This 'hidden gem' in Arizona just became America's newest national park

SALT LAKE CITY — President Donald Trump signed a law Tuesday redesignating Arizona's Chiricahua National Monument as America's newest national park, marking "a new chapter for one of Arizona's most distinctive landscapes," the National Park Service said.

The park, known as the "Wonderland of Rocks," lies roughly 120 miles from Tucson and protects approximately 12,000 acres of volcanic landscape formed by an ancient volcanic eruption roughly 27 million years ago.

"Chiricahua's towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage and remarkable biodiversity make it one of America's most extraordinary landscapes," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, in a release. "This new designation will shine a national spotlight on one of Arizona's hidden gems, creating opportunities to welcome more visitors, strengthen local economies and share this incredible landscape with more Americans."

The redesignation comes after years of work by Arizona legislators, who have advocated for the change to bring greater recognition and economic opportunity to the southeastern region of the state.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly first introduced the Chiricahua National Park Act in 2021. He advocated for the former monument to be designated as a national park to "boost tourism, create economic opportunity, and support conservation."

Kelly said the legislation being signed into law marked "a historic day for Arizona."

"Making Chiricahua a national park has been a priority of mine since I first came to the Senate, so I'm thrilled this day has finally arrived," Kelly said in a statement. "A bipartisan effort from the start, this is a win for the communities in southeastern Arizona and for everyone who worked to protect this extraordinary place so our kids and our grandkids can enjoy it."

Designation as a national park shifts how Chiricahua is managed

Until the land was declared a national park, it was protected as a national monument. The change in designation signals a shift in how the land will be protected and managed by the National Park Service.

National monuments "protect a specific natural, cultural or historic feature," according to the park service, while national parks are defined as "large swaths of land that protect a variety of resources, including natural and historic features."

National parks can only be created by Congress or by presidential declaration, using the authority designated to the president under the Antiquities Act of 1906.

Since the Antiquities Act was created, 17 presidents have declared nearly 160 national monuments, making up roughly one-fourth of current sites within the National Park System, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.

Chiricahua National Park is America's 64th national park, and the fourth to be designated in Arizona, joining the Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park and Saguaro National Park.

The Grand Canyon National Park was also protected first as a national monument before becoming a national park.

Fun facts about Chiricahua National Park

• Fact No. 1: "Chiricahua" is pronounced "cheery-cow-ah." The name comes from an Opata word meaning "wild turkey," referencing the animals the mountain range was originally known for, according to NPS.
• Fact No. 2: Unlike many other national parks, Chiricahua's busiest time of the year is not during the summer — it's during March.
• Fact No. 3: Chiricahua was first designated as a national monument in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge.

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