Hiking Bonita Creek Trail in Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument is in the southeastern corner of Arizona and is full of great hiking options! The hikes explore the rugged desert terrain complimented by some really cool, interesting geology! But there is quite a bit of history in the area as well. When we first arrived at Chiricahua National Monument we stopped at the first trail/picnic area that we saw so we could look at the map and plan our adventures. And since we were parked at the trailhead we decided to start by hiking Bonita Creek Trail to Faraway Ranch and Stafford Cabin.

Quick Info:

Distance: 4.8 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Directions: From the entrance to Chiricahua National Monument, continue on E Bonita Canyon Road for about 0.4 miles and park at the parking area on the left.

Good to Know: There is a vault toilet and picnic area near the trailhead

Our Experience Hiking Bonita Creek Trail

From the Bonita Creek parking area the trail passes by the picnic area and leads to Bonita Creek. The creek was dry when we visited in the month of October but we did read that the creek is seasonal.

The trail parallels the creek and leads through golden grasses and a variety of trees. We spend a lot of time in the desert, and while we were hiking Bonita Creek Trail, we were surprised by how many trees there were in this area. The shade was welcomed and we also spotted several deer along the way which is always a treat!

As we continued hiking Bonita Creek Trail, we reached the Faraway Ranch Historic District. Here you’ll find the main ranch house, exhibit buildings, barns and other ranch structures. There are several informative signs to check out.

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From here we continued another 0.3 miles to Safford Cabin. After circling the cabin we headed back to the parking area at Bonita Creek.

The best part of hiking Bonita Creek Trail was walking through the shade of the numerous trees and the pretty grasses illuminated by the sun. And of course spotting the wildlife.

If you’re looking for a peaceful and easy stroll with a little bit of history, hiking Bonita Creek is for you. But if you like more dramatic scenery and more of a challenge or have limited time hiking in Chiricahua National Monument, then hiking Bonita Creek Trail is definitely a good trail to skip.

History of the Chiricahua Area

Since the early 1400s, Chiricahua Apaches lived in and around the Chiricahua Mountains. Traditionally, they hunted and gathered and were known as great warriors. Unfortunately, after years of resisting invasion, they were forced to surrender in 1886 and were then relocated by the government to reservations in Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Soon after, in 1888, the Ericksons who were Swedish immigrants created a homestead here in the Chiricahua Mountains. By the 1920’s this homestead became a guest ranch where visitors were lucky enough to come to enjoy the beautiful area. After the deaths of the Ericksons and their children the ranch became a historic district within the Chiricahua National Monument.

Later around 1933, President Roosevelt enlisted young men into the Civilian Conservation Corps. These men worked on conservation, construction and rehabilitation. Chiricahua National Monument hosted camps for some of these CCC enlistees.

Thanks for Reading About Hiking Bonita Creek Trail!

Hiking Bonita Creek Trail was a bit short and mellow for us but we do love experiencing new hikes! If you would like to read about some more of our adventures, check out the links below:

• Wupatki National Monument
• Hiking Purgatory Trail to the Animas River
• West Clear Creek Trail
• Backpacking North Halfmoon Lakes + Mount Massive

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