Chiricahua National Monument is called a "Wonderland of Rocks." And a fitting description it is due to the countless rhyolite pinnacles, balanced rocks seemingly defying gravity, and columns eroded into eye-catching shapes.
Mountains
The mountains within the national monument varied in appearance and color.
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| Sugarloaf |
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| Chiseled Ridgeline |
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| Imposing Dark Brown Mountains |
Canyons
Canyons ranged from long, wide ones that cut between mountains and ridges to narrow spaces between individual rocks.
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| View from Inspiration Point |
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| Narrow Passage between Rocks |
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| Grottoes (interconnected chambers formed among the rocks) |
Named Rocks
Out of the countless rocks in the national monument, some have names and signs with arrows pointing them out to visitors.
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| Mushroom Rock |
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| Big Balanced Rock |
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| Old Maid |
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| Camel's Head |
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| Duck On A Rock |
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| Kissing Rocks |
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| Organ Pipe Formation |
Unnamed Rocks
Other rocks that struck my fancy for their unique shape or their striking resemblance to something in the real world. I gave these descriptions or names of my own.
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| No Wind Please |
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| Lady Liberty's Flame |
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| Two Backpackers Trekking Away |
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| Picasso's Creation |
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| Pirate Ship |
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| Thin Towers |
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| Faucet Knob |
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| Burning Candle |
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| Group Hug |
Rock Formations
I found large or broad rock formations as well as groups covering large areas to be as interesting in their own way as the individual rocks.
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| Pinnacles & Columns |
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| The Gathering |
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| Stiff Straight |
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| Horizontal Lines |
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| Patches of Green Residue |
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| Pressed Together |
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| Seemingly Rise from the Foliage |
Fauna
While many animals call this part of Southeastern Arizona their home, they mostly made themselves scarce while I was out and about. Small to medium-sized birds, however, were in abundance and very vocal. The challenge was getting a photo.
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| Mexican Jay Digs between Rocks |
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