As you enter the Chiricahua National Monument you're climbing up a sky island, an isolated mountain range rising above the surrounding grasslands sea. Meadows dotted with cactus and mesquite begins to fill with sycamore, juniper and oak trees. It's the rock pinnacles looming over the road like guardians of the forest that announce you're in Chiricahua Country.
Chiricahua National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve and protect the pinnacles. In 1934 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) took on the job of improving the road and constructing trails and many of the structures. The park comprises 11,985 acres, 86 percent of the area is designated as wilderness. The eight mile scenic drive rises from the grasslands to the summit at Massal Point where you get a true sense of being atop a sky island.
We had a private tour of the Ranch House at Faraway Ranch. Swedish immigrants, Neil and Emma Erickson settled here in 1888. It took Mr. Erickson ten years to build the ranch house. In the early 1900's their daughter and her husband turned the house into a Guest Ranch.
We really enjoyed seeing all the beauty nature has provided and of course I took a couple of pictures and we hope you enjoy them.
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