Chiricahua National Park is now officially the nation’s 64th national park after President Trump signed the Chiricahua National Park Act, elevating the longtime national monument in southern Arizona. The biologically rich and scenic landscape has drawn visitors for generations, and local leaders expect interest to grow with the new designation.
The Chiricahua Mountains sit about two hours southeast of Tucson, reached by a winding road through sweeping grasslands. The range is one of the region’s sky islands, rising from surrounding deserts and forming a crossroads for four major ecosystems, where the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts meet the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Madre.
Visitors often describe the terrain as a wonderland of rocks. The area was first protected as a national monument in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge. One recent visitor, Armand Santilli, likened the scenery to an Arizona version of Bryce Canyon and learned on arrival that he was among the first to experience it as a national park.
Chiricahua National Park becomes Arizona’s fourth
At a ceremony marking the designation, Arizona Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani introduced Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Officials noted Arizona is rich in nationally protected places. Chiricahua now joins Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Saguaro as the state’s fourth national park.
Ciscomani introduced the bill in 2023, and President Trump signed it into law this week. Burgum called the measure an example of bipartisan and bicameral work, saying the administration supports keeping public lands accessible for future generations.
Chiricahua National Park spotlight amid Park Service strain
The celebration comes as the National Park Service faces severe resource pressures. The agency’s workforce shrank by nearly 3,000 positions last year, and entrance fees from some parks have been redirected to public works projects in Washington, D.C.
According to the National Parks Conservation Association’s Sanober Mirza, the system is already underfunded and understaffed, and national parks are under threat in unprecedented ways. The Park Service reports a nationwide deferred maintenance backlog of about $24 billion.
Congress in 2020 approved $6.5 billion for repairs through 2025, and Secretary Burgum said lawmakers could consider additional support later this year with a proposed Great American Outdoors Act 2.0, which he said would provide significant new capital for the agency.
Supporters hope the park elevation brings added attention and resources to Chiricahua. Mirza said the new status could help attract funding, and Ciscomani, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, said the park’s location in his district positions him to advocate for robust support.
The Interior Department estimates about 70,000 people visited Chiricahua last year. Leaders in nearby gateway communities expect that number to rise now that the site carries the national park name.
