Lower Rhyolite Canyon Trail, AZ

CHIRICAHUA NATIONAL MONUMENT

Chiricahua National Monument is on the north side of the Chiricahua Mountains in the Southeast corner of Arizona. About as far southeast as you can go in Arizona without being in New Mexico or Mexico. This is almost a fairy tale land of Rock spires, pinnacles, balanced rocks, and hoodoos where the laws of gravity don’t seem to apply. Although the park road traverses the park, to fully enjoy this park requires getting out of the car and hiking some of the 17 miles of trails. All the trails in the park are in excellent condition and well signed.


This 12000-acre park was established on April 18, 1924, to preserve the park's natural wonders of weathered volcanic tuff. In 1934 during the great depression, the CCC built the park buildings, many of which still exist today. The many park trails throughout the park today were also constructed by the CCC. Before the monument's 1880s existence, the area was settled by ranchers and, prior to that, the Apaches. The monument has displays on the history, plants, and animals of this unique environment.Geology-wise; when the Pacific Plate was being subducted under the west coast of the North American plate, Arizona was under compression, causing the Mesozoic and Paleozoic rocks to be folded and faulted and older layers were overriding younger. Once the pacific plate spreading ridge reached the North American plate, subduction ceased, and Arizona was now under extension or stretching forces creating an alternating system of mountains and valleys (Horst and Grabens). Early on in the extensional period of Arizona, large pools of molten rock formed under areas of Arizona, and this is where Chiricahua Mountains come in. In an eruption 1000 times greater than the Mount Saint Helen eruption, this magma erupted violently and formed what is known as the Turkey Creek Caldera, a crater 12 miles across. This crater is located in the Chiricahua Mountains in Turkey Creek and west of the Chiricahua ridgeline. The resulting explosion covered the monument with ash over 2000 feet thick, forming the Rhyolitic Tuff that now caps the park. Time and weathering formed the many bazaar rock formations now seen in the park.

If you don’t mind the 2-hour drive from Tucson, Chiricahua Monument is a great place to visit and hike the scenic packed trails. This is relatively remote, so usually not crowded. The four or five times I have been there less than 50 visitors, and at least two of the times less than four cars in the park, and one of them was a park ranger (During the COVID thing).

LOWER RHYOLITE CANYON TRAIL

The Lower Rhyolite Canyon Trail starts at the Monument Visitor Center, about 2.5 miles from the park entrance. Rhyolite Canyon comes in from the east and joins Bonita canyon at this point. Lower Rhyolite Canyon Trail heads up Rhyolite Canyon along the south side of the Creek slowly gaining elevation until at the end of the trail 1.5 miles later at the Sarah Deming and Upper Rhyolite Canyon Trail junctions. At this point, it is 120 feet above the creek bed. The trail is primarily forested with Cedar and pine and since it is on the north-facing side of the canyon offers protection from the sun. The Rhyolite cliffs are about 200 feet up above the trail and can be seen across the canyon along Rhyolite Creek. There are no grand rock formations along this trail but it is the western entrance to the other trails that head up into the rock formations. This trail offers excellent views to the west over Bonita Canyon and the park entrance and up stream into Upper Rhyolite canyon with its cliffs of Rhyolite on either side. Since this is the only trail that enters from the west there are no true loop trails from this trail but there are many options for in and back lollipop hikes.

2021-06-05 markthurman53