Chiricahua Mountains Hike trails near Portal, Arizona. I must say that despite the heavy burn, the trail signs are all where they are supposed to be. A faint, ab… The Chiricahua Peak Trail is accessible via Junction Saddle, (31.84959, -109.28897) a four-way junction where the three legs of the Crest Trail meet. this trail could use some tlc. The northwestern side of Chiricahua Peak burned in the Horseshoe 2 fire of 2011, and most of the trail is now fully exposed with little to no tree cover. (31.84407, -109.28788) Over the last 0.13 mile, the trail drops down off the spine of the ridge and contours around the south slope, curving southeast, then east until it connects with the Crest Trail at the signed Ojo Agua Fria Trail junction. I, with a group of 5, did this hike, with a modification, on April 2nd. It is the highest summit in the Chiricahua Mountains and the highest point in Cochise County. Nearby Peak Searches: Radius Search - Nearest Peaks to Chiricahua Peak Elevation Ladder from Chiricahua Peak Prominence Ladder from Chiricahua Peak A view of Chiricahua Peak heading south on the Crest Trail (2015-04-28). Stayed at the Rustler Park. The top is still shaded with live trees and can provide a great lunch spot or campsite. TheI Hike for Health program is a hiking challenge you can attempt on your own or with your friends and family. Bassett Peak & Chiricahua NM & Willcox Wine Weekend; when: November 13-16, 2020 where: Galiuro Wilderness, near Willcox: the hike Bassett Peak in the Galiuro Wilderness is one of the top places in Arizona to view fall colors, and early November is the peak time to be there. With 15 trail combinations, the Chiricahua National Monument offers hours of outdoor recreation. Chiricahua Peak 9,742 is a 0.75 mile one way hike with 283 feet elevation gain. The first time we visited Chiricahua National Monument, we thought we must have entered a rock-formation-wonderland. — Nuernberger • Jun 11, 2016 The trail is primarily used for hiking and backpacking and is accessible year-round. From that point until the summit we were hiking thru snow and ice. Hiking the Chiricahua Mountains The Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona form one of the largest freestanding mountain ranges in the state and offer a rich assortment of hiking opportunities, with hundreds of miles of official trails. As of May 2019, this trail is free of deadfall following a Sierra Club service trip. Didn't want to continue in those conditions so we reversed and descended down Mormon Creek Trail, #43. The worst portion was from the saulsbury saddle heading toward the crest trail, the trail must have been burried by falling rock/soil. Amazing views. Depending on the amount of energy we have left, we may hike a short distance up to Chiricahua Peak before dinner. Douglas, AZ 85607 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. The best way to get in touch with the canyon is on foot. Supervisor's Office 300 W. Congress St. Tucson, AZ 85701 (520) 388-8300. See the Trail Guide for more information on hiking in the “Land of the Standing up Rocks.” You can also hike 1.5 miles into Fort Bowie, now a national historic site.It was the site of the Bascom Affair, which sparked the Indian Wars. Consider things such as access and accommodation at the base of Chiricahua Peak, … Climaxed by 9,797 foot Chiricahua Peak, this 87,700-acre Wilderness covers the upper slopes and inner canyons of the largest mountain range in … Beautiful views. June and July are the best month Chiricahua Peak 9,742, AZ | HikeArizona CHIRICAHUA MONUMENT. The 8-mile paved scenic drive and 17-miles of day-use hiking trails provide opportunities to discover the beauty, natural sounds, and inhabitants of this 12,025 acre site. The agua fria was a very nice clear spring, headquarters spring not so much, anita was good. Chiricahua Peak is easy to climb, with a few possible starting points ranging from half-day hikes to longer overnighters. From Junction Saddle, take the central fork angling to the southwest. 