Chiricahua Mountains

Chiricahua Mountains
Chiricahua Mountains - northeast flank (from Portal, AZ)
Highest point
Peak	Chiricahua Peak
Elevation	9,759 ft (2,975 m)
Coordinates	31°50′47″N 109°17′28″W / 31.84639°N 109.29111°W / 31.84639; -109.29111
Dimensions
Length	35 mi (56 km) NW, then SW
Width	21 mi (34 km) (arc-shape)-N-S
Geography
Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona
Country	United States
State	Arizona
Regions	Madrean Sky Islands ((northwest)-Sonoran Desert) (northeast)-Chihuahuan Desert
County	Cochise
Communities	Willcox, AZ-NW, Douglas, AZ-S, Rodeo, NM-E and Portal, AZ-(NE foothills)
Range coordinates	31°56′N 109°23′W / 31.93°N 109.38°W / 31.93; -109.38Coordinates: 31°56′N 109°23′W / 31.93°N 109.38°W / 31.93; -109.38
Borders on	Dos Cabezas Mountains-NW San Simon Valley-NE & E San Bernardino Valley-SE Pedregosa Mountains-S Sulphur Springs Valley-NW, W & SW

The Chiricahua Mountains massif is a large mountain range in southeastern Arizona which is part of the Basin and Range province of the west and southwest USA and northwest Mexico; the range is part of the Coronado National Forest. The highest point, Chiricahua Peak, rises 9,759 feet (2,975 m) above sea level, approximately 6,000 feet (1,800 m) above the surrounding valleys.

The Chiricahua Mountains, and other associated ranges, along with Sulphur Springs Valley on the west and the San Simon Valley on the east, form the eastern half of Cochise County in southeast Arizona. The Pedregosa Mountains are found at the southern end of the Chiricahua Mountains, while the Swisshelm Mountains are located to the southwest. The northwest end of the Chiricahua mountains continue as the Dos Cabezas Mountains beyond Apache Pass and the Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Access to the Chiricahua Mountains and Coronado National Forest is through Willcox from the north, Douglas from the south, and Rodeo from the east.

The earliest evidence of humans in the vicinity of the Chiricahua Mountains are Clovis archeological sites such as Double Adobe Site in the Whitewater Draw tributary of Rucker Creek north of Douglas. Subsequently, the Cochise culture another pre-ceramic based culture spanning 3000 - 200 BCE was defined from sites around the Chiricahua Mountains, including Cave Creek Canyon. Following the transition to ceramics diagnostic ceramics characteristic of Mogollon culture and its local variants, the Mimbres culture, are found spanning the period from 150 BCE - 1450. The influx of other indigenous peoples, such as the Chiricahua Apaches, including the leaders Cochise and Geronimo occupied the area until forced removal in the late 19th century.