Sky Islands

Why should it be a National Park?

The Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona are considered a "sky island" ecosystem: a mountain range where the terrain, plants, and wildlife are significantly different from the landscape that surrounds them. Southern Arizona is characterized by an arid desert with few plants other than cacti and brush, but the Chiricahua Mountains that rise out of the Chihuahuan Desert allow for a higher concentration of species and greenery.

Covering an area 40 miles north to south and 20 miles wide, the range is the centerpiece of the North American Cordillera, which serves as the continent's geologic backbone, extending 4,000 miles from Alaska to southern Mexico. Contained almost entirely within public lands, the Chiricahua Mountains are divided into Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Chiricahua National Monument, and Coronado National Forest.

As settlers began spreading west during the mid-1800s, a path was established through the mountains. This path became known as Apache Pass, named for the native tribe who inhabited the mountains. This increase in travelers led to Apache raids and attacks. The U.S. Army constructed Fort Bowie to protect the settlers. The fort was in use from 1862 to 1894, but in the years following its closure, the adobe structure saw significant decay. In 1972, it was protected as a National Historic Site.

The majestic Chiricahua National Monument in the northwest of the mountains is home to rock formations known as hoodoos These tall, thin spires of rock protrude from a high elevation forest. A strange yellow moss accents these car-sized towers, creating an environment like nowhere else in the country. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Chiricahua is how it has remained a hidden gem instead of a popular tourist attraction. These formations are located less than 15 miles from Fort Bowie, but the noticeable differences in terrain are a defining feature of the mountains. Plants and natural features vary greatly depending on elevation within the mountain range.

Despite the protection of the Fort Bowie National Historic site and Chiricahua National Monument under the NPS, over 90 percent of the Chiricahua Mountains are designated as the Coronado National Forest, which allows for mineral extraction. This one-of-a-kind range and its unique features could be irrevocably altered.

In 2016 Martha McSally, at the time Arizona's 2nd Congressional Representative, introduced legislation redesignating Chiricahua National Monument as a National Park. While this would be a substantial first step, the proposal should be widened to include the entire Chiricahua mountain range and Fort Bowie. Only then will the interconnected stories of the Apaches, westward expansion, and a rich geologic history be elevated to their rightful place in the American narrative, along with ensuring these lands are not destroyed through mineral exploitation.

In 2016, Congresswoman Martha McSally introduced a bill to redesignate Chiricahua National Monument as a National Park, but the effort failed.