Hiking info for Cochise Head, located in Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona. The latitude and longitude coordinates of Chiricahua Mountains are 31.9298117, -109.3822849 and the approximate elevation is 6,509 feet (1,984 meters) above sea level. The trail ends at a fire lookout with INCREDIBLE 360 degree views of the Chiricahua’s. The Chiricahua Range is where the interior Rocky Mountain avifauna meet the northern Sierra Madrean avifauna, as well as a mixing of the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Great Basin desert avifauna. US Forest Service, FM-RM-VE The northwest end of the Chiricahua mountains continue as the Dos Cabezas Mountains beyond Apache Pass and the Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Mailstop Code: 1103 The Chiricahua Mountains are located in southeastern Arizona and are the most extensive mountain range within the Madrean Sky Island Archipelago in the United States.The range is approximately 65 km long and 32 km wide, with maximum elevation of 2976 m a.s.l. The influx of other indigenous peoples, such as the Chiricahua Apaches, including the leaders Cochise and Geronimo occupied the area until forced removal in the late 19th century. Elevation Change from Base: 5,259 feet. The summer monsoon season brings plenty of short, localized, and sometimes intense, thunderstorms. The Chiricahua Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Arizona which are part of the Basin and Range province of the southwest, and part of the Coronado National Forest.The highest point, Chiricahua Peak, rises 9,759 feet (2,975 m) above sea level, approximately 6,000 feet (1,800 m) above the surrounding valleys. The Chiricahua Mountains, and other associated ranges, along with the Sulphur Springs Valley on the west and the San Simon Valley on the east, form the eastern half of Cochise County in southeast Arizona. The vegetation at upper elevations is dominated by ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and white fir, with the ponderosa pine evenly distributed and the other two conifers confined mostly to north-facing slopes. Chiricahua Mountains, AZ Phone: 520-364-3468. [12] Subsequent erosion has created mountain ridges covered in stone spires and stone columns, hoodoos, that rise up out of the forest. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is CHIRICAHUA NATL MONUM which is approximately 5 miles away and has an elevation of 5,300 feet (1,209 feet lower than Chiricahua Mountains). Cave Creek Canyon is one of Conservation International’s 34 Global Biodiversity Hotspots. Elevation: 9,759 ft (2,975 m) The Chiricahua Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Arizona which are part of the Basin and Range province of the southwest, and part of … If you can put up with all of my reminiscing, you’ll find some good information mixed in. The higher elevation and better condition counterpart to the Mormon Canyon Trail, this starts ¾ mile below and quickly takes to the ridge north of the canyon, climbing through several sets of switchbacks to a junction at Mormon Saddle and another with the Crest Trail at Chiricahua Saddle. In the article, writer Natt N. Dodge referred to the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona as a "mountain island in a desert sea. The highest point, Chiricahua Peak, rises 9,759 feet (2,975 m) above The Chiricahua Mountains massif is a large mountain range in southeastern Arizona which is part of the Basin and Range province of the west and southwestern United States and northwest Mexico; the range is part of the Coronado National Forest. Chiricahua National Monument ranges from 5,124 feet / 1,562 meters in elevation at the entrance station to 7,310 feet / 2,228 meters at the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain. Anyone who is interested in visiting Chiricahua Mountains can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. Photo by Charlie McDonald. This is a 7.2 mile out-and-back hike with 2500 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 4-6 hours to complete. Avid hiker and … Crest Trail - Chiricahua Peak Bypass #270D map. You can enjoy the differences of four seasons. The lookout was abandoned during our visit, but may still be used in the summer months. 1400 Independence Ave., SW total elevation gain: 3171 feet. Species lists for birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates can be found on the website … The best way to get in touch with the canyon is on foot. The main crest of the mountain range resembles rolling hills atop a narrow high plateau rather than distinct mountain peaks. Autumn is also mild, with highs reaching the mid-80s in September and the mid-70s in October. It is a rare plant found in three Sky Island mountain ranges, southern California, and one mountain range in Sonora, Mexico. The pavement ends a short distance beyond the research station and the road begins to climb toward the high, cool conifer forests atop the mountains. The Chiricahua Range is where the interior Rocky Mountain avifauna meet the northern Sierra Madrean avifauna, as well as a mixing of the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Great Basin desert avifauna. A winding, 8 mile scenic drive climbs steadily from the entrance, past the visitor center, campground and several roadside viewpoints to Massai Point (elevation 6,870 feet) where several trails branch off, descending into ravines and towards the main rock formations, which are … It provides habitat for approximately 370 species of birds, 170 species of butterflies, hundreds of plant species and over 70 species of mammals including ocelots, collared peccaries, mountain lions, coatis, black bears, ringtails, and white-tailed deer. The Geologic history of the Chiricahua Mountains concerns the Chiricahua Mountains, an inactive volcanic range located in Coronado National Forest of southeastern Arizona, in the United States.They are part of an "archipelago" of mountain ranges known as the sky islands that connect the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico with the Rocky Mountains. Rustler Park in the Chiricahua Mountains and the Carr Reef Campground in the Huachuca Mountains are two of the easiest places to see them in spring and summer. Rustler Park in the Chiricahua Mountains and the Carr Reef Campground in the Huachuca Mountains are two of the easiest places to see them in spring and summer. The highest point, Chiricahua Peak, rises 9,759 feet (2,975 m) above The Southwestern Research Station operated by the American Museum of Natural History sits at the eastern base of the mountain range. [10][11] The last major eruption, 27 million years ago, created the Turkey Creek Caldera and laid down 2,000 feet (610 m) of volcanic ash which fused into welded rhyolite tuff. The summer monsoon season brings plenty of short, localized, and sometimes intense, thunderstorms. 1.5% slope. The islands-in-the-sky mountains of southeastern Arizona are the only place in the U.S. to find a bit of high-elevation Mexican pine-oak woodland. When choosing a trail, an important consideration is the temperature and season in which you will be hiking. Its occurrence is very sporadic. Elevation is 8,800 at the lookout. It is a short segment of the Crest Trail, trail 270, which is a series of trails running the length of the Chiricahua Mountains. At an elevation of 4,000 to almost 10,000 feet the Chiricahua Mountains enjoy relatively mild summer temperatures. Lemon lily (Lilium parryi) is the only large-flowered yellow lily in Arizona. Length of the trail to summit: The length of the Mount Lemmon Summit loop route is 23.9 miles. The highest point, Chiricahua Peak, rises 9,759 feet (2,975 m) above sea level, approximately 6,000 feet (1,800 m) above the surrounding valleys. The Perfect Getaway in Portal, Arizona. [14] Five of the 9 life zones[15] are found in the Chiricahua Mountains. Visit the Faraway Ranch Historic District to discover more about the people who have called this area home. [7], More recently, the Chiricahuas have fallen into use by people smugglers and drug cartels, who position lookouts on their peaks to warn of Border Patrol activities.[8][9]. 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 11,985 acre site. Three hundred and seventy-five avian species have been recorded from the Chiricahua Mountains; some are largely Mexican species for which southern Arizona is the northern limits of their ranges. Scott Brady / June 2nd, 2011 Date: 5/1-3/2004 Trail Time: 5-6 hours Location: Coronado National Forest, SE of Wilcox Arizona. [18], Trees and hoodoos, Chiricahua National Monument. The higher elevations have more than twice the annual rainfall of … Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanii) reaches its southernmost limit in North America in the Chiricahua Mountains. From Willcox, head south on AZ Highway 186 for 33 miles. 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