Park 178- Chiracahua National Monument New Mexico

I drove down here from our stop in Willcox, Arizona, and it was a beautiful sunshiny day, and this park is a WOW!  Essentially, it was the gift of an old pioneer family who settled here back in the 1880's, and labored to make sure the area was preserved as a National Monument-  glad they did! 

The park is situated in the Chiracahua Mountains, and is said to be an example of "standing up rocks,"  as a result of volcanic eruptions.  In 1934, the CCC did the roads and improvements, and the result is a pretty spectacular park as far as scenery is concerned. 

There is a small visitors center, and there was a nice movie-  and then I took an 8 mile scenic drive up to Massai Point, the highest point in the park at just over 6000 feet-  Wow!  Here's what it looks like:



Got a pin and a hiking staff medallion, and two stamps, as the database said there would be. 

Sadly, Bette didn't join me on this trip-  a miss for her!