Chiricahua National Monument
Chiricahua National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service. The monument is located approximately 36 miles southeast of Willcox, Arizona. It preserves the remains of an immense volcanic eruption that shook the region some 27 million years ago. Called the Turkey Creek Caldera eruption, it eventually laid down two thousand feet of ash and pumice, highly silicious in nature. This eventually hardened into rhyolitic tuff, and eroded into the natural features visible at the monument today.
The national monument also preserves the Faraway Ranch, owned at one time by Swedish immigrants Neil and Emma Erickson.
Driving Directions to Monument
Getting Here
Car
Chiricahua National Monument is located 120 miles southeast of Tucson. Take I-10 east from Tucson to the first exit for Willcox. Travel 3 miles into town to the stoplight and turn right. You will follow Arizona State Highway 186 for 32 miles to the junction of Arizona State Highway 181. Turn left and 4 miles later you will be at the Chiricahua entrance station.
Obtain gas in Willcox; gasoline is not available at or near the monument.
Plane
Major airports are in Tucson (120 miles) or Phoenix (240 miles). Several rental car companies are available at each one.
Public Transportation
There is no public transportation to the monument.
Copyright (c)2006 Todd Hemming. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
