NPS · Arizona

Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness

About 27 million years ago the Turkey Creek volcano, in the heart of the Chiricahua Mountains, spewed forth more than 100 cubic miles of white-hot ash and pumice that settled, fused, and cooled into a...

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byNational Park Service
StateArizona
Size10,290 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1976, by Congress
Center point32.0119, -109.3401
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.32 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowFebruary: 1.28 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowMarch: 1.19 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowApril: 0.27 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 0.30 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.86 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.81 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 4.56 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.59 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 0.99 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowNovember: 1.04 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowDecember: 1.50 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 43.1°F averageFebruary: 46.6°F averageMarch: 51.5°F averageApril: 57.2°F averageMay: 65.7°F averageJune: 74.2°F averageJuly: 75.1°F averageAugust: 73.4°F averageSeptember: 70.2°F averageOctober: 61.8°F averageNovember: 52.0°F averageDecember: 43.1°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Chiricahua NM, 1 mile from the center point at 5,300 feet, station USC00021664 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 19 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 4 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 9 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

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Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 9 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?

10,290 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?

The National Park Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness in?

Arizona.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1976.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Bonita Canyon Campground, 0.2 miles out. 9 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Where to camp

How do I get to Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 32.012, -109.340. Chiricahua National Monument is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How dark is the night sky at Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 20 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Which national parks are near Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?

Chiricahua National Monument (adjacent) and Fort Bowie National Historic Site (9 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness?

9 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Fort Bowie National Historic Site and Stafford Cabin.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.