Chiricahua Mountains

Back

Chiricahua Mountains
by James Cassidy, Ph.D.

Buried deep in the southeastern corner of Arizona are the Chiricahua Mountains. It was once the last refuge of the great warrior chief Cochise leader of the Apache Nation. Nearby is his stronghold where he fought off the attacks of the U.S. Cavalry for many years.

Not only is this area repleat with historical yarns but the hiking is a real treat as well. Drive to Echo parking area and begin your hike on the Echo trail. For those who are in better condition, the Heart of the Rocks hike is a must. The information at the visitor center is filled with several choices of hikes.

The Echo trail begins its descent among the hoodoos, winding and spiraling like a top. For those tenderfeet, a hoodoo is a tower of stone usually balanced on narrow strips of rock.

The most famous is Totem Rock which rises 137' and balances on only a three foot base. Even though most folks hike this trail in the summer-- best to get out early before the sun gets too hot. We were fortunate enough to enjoy it just after a snow in March.

Take plenty of water and pick up a map at the visitor center. The trail system is a bit confusing but luckily most of the trails lead to a parking area. Parking areas are linked by either a trail or you can always hike the road as a last resort.

DIRECTIONS:

This hike is located in Chiricahua National Monument in the southeast corner of Arizona. It is located about 120 miles east of Tucson. Take the I-10 south and exit at Wilcox to State Route 186. Drive 36 miles to the National Monument. Make sure to get gas in Wilcox since there is none available at the monument.

Related Links:

Sedona Hikes

Hiking Sedona

James Cassidy, Ph.D. has been an educational therapist/consultant with over twenty years experience in research and practice in which his clients have been the rich and famous of Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. He has published numerous professional papers, a geometry textbook, a screenplay, and two novels-- A Paradise Lost and A Little Charity (Through a Glass Darkly Shines). Dr. Cassidy has advocated educational programs that accommodate individualized learning styles for one on one situations as well as in the classroom. His methods were developed during research at UCLA in conjunction with the University Enrichment School on campus and have been used for over ten years to train thousands of tutors at the University. During his four year association with the school in the Education and Psychology departments under the aegis of project C.U.E.S. , he wrote and produced several educational training films which are still being used. Those successful films are the basis for his latest book: A Simple Formula For Smarter Kids.

CustomWebsiteDesignServices.com