2015 Tucson: Chiricahua National Monument (5/15/2015)

Friday, May 15, 2015 (continued)
We made our way from Bisbee to US Route 191 and headed north, taking a right on AZ-181 to the Chiricahua National Monument, nicknamed a Wonderland of Rocks. Since we weren't able to include Utah on this trip, this was the closest we could come to that state's national parks.
Chiricahua National Monument was carved by nature into pinnacles or hoodoos, natural bridges, balancing boulders, and soaring spires with rhyolite badlands.

Erickson Pioneer Cemetery of Swedish immigrants
who established a homestead here in 1888

The Visitor Center was closed when we arrived, so we continued on the Bonita Canyon Scenic Drive.

First view or rock formations

Looking for a scenic pullout, we accidentally drove into and through the Bonita Canyon campground.

First stop, the Organ Pipe Formation.

Organ Pipe Formation

Double-deck balanced rock

Green-tinged rocks

Next stop: Sea Captain

Next stop: China Boy

The dry Bonita Creek

Next stop: Seabed evidence

Looking back out of the park

We reached the dead end of Massai Point Lookout.

Pinnacles in a rhyolite canyon

Exhibit building (KAH)

Next we took a side road to the Echo canyon Trailhead to hike to the Grottoes. We did not tarry on the rocky twisting and hilly path, but were amazed to see a lone young woman running on the trail.

Rock formations

Sugarloaf Mountain (topped by a lookout cabin)

More pinnacles and evidence of fire

A balanced rock appears to loom over the trail

Another view of that looming rock

Green lichen

Lichen balanced rock

Keystone arch

Varied colors of lichen

Karen attempts to repair a broken wall

Balanced fist

Looking down through a crevice

Towering rocks

Bonsai tree

Vertical balanced rock and Chiricahua Mountains

Keyhole

Rock stopper

Profile rock

Grottoes (KAH)

Grottoed rocks

Karen in a cutout

Grottoes (KAH)

Window

Window (KAH)

Last look at the pinnacles

The rock on the left appears to balance on a point

Rock ready to slide?

We made it back to the car before we lost daylight! Now for the long drive back to Tucson.

Storm clouds

All day we had been skirting storm clouds, and we managed to avoid any rain.
We drove about 50 miles up AZ-186, passing only three cars going the opposite direction. We stopped in Wilcox for a quick (not!) dinner at Pizza Hut, before catching I-10 into Tucson. In Wilcox we missed a turn due to looking for restaurants, and I suddenly noted the loss of route signs.
The 60% chance of rain today came in the middle of the night.

Next: Sentinel Peak.