Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument - October 8, 2003

Chiricahua rock formation

Chiricahua National Monument, my home away from home. For some reason, I just love this place. I can't explain it. It just feels good to be there.

Chiricahua is very similar to Bryce Canyon National Park. I mentioned that in my observations from my Spring Vacation trip earlier this year. Unlike that trip, I actually planned this vacation around visiting Chiricahua. I wish I had planned to stay longer.

Duck on a Rock

I decided that I would hike into the middle of the Monument, to the Heart of Rocks. Heart of Rocks is not close to anything, and you cannot reach it by car. You must walk. Me being me (and pretty stubborn), I decided that I would hike from the visitor's center. Turns out, that was the most difficult way I could decide to take. There were even signs and other literature mentioning this. But, me being me, I ignored all of this and went on the my merry way.

Balancing Rock The hike was, round trip, a little over 7 miles. It took about 3 miles to just get to the Heart of Rocks, 1 mile to hike around the loop trail that goes thru the Heart of Rocks, and, of course, another 3 miles to get back to where I started. The entire trip took about 4 hours.

The reason the hike is rated "strenuous" is the hike is all uphill to the Heart of Rocks. That means that the return hike was all downhill. Which was great. But the hike up was, to say the least, a good workout. Lots of heavy breathing and sweating, but I didn't stop that much. I think this hike was a bit easier than the one I took to Crystal Lake back on my summer camping trip to the Sierra Nevadas; it didn't seem as steep as that hike. This hike was under a lot of tree cover, as was the one to Crystal Lake. I started out at 9:00 am, so the temperature was still quite cool.

Once at the Heart of Rocks, there is a loop thru the area. You pass the Duck on a Rock, above, and a bunch of other formations. I didn't display them all here - I like the Duck Rock the best. Right outside the loop is the Balancing Rock, which is the picture over on the left.

The hike up took about one and a half hours; the hike back had to have taken no more than 45 minutes. Still enjoyed it a lot, even with the aches the right side of my body started to have.

There will someday be another Chiricahua page, as I am not yet finished with this place. I really, really like it there.

Chiricahua rock formation in the Heart of Rocks