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Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona has been officially upgraded to a national park. With its spectacular cliffs, rich trails and stargazing environment, it has become the fourth national park in the state.
Arizona Chiricahua National Monument was officially upgraded to a national park on October 20, becoming the fourth national park in Arizona. Known as “Rock Wonderland,” this area features over 17 miles of trails and spectacular rock formations, offering future outdoor enthusiasts new sights to add to their bucket list.
Travel + Leisure reports that Chiricahua National Park is located east of Tucson, Arizona, nearnew mexico Junction. According to the National Park Service, the area has more than 17 miles of hiking trails and is also a designated International Dark Sky Park, boasting nearly pristine night sky conditions and offering visitors a variety of nighttime stargazing activities.
“Chiricahua’s towering cliffs, rich Apache cultural heritage and remarkable biodiversity make it one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the United States,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “Chiricahua’s new title will draw national attention to one of Arizona’s hidden gems, creating opportunities to welcome more visitors, boost the local economy, and share this amazing land with more Americans.”
Visitors can experience the 8-mile Bonita Canyon Drive in Chiricahua, a scenic drive that winds through rock formations and oak, cypress and cedar forests and ends at Masai Point, where visitors can enjoy 360-degree views of the area. Another option is to go on a bird watching trip to see over 200 species of birds recorded locally.
The park service said the area was originally designed as a national monument in 1924 by former President Calvin Coolidge to protect and interpret rhyolite rock formations known as “The Pinnacles,” designated wilderness areas, and landscapes of significant historical and scientific value. It now covers an area of more than 12,000 acres and attracts about 60,000 visitors each year, with the majority of tourists concentrated in March and April.
Arizona already has three national parks, namely Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, and Saguaro National Park. The Grand Canyon is one of the most visited national parks in the United States.
Before Chiricahua, the latest national park established in the United States was New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, which was designated as a national park in December 2020. The national park is located in West Virginia and covers an area of more than 70,000 acres. It is one of the longest and deepest canyons in the Appalachian Mountains and offers a variety of exciting and adventurous outdoor activities such as rock climbing, cycling, hiking, and whitewater rafting.
Summary FAQ
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On October 20, the area was officially upgraded to a national park, becoming Arizona’s fourth national park, bringing greater visibility to this scenic spot known as the “Rock Wonderland”.
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The park has more than 17 miles of trails, spectacular rock formations, and almost pristine night skies. You can also drive up the Bonita Canyon Highway to the Masai Viewpoint and see over 200 species of birds.
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The Secretary of the Interior said the new title will draw national attention to this hidden gem, increase visitor numbers, further boost the local economy, and make more Americans aware of its Apache cultural and ecological values.
