Did you know that the United States has a brand-new national park?

Because I didn't! Let’s talk about it!

When I heard the announcement that Chiricahua had become America's 64th national park, my first reaction was, "What?"

I had never even heard of Chiricahua before. And I love national parks!

So, of course, I immediately Googled it. Where is this place? What does it look like? And why haven't I heard of it before?

Well, I started looking at pictures, and I have to tell you, they made me excited!

There are these incredible rock formations, some that look like giant towers, others that look like someone carefully stacked rocks on top of each other. And the landscape is just beautiful.

And suddenly, I had another national park on my wish list.

So today, we're going to do something a little different on Ready Set Depart. Normally, I'm telling you about somewhere we've been and what we learned along the way.

But today, we're going to discover somewhere new together.

We're going to find out what makes Chiricahua so special, learn some of the stories behind the landscape, and figure out what a family could actually do if they wanted to visit.

And who knows? Maybe by the end of this episode, you'll be adding it to your travel list, too.

I have a soft spot for the underdog

Before we get into Chiricahua, I have to tell you something about me.

I love the smaller national parks.

Don't get me wrong. Yellowstone is amazing. I think everyone should experience Yellowstone at least once if they can.

But have you seen North Cascades National Park?

Wow!

North Cascades is one of my favorites. And Lassen Volcanic National Park? That one surprised me with how amazing it was.

I think part of what I love about these smaller, less-visited parks is that there aren't as many crowds. But there's something else, too.

I don’t know how to describe it other than I feel like I know something that maybe everyone else doesn't know.

And that's kind of fun!

I've always been a fan of the underdog, and I think that extends to national parks.

The places that don't get all the attention can be absolutely incredible. In fact, I don't think I've ever been disappointed by one of the smaller parks we've visited.

And I think that's why the announcement about Chiricahua caught my attention so quickly.

Here's this place I'd never heard of, and now it's a national park.

So what's so special about it?

Welcome to the Wonderland of Rocks

First, let's figure out where we're going.

Chiricahua National Park is in southeastern Arizona, not too far from the New Mexico border. It's about two hours from Tucson, depending on where you're starting.

And it's not what you might picture when you think of the Arizona desert.

It's located in the Chiricahua Mountains, in an area known as a sky island.

Now, I'd never heard that term before, but I think it's fascinating.

A sky island is basically a mountain range that rises out of the surrounding lowlands, creating a completely different environment as you climb.

So you can have desert landscapes down below, but higher up you start finding grasslands, oak trees, and even pine forests.

And because these mountain environments are separated from one another by the surrounding desert, they can support some really interesting plants and animals.

But what Chiricahua is really famous for is its rocks.

The park is nicknamed the Wonderland of Rocks, and once you see the pictures, you'll understand why.

About 27 million years ago, there was an enormous volcanic eruption in this area. The eruption left behind layers of volcanic ash that eventually hardened into a rock called rhyolite tuff.

Over millions of years, water, wind, freezing, and thawing wore away the softer areas, leaving behind these incredible formations.

Some look like tall columns. Others are balanced rocks that almost don't seem possible.

It looks like someone took a bunch of enormous rocks and started stacking them into sculptures.

Except nature did all of it.

And I have to tell you, I really want to photograph these rocks.

When we lived in San Diego for a year, I developed a love for the desert that I really hadn't had before.

I think I used to look at the desert and just see a lot of brown.

But the more time we spent exploring, the more I started noticing the colors, the plants, the mountains, and how much the landscape changes depending on the light.

There's so much beauty there.

And when I look at pictures of Chiricahua, I can already imagine how incredible those rock formations would look in the early morning or late afternoon.

So that's reason number one that I want to go.

But the more I researched, the more I realized the landscape is only part of the story.

The people and stories behind Chiricahua

One of my favorite things about visiting national parks is learning why these places are important.

There's usually so much more to them than beautiful scenery.

And Chiricahua is definitely one of those places.

The Chiricahua Apache

Long before this was a national park, or even a national monument, these mountains were part of the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache.

The mountains weren't just a beautiful place to visit. They were home, and they provided important resources, shelter, and places of cultural significance.

The Chiricahua Mountains are also connected to the history of Cochise, a prominent Apache leader during the conflicts between Apache communities and the United States in the 1800s.

I think it's important to remember that when we visit places like this, we're walking through landscapes that have meant something to people for generations.

And the Apache story isn't just something that happened a long time ago. Chiricahua Apache descendants and communities are still here today, preserving their history and traditions.