119 trails with 3 photos A hike up Chiricahua will give you the county highpoint of Cochise County and one of the 57 "Ultra" prominent peaks in the lower-48 states, with over 5,000 feet of prominence. Peak has no real views but with good timing the meadows can be full and blooming. (31.84446, -109.28831) Follow this for 100 feet to a switchback, where the trail turns approximately east. (31.84417, -109.28831) Continue to follow it 140 feet to another bend in the trail, turning south again. This trail is in bad shape, with numerous dead trees covering the trail. From there we took off for another spring that was listed on our topo map. Anita park is ~4.9 miles from Rustler park, the Chiricahua peak summit trail turnoff is ~0.5 miles past the Anita park turnoff. Silver Peak in the Chiricahua Mountains is accessed from the east side of the range. Chiricahua does offer lots of hiking when other parts of the West are under snow. This is a fairly easy hike up until about the last mile when you hit the switch backs to the peak. The trail to Chiricahua Peak first traverses below Raspberry Peak (elevation 2866 m), this peak is independent (prominence exceeding 100 meter) and an easy climb from the trail. We will catch Flys Peak on another trip. This is the highest peak in Cochise County AZ! When choosing a trail, an important consideration is the temperature and season in which you will be hiking. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Trail map here. The trail is primarily used for hiking and backpacking and is accessible year-round. This 8.3 mile RT hike will combine the best of Chiricahua scenery. Chiricahua Peak was once named Round Mountain, presumably due to the fact that it's a small, rounded bump atop the crest of the Chiricahuas and not immediately obvious as the highest point. The views are decent. Name: Crest Trail #270 Difficulty: Moderate Length of Hike (r/t): 12.8 miles Trail Elevation Change: 1,659 ft. Water: Drinking water at trailhead.Intermittent and non-potable water off trail at Tub Spring (2.4 miles from trailhead, 0.3 mile detour to the east down a trail to the left) and at Anita Spring (5.3 miles) "2 day Trip in the Chiricahua Mountains, Great area to Hike and avoid the heat of the Lower Elevation. Tim says that after roughly a mile you’ll finally reach the Chiricahua Peak Trail, which can take you to the summit with an elevation of 9,759 feet. Junction Saddle is 4.86 miles south along the northern leg of the Crest Trail from the junction just above Rustler Park, 2.23 miles northeast from the terminus of the southwestern leg of the Crest Trail at the Turtle Mountain Trail just below Monte Vista Peak, and 4.94 miles northwest from the terminus of the southeastern leg of the Crest Trail at Sentinel Peak. (31.84593, -109.29123) A short walk to the north reveals a great view that wasn't visible before the fire opened up the tree cover. A faint, abandoned portion of the trail (not included in the trail length or elevation change) heads down to Aspen Saddle from just before the summit. (31.84315, -109.28646). It is a short segment of the Crest Trail, trail 270, which is a series of trails running the length of the Chiricahua Mountains. 3-D View | Map to Trailhead | Map of Hike | Hike Info | Photo | Map to Trailhead | Map of Hike | Hike Info | Photo Chiricahua Peak Trail is a 15 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Rodeo, New Mexico that features a great forest setting and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. The Chiricahua Mountains contain numerous trails of all lengths and varying degrees of difficulty. A wildfire scorched the landscape which I found enjoyable. Difficult hike but worth it. The trail to the summit is in great shape, except for the start where lots of social trails lead in a confusing jumble. Good core workout climbing over them. I wouldn't put this as a must do but if you are in the area go for it. Views to the south are really incredible due to the mass of rock hoodoos around Cave Creek Canyon. Please submit any useful information about climbing Chiricahua Peak that may be useful to other climbers. Apart from a few paths that start along the highway, hiking in Chiricahua National Monument is concentrated in the high elevation area where the best volcanic formations are found, centered on the Heart of Rocks. Douglas Ranger District 1192 West Saddleview Rd. 9450 ft – 9740 ft. The trail heads northwest through meadows. The trail is primarily used for hiking and trail running and is best used from March until November. Trails are getting cleared, new Signs are up and in general the area is just a Pleasure to hike for miles on end. " Elevation range: We'll have lunch on the peak before we head back to camp. The trail starts at about 8500’ and ends at approximately 8800’ winding through tall Ponderosa Pines on a well maintained trail. Bushwacked the final because we couldn't find a trail. This trail goes by Rustler Park Campground, Rustler Park, Hillside Spring, Fly