BIG LOOP TRAIL | Hiking CHIRICAHUA NATIONAL MONUMENT | Rock the Rhyolite

Chiricahua National Monument has many different trails that allow visitors to enjoy the abundant unique features scattered throughout the park. There is one way to see virtually all of the popular sites in a single day when you visit. It's a hike known as the Big Loop, and this configuration of trails cuts through the heart of Chiricahua country.
▬▬ C A C T U S A T L A S . C O M ▬▬
⚪ Read our review - www.cactusatla...
⚪ Get more information - www.cactusatla...
In this episode, I hike the entire length of the Big Loop trail at Chiricahua National Monument. The loop consists of the following trails: Echo Canyon Trail, Upper Rhyolite Trail, Sarah Deming Trail, Heart of Rocks Loop Trail, Big Balanced Rock Trail, Inspiration Point, Mushroom Rock Trail, and the Ed Riggs Trail.
I hiked them in that order. The main criteria for hiking them in that order is that in the official hiking information published by the National Park Service, that is the order they are listed for the Big Loop. Not sure if they are in that order by design or coincidence.
In retrospect, after having hiked it, I would agree that this is the best order to hike them in, mainly because by starting with the Echo Canyon Trail first, you get to hike downhill through the very majestic Echo Canyon, which hosts some of the best encounters with the rhyolite rock spires. Also, Ed Riggs is not as picturesque as Echo Canyon Trail (in my opinion), so best to walk downhill through one of the best sections of the Big Loop.
For those looking for an easier experience, consider taking the hiker shuttle, which leaves the visitor center daily at 9 AM. They will drive you to either the Echo Canyon Trailhead or to Massai point, where you can catch one of the trails I hiked and proceed one way, downward, back to the visitor center. The benefit to doing this is you will be walking downhill much of the way, and if you go through Echo Canyon, you'll get to experience a lot of what makes Chiricahua National Monument so unique.
Also if you do that, you should still qualify for getting the "Rock the Rhyolite" pin. Just be sure to take pictures of the trailhead signs as you encounter them to prove you did it!
Overall, what I liked most about hiking the Big Loop is that I feel I saw the best of Chiricahua, and got to experience not only the "standing up rocks", but the varied habitation zones that inhabit the sky island.
I feel that the highlights of the Big Loop are the Heart of Rocks Loop, Echo Canyon Trail, Big Balanced Rock, and Inspiration Point.
If you only have limited time to spend at the park, maybe consider checking out Heart of Rocks or Echo Canyon, although the rest will certainly not disappoint!
VIDEO FILMED: 10/16/2019
▬▬ L O C A T I O N I N F O ▬▬
⚪ Chiricahua National Monument - www.nps.gov/ch...
⚪ Directions to Chiricahua National Monument - goo.gl/maps/5j...
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
⚪ Gear we use - www.amazon.com...
⚪ See where we've been - www.google.com...
⚪ Music from Epidemic Sound - www.epidemicso...
(As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.)
_____________________________________________________________
✅ Find us on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook - @cactusatlas.
✅ Check out our website - cactusatlas.com
Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking and day trips as well as campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!

[@3Kitais]

Congratulations on earning your gold medal - well deserved.

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! Was a nice little prize to get for doing that!

[@johntuttle4486]

Thanks for having this video. I wasn't going to go to Chiricahua, but after seeing your vid, I decided to. I'm glad I did; a very special place. Thank you!

[@CactusAtlas]

Glad you enjoyed it! Though we have many, I can say without a doubt that Chiricahua is one of Glenn's favorite places. We keep talking about heading back. 😊

[@tpseeker3367]

Congrats Glenn. This is the First I've heard of a pin being given for completing a trail(s).

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

This was fabulous! Congrats on your medal!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it! 😄

[@chav68]

I'm pretty excited. Going to the Chiricahua's in April!!

[@CactusAtlas]

Excited for you! It's one of my favorite places. I'm sure you'll not be disappointed!

[@chav68]

The Cactus Atlas..I’ll keep you posted! My girlfriend saw the video too and is extremely excited! We both love how you captured everything!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@chav68]

We finally did this route. The park is open for Memorial Day weekend. It was so beautiful!!! Can’t thank you enough for posting this video. It helped us a lot for this trip!!! Folks just don’t know how beautiful this park is and what you’ll see on the trails!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks so much for following up with us! Yeah, I’m amazed by how many people don’t seem to know about this place. It is very special. So glad we could be of help and even happier that you got to experience it! Which trails did you end up hiking? Did you do the Big Loop, or other trails?

[@chav68]

@@CactusAtlas oh man. Sorry for the late response!! We did the Big Loop, but had to skip Inspiration Point. My leg and hip were really killing me. (...aftermath from a bad car accident). We are planning on going back in March 2021. We’ll start down Ed Riggs then back track up to Hailstone and connect back to Echo Canyon and finish through there.

[@gstiles7]

congrats on the pin!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks! After doing all that, a reward was certainly appreciated. And, it is a pretty nice quality pin!