Portal, AZ - Rodeo, NM

Trail Report for March 20, 2025

Sugarloaf Fire Lookout, Chiricahua National Monument

What a grand time the ten of us hikers had over in one of our favorite places, the Chiricahua National Monument. Our goal was first to climb up to the top off Sugarloaf Mountain at the top of the Monument road, then to drive down the road a ways and climb the 2 1/2 mile trail up to the Natural Bridge. All of us made it to the top of Sugarloaf, and most made it various distances up the thousand feet of elevation gain to the Natural Bridge. The writer did not make it all the way, but six others did and reported back that they just loved that last half-mile or so of extra distance.

Natural Bridge, Chiricahua National Monument

I think I can speak for everyone that we all enjoyed the many unique plant species, including manzanita, silk tassel bush, western sumac, lip fern (which I mistook for a selaginella, but is actually a true fern), scrub oaks of many types, colorful crustose rock ferns, et al. We saw only a few birds, mostly Mexican jays and juncos (including one Yellow-eyed species), and one lovely rainbow cactus. There were also a lot of Homo sapiens wandering the trails in every direction. Glad they were able to get out on the nature trails too.

Lip Fern and Rainbow Cactus

The geology was interesting also, especially the spectacular rhyolite tuff columns formed since a gigantic volcano blew its top in the immediate vicinity 27 million years ago, leaving a 12-mile wide caldera just to the south of the monument that we now call the Turkey Creek Caldera. The ash and molten debris from the explosion settled and compacted over those many years, leaving the thick layer of pink rock we now call rhyolite. This rock layer fissured and eroded during that period and resulted in those fascinating pillars, plus many other geological features, including shallow caves, faults, mountains, lava flows and the now almost unrecognizable caldera itself.

Rhyolite Tuff Columns

The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), established during the Great Depression of the 1930’s by President Franklin Roosevelt, built many of the trails through the rhyolite columns of the Monument during that period, and they named many of the rock features that can be seen there today. 

The CCC Blasted Tunnels, When Needed

A few of us reflected on what it must have been like when ancient Native Americans of many different tribes occupied the area and hunted and gathered there for their survival, as evidenced by a possible mortar found in one of the rocks we stepped over. It was an experience that gave us a better perspective on the overcrowded mostly urban world of today.

 

Possible Native American Mortar???

Next week’s hike (3/27/2025) will be to Owl Canyon in the Peloncillos. This hike is partly in a rocky wash and partly on a trail. Meet at the Rodeo Post Office at 8 a.m. AZ, 9 a.m. NM. Bring good shoes, lunch, water, sunscreen and a hat.

Report by Frank

Photos by Frank and Carol