If using GPS to navigate to the park, select Visitor Center from the Chiricahua National Monument List or use 13063 E Bonita Canyon Rd.13063 E Bonita Canyon Rd Willcox, AZ 85643 To stay on pavement, take Hwy 186 from Willcox or 181 from the southwest.Chiricahua National Monument is in the southeast corner of Arizona. Interstate I10 from LA or Tucson to El Paso or Lordsburg runs about 40 miles north of the park. Exits in Willcox to Hwy 186 are the most direct paved access to the park from the north. (Exits 336, 340, and 344). Note: Exit 366 to Bowie will require driving 10 miles of dirt road. This route is recommended only if stopping at Fort Bowie National Historic Site. The park elevation goes from 5,124 feet at the entrance to 7,310 feet on Sugarloaf Mountain. The top of the park can be 5-10 degrees cooler and windier than the visitor center and entrance. The higher elevations generally have more sun exposure. Clothing layers are always recommended here. The park is often cooler than cities in Arizona with summer highs in the 80s and 90s. Winter lows are often near or below freezing. Entrance Fee-free This site is fee-free year-round. No entrance fee or pass is required. Chiricahua National Monument Visitor CenterThe visitor center, on the right 3.5 miles after the entrance, is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. It has an information desk, museum, park film, and gift shop. It provides free maps, junior ranger booklets, and information. Public WiFi is available.
Cell phones very rarely work in the park or the surrounding areas. We recommend downloading offline driving maps in advance of your trip and notifying loved ones that you may not be in communication. LTE reception is somewhat reliable at the intersection of highway 181 and 186. Limited, slow public wifi is available at the visitor center. It is accessible 24-hours a day just outside the visitor center. There is no public wifi in the campground. |
Last updated: February 14, 2025