That's one of the reasons I love learning the history of national parks. It changes how you see the landscape.

Instead of just looking at the mountains and saying, "Wow, that's beautiful," you start thinking about the people who lived there, the lives they led, and everything that happened in those places.

And I think that makes a visit so much more meaningful.

The story of Faraway Ranch

Now, here's another story I found really interesting.

In the late 1800s, a Swedish immigrant named Emma Peterson bought a small cabin in the area.

She married Neil Erickson, and together they established a homestead that would eventually become known as Faraway Ranch.

And I love that name. Faraway Ranch. It sounds like somewhere you'd go to get away from everything, doesn't it?

Life wasn't necessarily easy for the family. Farming was difficult, and Neil sometimes had to work away from home for months at a time.

But over the years, the family expanded the house and made a life there.

Eventually, their daughter Lillian married a man named Ed Riggs, and they turned the property into a guest ranch.

Now, this is the part I really love.

Imagine coming to this remote part of Arizona in the early 1900s, staying at a ranch, and having someone take you out to explore these unbelievable rock formations.

Guests could ride horses, hike, go birdwatching, and enjoy the scenery.

And in the evenings, Lillian would entertain visitors with stories.

I think I would have loved that!

The ranch helped introduce more people to the Wonderland of Rocks, and Ed Riggs helped develop trails that allowed visitors to explore the formations.

It was part of the growing interest in protecting this extraordinary landscape.

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge established Chiricahua National Monument.

And for more than a hundred years, people have been coming to explore it.

Then, on October 20, 2026, Chiricahua officially became America's 64th national park.

Now, that doesn't mean someone just discovered the place or that it's suddenly open to visitors for the first time.

It's been part of the National Park System since 1924.

What changed was its designation, recognizing its national significance as a park.

And I'm curious to see whether that new title will bring more visitors to a place that's been a little under the radar.

What would we actually do there?

Okay, now that we know why Chiricahua is special, let's talk about what a family can actually do there.

Because this is where I start mentally planning a trip.

And one of the things I really like is that you don't have to be an experienced hiker to enjoy this park.

There are definitely some longer, more challenging hikes. But there are also ways to see some incredible scenery without spending all day on a trail.

Start at the visitor center

I think our first stop would be the visitor center.

That's usually one of the first things we do when we visit a national park.

We like to talk to the rangers, find out what we shouldn't miss, and, of course, get our Junior Ranger booklets.

And yes, I said our booklets.

Because I do the Junior Ranger program right along with Trooper.

We've learned so much through those programs over the years. Sometimes it's geology, sometimes wildlife, sometimes history.

And I love that they get us to slow down and pay attention to things we might otherwise walk right past.

Chiricahua has a Junior Ranger program, so that's definitely going on my list.

Take the scenic drive

Next, I'd want to take the eight-mile scenic drive up Bonita Canyon to Massai Point.

From what I've seen, this looks like a fantastic way to get an overview of the park.

The road winds up into the mountains, and along the way you start seeing more and more of those rock formations.

And at Massai Point, there are views across the Wonderland of Rocks.

There's also a short nature trail, about half a mile long, so you can get out and explore without committing to a major hike.

Now, short doesn't always mean completely easy. There are uneven surfaces and elevation to consider, so I'd still check the trail conditions before heading out.

But I love that there's an option for families who might not want to hike five or six miles.

Get closer to the rocks

Now, if we wanted to do a little more hiking, Echo Canyon would be high on my list.

This area has some incredible formations, and there's a place called the Grottoes where the trail takes you among these huge rocks and through narrow, sheltered spaces.

That sounds so fun!

You can reach the Grottoes in about half a mile from the Echo Canyon parking area, so you'd need to allow for the walk back, too.

For families wanting something longer, the Echo Canyon Loop is about 3.3 miles.

And then there's the Heart of Rocks area, where you can see some of the park's most famous formations.

But getting there requires a more substantial hike.

I think I'd want to look carefully at the trail maps and decide what makes sense for our family.

Because here's the thing: you don't have to hike every trail or see every single rock to have a great national park experience.

Sometimes a scenic drive, a shorter hike, a picnic, and some time to enjoy the view make for a fantastic day.

And I think Chiricahua would be a great place for that.

But there's something else I didn't know!

Now, here's something I discovered while researching that made me even more interested in visiting.

Chiricahua is an International Dark Sky Park!

I had no idea.

But once I looked at where it was on the map, it made perfect sense.

It's in a relatively remote part of Arizona, away from the bright lights of major cities.

And that means the night sky can be absolutely incredible.

