Chiricahua National Monument and the land the Apache called the land of “standing up rocks”

Layers of rhyolite were uplifted and eroded over millions of years forming these magical canyons and pinnacles of balanced rocks of all sizes and shapes. The National Monument was established in 1924 to protect the pinnacles. This area is designated a sky island as many of the species in this mountain range are isolated due to the extensive surrounding desert and grasslands. Chiricahua may become the next National Park pending approval by Congress.