One of Geronimo’s Hideouts was in the Chiricahua Mountains. On September 4, 1886, Geronimo and his band of followers surrendered to General Nelson Miles at Skeleton Canyon. Geronimo was known to be in the Chiricahua Mountains before his surrender. The surrender site was at Skeleton Canyon on the Arizona/New Mexico Border just north of Mexico. The Chiricahua Mountains are in a very remote corner of the Arizona desert.
Skeleton Canyon
The closest “town” to Skeleton Canyon is Apache, Arizona. Apache is about halfway between Bisbee, Arizona and Lordsburg, New Mexico. From Bisbee, Apache is on Arizona Highway 80 about 65 miles east of Bisbee. Apache is located between the Chiricahua Mountains and Skeleton Canyon.
Apache is a location rather than a town. In this case, the word town or even tiny town doesn’t describe Apache. There are three buildings including a small schoolhouse. The best way to get to Apache is to turn south starting in Road Forks, New Mexico, or eastbound from Bisbee.
The Geronimo surrender monument
The Geronimo surrender monument is in Apache, Arizona. Even though the address says it is in San Simon. The monument is 40 miles south of San Simon. San Simon is the closest town to Apache and is also the last town eastbound on Interstate 10 before entering New Mexico.
Skeleton Canyon is southeast of Apache (along Skeleton Canyon Road). One source says that Skeleton Canyon is on private property. Most of Skeleton Canyon is in New Mexico and the Skeleton Canyon road is a dead-end. The best way to get to Apache is to turn south in Road Forks, New Mexico.
The Chiricahua Mountains
The Chirichua Mountains are in a very remote part of Arizona. The Chiricahua Mountains are a green pine tree-covered island in a sea of brown desert. The Chiricauha Mountains are remote, well off the Interstate. At the north end of the Chiricahua Mountains is Fort Bowie. Bisbee and Tombstone are far to the west. To the east of the Chiricahua Mountains is mostly uninhabited desert.
The desert around the Chiricahua Mountains is dotted with dry lake beds and a few farms and ranches. Wind and dust are common. This part of New Mexico and near Alamogordo are the only places where I have seen signs on the road about total loss of visibility due to blowing dust. After you come to a stop, signs say you should leave your car in neutral with your brakes off. The theory is that if someone hits your stopped car from behind then much of the energy might propel your car forward rather than absorbing the impact.
Besides the pine trees, the Chiricahua Mountains are also the location of a sea of interesting rock formations called Hoodoos.
All about the Hoodoos
Hoodoos are rock formations caused by wind and rain that stand vertically. Typically we think of Hoodoos when visiting Bryce Canyon, Utah, although we have seen these rock formations in New Mexico and other places. We first visited Bryce Canyon National Park in 2018 during our stay in Sand Hollow; here is a link to the story. Camping at Sand Hollow
Another great example of Hoodoos is Goblin Valley, Utah. We went to Goblin Valley because it was very remote and well off the beaten path. We visited Goblin Valley in 2018 here is a link to that story. Green River Moab, and Goblin Valley
Another example of Hoodoos we have found in our journey is north of Albuquerque. This location is now a new National Monument. We visited the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in 2019. Here is a link to that story. Albuquerque to Chama
Bonita Canyon Drive
Bonita Canyon Drive heading into the Chiricahua National Monument is 35 miles southeast of Wilcox on Arizona State Route 186. From Arizona State Route 186 make a left turn on Arizona State Route 181. Bonita Canyon Drive is the extension of Arizona State Route 181 and goes past the Faraway Ranch (also a worthy attraction) and climbs to Massai Point at the top of Chricahua National Monument.
Echo Canyon Loop Trail
The Echo Canyon Loop Trail takes you on a path through the Hoodoos. It is 3.2 miles long and mostly a series of rock steps built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Core. We didn’t do the entire trail, but instead did part of the Echo Canyon Loop Trail and some smaller trails in the Chiricahua Mountains National Monument. Most of the photos in this article were taken while on these hikes and while driving to the overlooks.
About Camping
Our motorhome is too large to camp at the Chiricahua National Monument. The length restriction is 29 feet, so we are excluded. The closest place that has campgrounds for large RVs is Wilcox. Wilcox has several campgrounds that can accommodate large RVs.
Wilcox
Our campsite while visiting the Chiricahua Mountains National Monument was at a family farm in Wilcox. Our day’s journey started in Tucson heading west along Interstate 10. Our stop in Wilcox was intentional and our visit to the National Monument was an unanticipated opportunity.
Usually, we don’t do tourist things on a travel day, but since our travel day was short, and we had an early start and an early arrival, we took the opportunity to explore the Chiricahua Mountains and are very glad we had the opportunity.
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Atlas Obscura Geronomo’s Surrender Monument
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Very interesting. I had not heard of this monument. We will be traveling to Moab this week to attend a Bronco class.
We visited there from Kartchner Caverns SP, along with Fort Bowie – like you, we were too large to camp there. It will be interesting to see if Chiracahua gets the upgrade to National Park status that Arizona would like!
I think you could camp at Kartchner. It is the best cave that I have visited. It would be a long drive from Kartchner.
Well written! We will be spending next winter in Arizona, and have this added to my list!
Happy Trails!
Kate and John
Love the history lessons we get.
I’ve never heard of it. Very interesting.