The park has recommended stargazing locations, including the Faraway Ranch and Echo Canyon parking areas.

And if you visit when the moon isn't lighting up the sky, you may have a chance to see the Milky Way stretching overhead.

Now, both Brent and Tyler love space.

And we actually have an astrophotography camera, so I'm already thinking that if we go, that camera might need to come with us.

Can you imagine photographing those rock formations during the day and then coming back to see the stars at night?

That sounds amazing!

And it's also something worth planning ahead for.

If you want to see the stars, you'll need to think about moon phases, weather, and where you're going to stay afterward.

The park allows nighttime stargazing, but you can't just park overnight and sleep in your car wherever you want.

So that might turn what initially looks like a day trip into a trip with an overnight stay nearby.

And I'm not complaining about that!

Okay, how do we actually get there?

Now comes the practical part.

Because it's one thing to see pictures of a beautiful national park and think, "I want to go there!"

It's another thing to figure out how to make it happen.

And that's especially true when you're working around jobs, school, pets, budgets, and limited vacation time.

So let's look at what a trip to Chiricahua might actually involve.

Flying into Tucson

If you're flying, Tucson International Airport looks like the most convenient option.

You'd rent a car and drive southeast toward Willcox, Arizona.

From Tucson, you're looking at roughly two to two and a half hours to reach the park, depending on where you're starting and traffic.

Once you get to Willcox, you'll follow Highway 186 south and then Highway 181 to the park entrance.

And here's an important tip: download your maps before you go.

Cell service in and around Chiricahua is very limited.

You'll also want to make sure you have plenty of gas, water, and snacks before leaving Willcox because services near the park are limited.

And don't assume that because it's Arizona, it's always going to be hot.

The park is at a higher elevation than Tucson, so temperatures can be cooler, especially in the mornings and evenings.

Winter can bring snow and ice, while summer can bring heat and thunderstorms.

Personally, I think I'd be looking at spring or fall for a visit.

What if you combined it with Saguaro National Park?

Now, here's where my travel-planning brain really starts going.

Because if we're flying into Tucson, there's another national park right there.

Saguaro National Park!

And suddenly I'm thinking, why not visit both?

Saguaro is actually divided into two districts, one east of Tucson and one west.

So you could spend a few days in Tucson exploring those areas, seeing the giant saguaro cacti, learning about the Sonoran Desert, and doing some hiking.

Then you could head southeast to Chiricahua.

And you'd get two very different national park experiences in one vacation.

At Saguaro, you've got those iconic giant cacti and the Sonoran Desert landscape.

At Chiricahua, you've got the sky islands, volcanic rock formations, and a completely different set of stories to discover.

I think that could make a really fun family vacation.

Maybe five to seven days, depending on how much you want to see and what else you want to do around Tucson.

And if you wanted to spend a night near Chiricahua for stargazing, you could work that into the trip.

I like that this could be a vacation built around two national parks instead of trying to fit Chiricahua into a trip that takes us somewhere else.

And now my plans might be changing!

Here's the funny thing.

I've been thinking about driving Route 66 next year.

The Mother Road!

I've been looking at whether we could fit it into our schedules and what that trip might look like.

And when I first heard about Chiricahua, I wondered if maybe we could work it into that adventure.

But now that I've looked at the map and realized how far south it is, I'm thinking maybe that isn't the best fit.

Maybe next year's trip isn't Route 66.

Maybe it's Arizona.

Maybe it's Saguaro and Chiricahua.

See what happens when you start researching a national park?

Suddenly you're planning a whole vacation!

I haven't decided anything yet. It's still very much a wish-list trip.

But I can tell you that Chiricahua has moved a lot higher on that list.

Don't overlook the little guys

So, what do you think?

Had you heard of Chiricahua before it became a national park?

Because I hadn't.

And now I'm sitting here thinking about rock formations, Apache history, an old guest ranch, dark skies, and how we might fit another Arizona adventure into our lives.

And I think that's one of the things I love most about national parks.

There's always something new to discover.

Sometimes it's one of the big, famous parks that everyone knows.

And sometimes it's a place you've never even heard of.

But there's a reason these places are protected.

There are landscapes to explore, stories to learn, and things to experience that you just can't get from looking at pictures.

Although, I have to admit, the pictures of Chiricahua are pretty convincing!

So maybe take a look at some of the lesser-known national parks and monuments when you're planning your next trip.

You might find a place that surprises you.

And if you've been to Chiricahua, I would love to hear about it! What did you love? What should we make sure we see if we get there?

You might just help me plan our next adventure.