Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona
An unassuming yet breathtaking place in Arizona you should consider visiting.
When you take a road trip across the United States, there are always places that sound interesting but might be a gamble to visit. You might get to where you’re going and be disappointed, or you might discover an incredible gem and love it. That was the case with our quick stop at Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona.
After we visited Yuma, my goal was to get to Santa Fe, New Mexico, as quickly as possible. Since we don’t like long days of driving and I tend to get pissy from being in the truck too long, we decided to crash at the Arizona Sunset Inn in Wilcox, Arizona, for the night.
I’m so glad we did!
Chiricahua National Monument is impressive.
As we made our way from I-10 to Wilcox, we noticed a LOT of snow on some of the mountains. This was shocking, given we had just left the amazing sunshine and 85-degree temperatures in Yuma that morning. I was dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. Apparently, this was not the right decision for our destination!!!
From summer to winter in a couple of hours.
Chiricahua National Monument is 36 miles southeast of Willcox along Highway 186. It’s a beautiful, relaxing drive through open, breathtaking landscapes and mountain scenery. The only problem this particular day was that there was heavy snow and wind during parts of the drive ... and part of my anatomy started to pucker. Neither Donetta nor I like to drive in harsh weather, and we were heading into the mountains. GULP.
The drive into this national monument was fantastic, but by the time we arrived at the visitor center, the snow was really coming down, and it was 32 degrees. Needless to say, this guy had to make a quick change in clothing if I was gonna survive the day. Two minutes later, after being butt naked in the truck, all was well with the world.
At least I thought.
Oh hell no! We have to drive up a mountain?
Another aspect of traveling is that we’ve been to quite a few mountains, which is fantastic when you’re at the base looking in awe. It’s another thing when you gotta drive up the hill after having a near-death experience at Pikes Peak and Glacier National Park.
Mountain driving is not our jam, and I now suffer PTSD from some of our adventures. This is no joke.
So here I am, snaking my way up 9,759 feet to Chiricahua Peak. On a blizzard-like day. At 32 degrees. And I’m terrified of driving in the mountains. Please think of the absurdity here as an Army Infantry guy who has no fear playing with explosives or wants to encounter a Grizzly Bear in the wild is having a meltdown in his pickup truck. Ain’t life fun?
The good news is we both made it to the top and were rewarded with a magical experience.
Reaching the summit of this drive opens up to an amazing landscape of trees, rock formations, and distant mountains. You will marvel at it all, and if you don’t, you have no soul. Even though it was brutally cold and snowing, there were no regrets from this adventure.
Chiricahua National Monument is a must-see.
The entire park is worth driving through and spending at least a few hours exploring. There was probably more to see and hiking trails to enjoy, but we had to get back to Wilcox for much-needed relaxation. And a drink to calm my nerves.
We both agreed we would go back at some point, regardless of our fear of the mountain. It was that freaking awesome.
Willcox is also a small gem.
Some of the most incredible places we have visited have been small towns. Jerome and Bisbee, also in Arizona, were two of our favorites. Willcox is now on that list as well.
The town is small and quaint, but it offers a selection of bars, restaurants, antique shops, and even a small movie theater. We had dinner at Big Tex BBQ and a margarita at La Unica Restaurant & Tortilleria—both excellent places. Our hotel crash was at the Arizona Sunset Inn, which was very clean, updated, and comfortable.
Donetta and I didn’t get to spend much time hanging out in Willcox, but we look forward to returning someday. If you’re driving along I-10 near Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona, we recommend stopping here.