Park Spring, Fly Park, Booger Spring, Cima Saddle, Anita Park, Chiricahua Vista Helispot, Junction Saddle, Fly Peak, Fly Saddle, Riggs Peak… Trailhead: Rustler Park The Chiricahua Mountains are one of Southern Arizona’s sky islands, rising to nearly 10,000′ from the desert near the border with Mexico. There are also many fallen trees, but thats throughout the forest and understandable since the fire. Follow the trails listed below or create your own loop for a shorter or longer hike. I followed in this order. Chiricahua Peak Trail is a 15 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Rodeo, New Mexico that features a great forest setting and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. For the hike itself I was indecisive about the route up. Chiricahua Peak Via Mormon Canyon Trail is a 8.6 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Rodeo, New Mexico that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as difficult. Lemmon on Thursday, Chiricahua on Friday, and Graham on Saturday. A Wonderland of Rocks. A "Wonderland of Rocks" is waiting for you to explore at Chiricahua National Monument. Like all hikes, glad to have done it, but given the amount of snow this year, should have waited a month and avoided Mormon Creek. The Chiricahua Peak Trail is accessible via Junction Saddle, (31.84959, -109.28897) a four-way junction where the three legs of the Crest Trail meet. Stop there for lunch and enjoy the views. A faint, abandoned southeastern route to the peak leaves the southeastern leg of the Crest Trail at Aspen Saddle, directly across from the signed junction with the Ojo Agua Fria Trail. Ed Riggs, Hailstone, and Echo Canyon Trail, Heart of Rocks Loop via Ed Riggs Trail, Mushroom Rock Trail, and Big Balanced Rock Trail, Mormon Ridge Trail and Mormon Canyon Trail Loop. Peak: Chiricahua Peak: Location: USA-Arizona: Elevation: 9759 ft / 2974 m: Ascent Trip Report How I chose this peak: Another Ultra The plan: This was part of a trip where I had three hikes planned. We were used to the red rocks of Utah (Bryce and Arches have long been favorite national parks), but this was a totally different experience: These rock formations looked like people, animals, and objects, and these rock formations were gray and covered with green and … The trail switchbacks several times as it climbs to the peak, and reenters the trees 400 feet from the peak itself. Be the first to submit your climbing note! The Chiricahua Wilderness is home to a fascinating diversity of both plant and animal life, as well as some of the Southwest’s most spectacular geology. Hiking is a great way to exercise while exploring the wonderland of rocks and the history of the American West at Chiricahua National Monument. In winter, hikes in the canyon bottom and up to ~7,000 feet are pleasant. This trek is known as "The Big Loop" in Chiricahua National Monument. Chiricahua Peak Very simple hiking with moderate to easy hiking terrain. Contact Information. I saw fire damage mostly on the western ridges below the trail line. Junction Saddle is 4.86 miles south along the northern leg of the Crest Trail from the junction just above Rustler Park, 2.23 miles northeast from the terminus of the southwestern leg of the Crest Trail at the Turtle Mountain Trail just below Monte Vista Peak, and 4.94 miles northwest from the terminus of the southeastern leg of the Crest Trailat Sentinel Peak. We left the packs behind and took off for the highest peak in the area Chiricahua Peak (9786 Ft.). oh boy. The most popular route comes in from the north via Rustler Park campground, high on the main range crest. Located 37 miles north-northeast of Douglas Arizona. On Saturday, we'll leave our camp and head off to Monte Vista Peak. Turtle Mountain Trail #219 is in good shape, as is most of the Crest Trail #270, until reaching the intersection with Mormon Ridge Trail #269. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. (31.84585, -109.29126) Follow the spine of the ridge down for approximately 1000 feet until you start to pick up more visible tread angling to the south. This is good because the Crest trail is almost more a collection of many junctions to other trails. (31.84315, -109.28646), Trail descriptions & maps © 2020 Jonathan Patt; mileage, elevations & GPS coordinates public domain. A USGS benchmark marks the summit. Chiricahua Peak Climbing Notes. This is a moderate loop trail to Chiricahua Peak in Chiricahua Wilderness Area. 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