Chiricahua National Monument

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**Day Hikes in the Chiricahua National Monument** (NOTE: Distances are start to finish, whether round trip or point to point)
Day Use Trail	Length	Difficulty	Quality	Access or Trailhead	Description (See park rangers before setting out)
Heart of Rocks	7.2 miles	Strenuous	Excellent	Massai Point	A spectacular hike through rock spires. Rugged, but final mile to Visitor Center is easy.
Inspiration Point	1 mile	Easy	Excellent	Heart of Rocks Trail	An easy one mile side trip on of the Heart of Rocks trail offering great vistas.
Echo Canyon Loop	3.5 miles	Moderate	Excellent	Massai Point	Hailstone segment named for volcanic rocks that rained down millions of years ago.
Sugarloaf Mountain	1.8 miles	Fair	Very Good	Sugarloaf Parking Lot	Less than one mile up this winding trail leads to a spectacular panaramic view of the park.
Rhyolite Canyon	3 miles	Moderate	Very Good	Visitor Center	A leisurely 1.5 miles up the canyon and back through wooded lower park elevations.
Natural Bridge	4.8 miles	Moderate	Very Good	Parking on Scenic Drive	Begins with steep upward trail and crosses interesting exposed rock. Hot in summer.
Cochise Head	4? miles	Moderate	Good	Gated Road	Hike leaves the park via mining road. Cochise Head appears less interesting close up.
Silver Spur Meadow	2.5 miles	Easy	Excellent	Visitor Center or Camp	Level hike through forests and meadows. Wildlife can be seen at the creek near dawn and dusk.
Faraway Ranch	2.8 miles	Easy	Excellent	Campground	Very worthwhile to take the guided tour of the historoic ranch. Ask rangers for information.
Bonita Creek Loop	1 mile	Easy	Good	Faraway Ranch Parking	A nature trail where deer and other wildlife can be seen near dawn and dusk.

**Average Temperatures and Precipitation**
Month	Average	Extreme	Precip.	Days with Precip.
January	32 - 66	14 - 89	0.8"	4 (4" max. snowfall)
February	40 - 70	18 - 95	0.6"	4 (4" max. snowfall)
March	43 - 74	20 - 98	0.7"	4 (6" max. snowfall)
April	49 - 82	27 - 103	0.2"	2 (2" max. snowfall)
May	56 - 90	38 - 110	0.1"	1
June	65 - 99	46 - 115	0.1"	2
July	73 - 101	52 - 116	1.9"	11 (Avg. 20 t-storms)
August	72 - 98	50 - 114	1.9"	9 (Avg. 17 t-storms)
September	67 - 96	44 - 113	1.2"	5 (Avg. 7 t-storms)
October	56 - 86	26 - 105	0.8"	3
November	45 - 74	24 - 93	0.6"	3 (6" max. snowfall)
December	35 - 67	10 - 88	1.0"	4 (7" max. snowfall)

Hiking the Chiricahuas:

The Coronado National Forest in Cochise County offers an array of great hiking opportunities. The Chiricahua National Monument features some of the best day hikes in Arizona, including the Heart of Rocks and Echo Park.

The best months for hiking the Chiricahua National Monument are October through May. While snows are expected in the winter months, trails are accessible most days. The Echo Canyon Loop via the Hailstone Trail is easily navigated in light snow. Thunderstorms with lightning can occur in the summer months.

Trails in the Chiricahua Wilderness, primarily South of the Monument, can range from extensive day hikes to lengthy backpacking opportunities. Altitudes at Chiricahua Peak and Fly's Peak reach nearly 10.000 feet, where temperatures are usually cooler than in the monument.

The Dragoon Mountains, West of the Chiricahuas across the Sulphur Springs Valley, offer short day hikes and the chance to make your own route up the rocky slopes of the Cochise Stronghold.

SOURCE: Weather table for the Chiricahua National Monument from the National Park Service.

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