Trump Establishes Chiricahua as Arizona's Fourth National Park

Arizona has gained its fourth national park after President Donald Trump signed legislation on October 20, 2026, redesignating Chiricahua National Monument as Chiricahua National Park. Located in southeastern Arizona, approximately 120 miles east of Tucson, the protected landscape features dramatic volcanic rock formations, diverse wildlife, and sites significant to Indigenous history.

The legislation makes Chiricahua the 64th national park in the United States, according to reporting by azfamily.com and Outside. The designation preserves the area's existing boundaries and land uses while strengthening protections for cultural and religious sites, including provisions for tribal consultation and continued access for traditional Indigenous activities.

Arizona Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani sponsored the House legislation alongside Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton.

Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego introduced companion legislation in the Senate. The Senate approved the measure on September 30, 2026, before Trump signed it into law on October 20.

Kelly, who had advocated for the redesignation since 2021, celebrated the bipartisan legislation and its implications for southeastern Arizona.

"Today is 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," said Mark Kelly, a U.S. senator from Arizona.

Kelly also emphasized the role of the communities and conservation advocates who supported the change.

"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," Kelly said.

Stanton said the designation could strengthen conservation while creating opportunities for communities across southern Arizona. The region's elected officials and business owners hope national park status will attract more visitors and support local economic activity.

"Making Chiricahua Arizona's fourth national park is a huge win for our state. This designation will preserve one of Arizona's greatest natural treasures and draw visitors from around the world, bringing new economic opportunity to Southern Arizona," Greg Stanton told The Arizona Republic.

The landscape is known for towering rhyolite pinnacles, precariously balanced boulders, winding canyons, and dark night skies. The surrounding mountain range is part of Arizona's sky islands, isolated high-elevation habitats rising above desert and grassland environments.

According to azcentral.com, the park offers approximately 17 miles of hiking trails and an eight-mile scenic drive leading to Massai Point. Visitors can explore rock formations, observe wildlife, and experience a landscape that combines desert ecosystems with higher-elevation forests.

The area also holds deep historical significance. Chiricahua Apache people have longstanding ties to the region, while archaeological research continues to investigate how earlier communities occupied and used the landscape. The area later became home to ranchers, homesteaders, Buffalo Soldiers, and workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps.

President Calvin Coolidge established Chiricahua National Monument in 1924 under the Antiquities Act, initially protecting less than 4,300 acres. President Franklin D. Roosevelt added another 6,407 acres in 1938, and subsequent acquisitions included the historic 440-acre Faraway Ranch in 1978.

Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers and a retired park ranger and superintendent, supported the redesignation but highlighted potential operational challenges.

"We believe that Chiricahua is certainly worthy of national park status," Wade said.

He also raised concerns about staffing as visitation increases.

"Like a lot of other areas, it is most likely understaffed," Wade said.

The Association of National Park Rangers has also identified infrastructure improvements and additional staffing as likely needs if the designation brings more visitors. The National Park Service already manages the monument, meaning the change in status does not transfer management to a new agency.

Arizona's three previous national parks are Grand Canyon, Saguaro, and Petrified Forest. According to figures cited by tucson.com, Grand Canyon welcomed more than 4.4 million visitors in 2025, while Saguaro recorded approximately 848,000 and Petrified Forest about 316,000.

The redesignation comes as the National Park Service faces workforce reductions under the Trump administration. Azfamily.com reported that maintenance projects at multiple sites, including Chiricahua, had been ranked as low priority as officials focused on other federal projects.

Outdoor Experience 4 All president Eddy Corona welcomed the opportunity for more people to discover the landscape and experience its distinctive scenery.

"Chiricahua is one of those places you have to see with your own eyes to truly understand. Its landscape is breathtaking, and no matter how many times I visit, that feeling never changes. I'm proud that more people will have the opportunity to experience this extraordinary place," said Eddy Corona, president of the Phoenix-based nonprofit.