Arizona’s Chiricahua Is Now a National Park, but Little Else Changes

Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona is now Chiricahua National Park. According to the National Park Service’s FAQ page, the change came through the Chiricahua National Park Act, H.R. 6380, signed into law on September 30, 2026. The Park Service counts it as the 64th national park, following 63 designated before it, though we could not verify that tally independently.

The Park Service describes the change as one of name and recognition. The roughly 12,000-acre boundary stays the same, most of the area remains designated wilderness, and protection and management under NPS policy do not change. The law includes no dedicated funding, so staffing and budgets follow the normal appropriations process.

For visitors, little is different on the ground. Entrance fees, camping fees and permit requirements are unchanged, and hiking, camping, the scenic drive and ranger programs continue. Signs and publications will be replaced in phases as funding allows, so some old monument signs may remain for a while. The park also keeps its International Dark Sky Park status, designated in 2021.

Chiricahua drew 70,406 visitors in 2025, according to the NPS FAQ, a fraction of the crowds at the best-known parks. A new title can bring more attention, so anyone who wants the rock-spire hiking trails and dark night skies without a crowd may want to go sooner rather than later, after checking the park’s page for current conditions.

Sources: National Park Service