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More than 17 miles of trails wind through the Monument. Many
unusual rock formations, including Duck on a Rock, Totem Pole,
and Big Balanced Rock, as well as many unnamed features, are
located along the trails. Trails also lead to such oddities
as a small natural bridge and a ledge of volcanic hailstones—evidence
of the ancient eruptions that created the rock of Chiricahua.
Hiking also takes you through the Monument's forests. Trails
range from .25 miles to 9.5 miles round-trip. There are hundreds
of miles of trails within the surrounding Coronado National
Forest and Chiricahua Mountains.
Hiked
Check our personal notes for detailed descriptions of these trails:
| Echo Canyon Trail |
| Distance: |
1.1 miles one-way |
Rating: |
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| Elevation: |
Trailhead: 6,858 feet. |
Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
Map Coordinates (NAD83): 32 00.438N; 109 18.754. |
| Description: |
This is a connector trail between the Echo Park Loop Trail and the Rhyolite Canyon Trail. |
| Echo Park Loop Trail |
| Distance: |
3.5 mile loop |
Rating: |
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| Elevation: |
6,780 feet (Echo Canyon Trailhead) 6,330 feet (Echo Canyon Trail Junction) 6,870 feet (Massai Point Trailhead)
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
The trail can be reached from either the Echo Canyon or the Massai Point (32 00.438N; 109 18.754) parking areas. . |
| Description: |
It is best to hike counter clockwise. |
| Faraway Ranch Trail |
| Distance: |
1.5 miles one-way |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
5,378 to 5,215 feet. |
Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
Access the trail from either the campground (32 00.643N; 109 21.366W) or the Visitor's Center (32 00.312N; 109 21.448W). |
| Description: |
Passes through Silver Spur Meadow and connects the campground and the Visitor Center to the Faraway Ranch (32 00.500N; 109 22.26W). |
| Heart of Rocks Loop Trail |
| Distance: |
.89 mile loop |
Rating: |
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| Elevation: |
~ 6,564 feet. |
Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
Branches off of the Sara Deming Canyon Trail. Map Coordinates (NAD83): ~32 00.459N; 109 19.346W. |
| Description: |
This is a fascinating loop through some of the more spectacular rock formations within the Monument. |
| Inspiration Point Trail |
| Distance: |
1.4 mile round trip |
Rating: |
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| Elevation: |
Inspiration Point: 6,887 feet. |
Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
This is a side trail off of the Sara Deming Canyon Trail. |
| Description: |
Map Coordinates (NAD83) for Inspiration Point: 32 00.022N; 109 18.696W. |
| Massai Point Loop Trail |
| Distance: |
.3 mile loop |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
6,858 feet. |
Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
The trail begins and ends at the Massai Point parking area (32 00.438N; 109 18.754). |
| Description: |
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| Nature Trail |
| Distance: |
Short walk |
Rating: |
Easy |
| Elevation: |
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
The trail begins and ends across the road from the Visitor Center. |
| Description: |
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| Natural Bridge Trail |
| Distance: |
4.7 miles round trip |
Rating: |
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| Elevation: |
5,560 feet (trailhead)
5,818 feet (Natural Bridge)
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
The trail begins at the Natural Bridge parking area (32 01.330N; 109 20.970W). |
| Description: |
The trail ends at the Natural Bridge (32 01.256N; 109 21.428W). |
| Rhyolite Canyon Trail |
| Distance: |
1.49 miles one-way |
Rating: |
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| Elevation: |
5,400 feet (trailhead)
5,980 feet (junction)
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
This trail begins at the east end of the Visitor Center parking lot (32 00.341N; 109 21.393W). |
| Description: |
The trail passes through a forested area to its junction with the Sara Deming Canyon Trail and the Echo Canyon Trail. |
| Sara Deming Canyon Trail |
| Distance: |
3.76 miles one-way |
Rating: |
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| Elevation: |
5,980 feet (trailhead)
6,400 feet (junction)
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Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
The trail begins at its junction with the Rhyolite Canyon Trail (32 00.074N; 109 20.027W) or at its junction with the Echo Park Loop Trail (32 00.171N; 109 18.840W). |
| Description: |
The trail passes between the Rhyolite Canyon Trail and ends at its junction with the Echo Park Loop Trail. From there you can either climb on to Massai Point, about another mile (6,870 feet in elevation), or take a portion of the Echo Park Look Trail .8 miles to the Echo Canyon Trail (at 6,330 feet in elevation) along which you can return 1.1 miles to the junction of the Sara Deming Canyon Trail and the Rhyolite Canyon Trail and make a loop back to the Visitor Center. |
| Sugarloaf Mountain Trail |
| Distance: |
1.86 miles round trip |
Rating: |
Moderate |
| Elevation: |
6,840 feet (trailhead)
7,310 feet (lookout) |
Total Ascent: |
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| Trailhead: |
The trail leaves from the Sugarloaf Mountain parking area (32 01.004N; 109 19.253W). |
| Description: |
The trail climbs up to the Sugarloaf Mountain fire lookout (32 00.852N; 109 19.497W). |
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