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Sunday, June 7, 2015

Echo Canyon Grottoes - Chiricahua National Monument


Our final stop during our May 2015 visit to Chiricahua National Monument was at the Echo Canyon Loop Trail. As part of the 3.3 mile loop trail had been washed out due to recent flooding, I only hiked down to what I hope was the Grottoes before returning to the parking area. This made a short one-mile round trip hike in the "Wonderland of Rocks".

If you are planning to travel I-10 between Tucson and Las Cruces, schedule at least a morning or afternoon to sightsee, hike, picnic or just relax at this unique little park in the southeast corner of Arizona.

Trail surface

This must be the picnic area

Heading toward the seal posing on a pedestal

The trail was built by the CCC as can be seen in the sign architecture

A few columns rise above the trees

It's a bird! It's a seal! No, it's just a rock poser.

Hoodoos in the forest

Another view of the trail

A whole mountainside of rock columns

Sugarloaf Mountain from the trail

Bent to the point of breaking

Giant chairs in a rock amphitheater

Another balancing act

Huddled up on the hillside

Naturally carve stone statues

From this direction, a stone tulip

If we all just work together we can roll the big rock over the hill

Looking back, the stone tulip becomes a bird bath

Split right down the middle

A lizard suns on the rocks

An Easter Island Moai in Arizona or just a balanced rock?

Looking south toward the Turkey Creek caldera

The Twins

Another view of Balanced Rock

Playing "King of the Hill"

Biggest trail cairn I've ever seen

Inspiration for Rock 'em Sock 'em robots?

This one fell off its pedestal

More columns

A trailside column

Elephant parade

Teed up, not teed off

Leaning columns

Entrance to Chiricahua National Monument is free.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm.

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