The Big Loop hike in the Chiricahua National Monument strings together half a dozen trails, including the Heart of Rocks loop, to create a nice little 9.5 mile (15.4 km) hike, with moderate elevation gain. We lucked out with clear weather temps in the 60s, despite the elevation of 5,000-7,000 feet. Very windy, however, and the protections of the deep canyons were a godsend.
The monument was established in 1924 to protect the vast collection of hoodoos (stone columns) and balancing rocks. The extensive trail system was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corp as part of the New Deal Era Work Relief Programs. These trails consist of many laboriously-constructed dry stack stone walls and steps—quite the engineering feat—with the help of hundreds of CCC workers.
The geology is the result of a massive volcanic eruption 27 million years ago that laid down a 2,000 foot layer of rhyolitic tuff, containing fairly soft siliconized pumice that eroded into the present-day formations.
The loop starts out counter-clockwise on the Echo Canyon Trail, followed by Upper Rhyolite Canyon, Sarah Demming, Heart of Rocks, Big Balanced Rock, Inspiration Point, Mushroom Rock, and Ed Riggs trails.
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Hoodoos standing at attention, for me reminiscent of the terra-cotta army created for the tomb of Qinshihuang, the first emperor of China.
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Good place for an ambush.
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Soaking in that great sun. (Photo by Misty Atkins)
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Yet another great place to take down an unsuspecting cowboy.
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Heart of Rocks panorama.
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Camel Head Rock.
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Just finishing up the stunning Heart of Rocks.
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This impressive rock gets its own sign.
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Inspiration Point, where we had lunch.
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Amazing trail work, with lots of dry stack stone walls and steps.
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