Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona
March 25, 2006

The Chiricahua National Monument, also known as "The Wonderland of Rocks", is about 120 miles southeast of our Tucson home.  The Monument is located in a spectacular wilderness of rocky crags and spires occupying a small portion of the Chiricahua Mountains.  It is situated within the ancestral home area of Cochise and the Chiricahua Apaches, is nearly surrounded by the Coronado National Forest, and is a noted wildlife area.  If you want to learn more about the Chiricahua National Monument, click here.  Additionally,  you can look up "Chiricahua National Monument" or "Chiricahua Mountains" using any Internet search page and you will find many links providing a wealth of both additional information and photographs.  Note that in my searches though, I found very few photographs as nice as those below!  :)

Bonnie and I took a LOT of photographs ~ the following are 44 of the "best of the best" pictures . . . enjoy!

(Click on picture to enlarge)

This was our ride for the trip ~ very comfortable!	The entrance to the park.	Driving the 8-mile road through the park.	Rocky bluffs.
	Our first "balancing rock" ~ we would see many more!	This was probably a balancing rock that fell thousands of years ago.	The next 12 pictures are "Organ Pipe" rock formations".
			This one looks like a mushroom.	Can you see the "Sea Captain"?
Here's a closer view of the Sea Captain.	Great view!	This is the highest point in the part, as well as being the start of a different kind of formations.	View from Massai Point to the left.  Although it was 70 degrees where we were, you can see snow on the distant mountains!	View to the center.
View to the right.	The tree to the left is called an alligator juniper.	You can see why it's called "alligator" juniper.	Nice view of the desert beyond the formations!	Lots of balancing rocks at Massai Point!
		Here's a balancing rock that fell.
	We called these the "Kissing Rocks".		Bill, also know as "Mr. Baggy Pants".  :)
	Bonnie in front of a red bark manzanita.	A "tree hugger".  :)	On the way out of the park we had to stop at the visitor center for souvenirs!  :)

You may use any of the above pictures for any purpose and may do so without giving me credit.  Note that these pictures have been downsized for those with slow connection speeds.  If you'd like copies of the original JPG pictures, send me an E-mail telling me which pictures you want and I'll be happy to send the original pictures to you at no charge!