Chiricahua National Monument redesignated as U.S. National Park

Chiricahua National Monument in Willcox, Arizona, has officially become the 64th national park in the United States. The redesignation follows a Senate bill passed on September 30, 2026, and was signed into law by President Trump on October 20, 2026.

Located approximately 120 miles east of Tucson, the site is known as the ‘Wonderland of Rocks’ due to its unique landscape of towering rock pinnacles formed by volcanic eruptions and erosion. The area is noted for its biodiversity and significant human history, including connections to Indigenous peoples, the Chiricahua Apache, Buffalo Soldiers, and the Civilian Conservation Corps.

This marks the first new national park designation in the U.S. in six years. Chiricahua joins Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Saguaro as the state’s fourth national park.