Heart of Rocks from Rhyolite TH, AZ

Overview
This trail is part of the Chiricahua National Monument (founded in 1924) and includes some of the most picturesque views of the mountain range, located in the far southeast corner of Arizona. In addition to the formations in Rhyolite Canyon, there is lots of vegetation due to the seasonal stream here. Stands of Apache and Chihuahua pines, cypress, juniper, and a few kinds of oak trees. Some of the tree trunks are scorched from the massive Horseshoe II fire, which burned 223,000 acres in and around the Chiricahuas in 2011. Lots of birds, including the Mexican bluejay, are commonly seen.


History
The big attractions of the entire stretch of trail are the rhyolite rock hoodoos, which are formations carved by ice and water from layers of volcanic ash-flow tuff blown out during the Turkey Creek caldera eruption 27 million years ago. As the ash and debris from the eruption settled and compacted over time, it formed a thick layer of rock called rhyolite tuff which has fissured and eroded over time, forming the spectacular rock pillars of Chiricahua National Monument. The massive eruption created other geologic features of the park, including shallow caves, faults, mountain formations, ancient lava flows, and a giant volcanic caldera located just south of the park.The Chiricahua Apache, an Athabaskan people, entered the region in the 15th century. These people considered themselves to be sacred warriors and by the 1700s were raiding into Mexico, leading the Spanish to settle and try to defend this northernmost region of Mexico. The Spanish left with Mexican independence in 1821, giving the Apache control until the Gadsden Purchase, and the later Apache Wars of the early 1860s led to the U.S. military establishing control of the area.

Hike
The trail starts at the Visitor Center parking lot and is a breeze to follow. Most of the hike is at a slow elevation climb with a mix of shade and sun exposure. As you climb elevation, the Rhyolite Creek bed gradually descends more and more underneath while the hoodoos on the other side of Rhyolite Canyon become more and more pronounced.

About 1.5 miles from the trailhead, the Lower Rhyolite Trail ends at the junction of the Upper Rhyolite and Sarah Deming trails. Veer to the right onto Sarah Deming Trail in order to stay on the route and continue to ascend to the Heart of Rocks loop. Shortly after crossing the drainage bottom in Sarah Deming Canyon, the trail begins to climb a series of short switchbacks as it gains the north face of the canyon.

Just before arriving at Heart of Rocks (about 3.1 miles from the trailhead), the Big Balanced Trail connects to the Sarah Deming Trail on the right; stay on Sarah Deming until it ends at the Heart of Rocks loop.

The small, picturesque loop is about 0.9 miles in length and has great views of hoodoos in the area as well as the higher peaks of the Chiricahuas. On the loop the footing is a little more rocky, but nothing unmanageable. Hiking in a clockwise direction, some of the signage points to some of the more unique rock formations: Camel’s Head, Thor’s Hammer, Punch and Judy, Duck on a Rock, the Kissing Rocks, and Cochise Head. Spectacular views of the rugged north end of the Chiricahua Mountains also come into view. One of the most incredible formations is Pinnacle Balanced Rock, which looks like it could fall at any time!

After completing the loop, a simple backtrack downhill will return you to the Visitor Center parking lot.

Camping
If you are looking to camp close to the trailhead, Bonita Canyon Campground is just over a quarter mile from the trailhead.

2024-04-21 azdesertfather