Will This Underrated Monument In Arizona Become America's Next National Park?

From fossils and colorful desert scenery at Petrified Forest to the one-of-a-kind experiences at the Grand Canyon, Arizona is a must for national park lovers. However, there are quite a few national monuments here as well. Two hours east of Tucson is Chiricahua National Monument. This destination has received some national attention, as Arizona lawmakers consider making it into a national park rather than a national monument.

Chiricahua National Monument has rock formations similar to those for which Bryce Canyon National Park is famous, such as balancing rocks on columns often referred to as "hoodoos." Chiricahua's hoodoos contrasting with its dark green trees and distant hilltops make for some incredible landscapes. The area also has plenty of historical significance.

The Faraway Ranch Historic District within Chiricahua is the former homestead of Swedish immigrants in the late-1800s, and the well-preserved artifacts here show an intriguing facet of immigrant life in the U.S. Chiricahua's low amounts of light pollution make for next-level camping and stargazing as well. All of these positive attributes definitely sound national park worthy, but there are potential roadblocks for Chiricahua's national park status.

Perhaps Chiricahua National Monument's remote location is why it sees lower visitor numbers compared to others in Arizona. A national park designation would likely make Chiricahua more attractive to tourists, but this could become a negative thing. "Chiricahua does not have the infrastructure necessary to handle the increased visitation that a "National Park" designation would bring," argued Redditor u/hikeraz in the r/NationalPark subreddit. Other commenters used the long traffic lines and limited parking at Pinnacles National Park as an example of what can happen when a park's traffic surpasses its capabilities. Natural spaces can also be left damaged or disturbed by tourists in larger volumes as well.

Among what makes national parks different from national monuments is that parks feature multiple elements that government agencies like the National Park Service want to protect, whereas monuments focus on one specific element. This usually makes them smaller than parks as well. Chiricahua National Monument is 12,000 acres, aligning it more with other monuments than parks.

Proposals to change Chiricahua from monument to park have been unsuccessful since first being introduced in 2022. Hopefully as lawmakers continue weighing the pros and cons, or add more acreage, outdoor enthusiasts will have a clear answer as to whether Chiricahua remains a hidden gem national monument or gains national park status.