Chiricahua, a landscape of towering volcanic rock spires known as “The Pinnacles,” was officially designated the 64th national park in the United States on Tuesday. Located in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona, the park spans roughly 12,000 acres where desert, grassland, and forest ecosystems converge. The area, rich in Apache heritage and remarkable biodiversity, had been previously protected as a national monument since 1924, when President Calvin Coolidge first recognized its significance.
The Chiricahua National Park Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump, marking the first new national park designation in six years. The bill passed the House by voice vote in March and received unanimous consent in the Senate the previous month. The effort to elevate Chiricahua's status began more than a decade ago, attributed in part to the work of the late Air Force Lt. Col. Bob Gent. Various members of Congress introduced similar legislation in recent years, including then-Rep. Martha McSally and, most recently, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, whose district includes the park. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego sponsored companion legislation in the Senate.
Rep. Ciscomani, a Republican seeking a third term in a closely contested race, praised the designation as a culmination of years of collaboration with local partners. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum highlighted the park’s unique landscapes and cultural significance as reasons for the new status, anticipating that it would boost tourism and support local economies.
Chiricahua is known for its rhyolite rock formations created approximately 27 million years ago during volcanic activity. The park is part of the Chiricahua Mountains, one of the Southwest’s “sky islands” — isolated mountain ranges that harbor diverse plant and animal species not found in the surrounding arid lowlands.
Despite celebrations surrounding the designation, several advocacy groups expressed concerns about the broader context in which the park was established. Some critics noted that although the Trump administration has added this new national park, it has simultaneously reduced staffing at the National Park Service by about 25 percent and reallocated millions of dollars away from existing parks to fund projects in Washington, D.C. These critics argue that many current parks, such as the nearby Grand Canyon National Park, still face significant challenges including fire recovery and infrastructure needs.
Rob Arnberger, former superintendent of Grand Canyon and Saguaro National Parks, criticized the administration for emphasizing new park designations while neglecting the stewardship of existing sites. Similarly, Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, pointed to the prioritization of non-park projects like golf course renovations in the nation’s capital over essential safety and maintenance funding for parks in Arizona.
The National Parks Conservation Association, which supported Chiricahua’s designation, also called for restored funding and staffing to ensure adequate protection of fragile ecosystems within this and other parks. Christina Hazard, the association’s legislative director, emphasized the importance of preserving “sky island” environments unique to the Southwest, with Chiricahua playing a key role alongside nearby protected areas such as Coronado National Memorial.
As Chiricahua begins its new chapter as a national park, stakeholders remain focused on balancing the opportunities brought by its elevated status with the ongoing need for resources to maintain and protect America’s natural and cultural heritage.