, and pine forests, to Massai Point.
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Bonita Creek Trail
Winding along Bonita Creek, usually dry, this trail connects the Bonita Creek and Faraway Ranch Picnic Areas.
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Echo Canyon Grottoes
Just 1/2 mile from the parking area, on the Echo Canyon Trail, visitors can be amazed by the tunnel-like rock formations.
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Echo Canyon Loop Trail
The most impressive moderate hike in the park.
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Echo Canyon to Visitor Center
This moderate, 4.2 mile/6.8 kilometer trail begins at Echo Canyon trailhead and consists of Echo Canyon, Upper Rhyolite Canyon, and Lower Rhyolite Canyon trails ending at the Visitor Center.
Photos
Faraway Ranch Historic Area Photo: NPS Photo 
Echo Canyon Grotto Photo: NPS 
Bonita Canyon Photo: NPS 
Big Balanced Rock Photo: NPS 
View from Massai Point Photo: NPS 2025
Entrance fees
This park has no entrance fee.
Reservations
NPS lists no entry reservation for this park as of October 26, 2026. Campgrounds and tours may still need booking.
Weather and seasons
The park elevation goes from 5,124 feet at the entrance to 7,310 feet on Sugarloaf Mountain. The top of the park can be 5-10 degrees cooler and windier than the visitor center and entrance. The higher elevations generally have more sun exposure. Clothing layers are always recommended here. The park is often cooler than cities in Arizona with summer highs in the 80s and 90s. Winter lows are often near or below freezing.
Hours
The road, campground, and facilities in the park are open overnight. Gates on the road will not be closed during overnight hours unless an emergency occurs. The park prohibits overnight parking, sleeping in vehicles, and camping outside the campground. The trails stay open for sunrise, sunset, and night sky viewing. Be aware of wildlife and use extreme caution.
Getting there
Chiricahua National Park is in the southeast corner of Arizona. Interstate I10 from LA or Tucson to El Paso or Lordsburg runs about 40 miles north of the park. Exits in Willcox to Hwy 186 are the most direct paved access to the park from the north. (Exits 336, 340, and 344). Note: Exit 366 to Bowie will require driving 10 miles of dirt road. This route is recommended only if stopping at Fort Bowie National Historic Site.
Campgrounds
Visitor centers
Alerts
- Information: Vehicle Length & Trailer Restrictions
