Arizona’s ‘Land of Standing-Up Rocks’ Set to Become 64th U.S. National Park

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — A striking landscape of volcanic rock spires in southeastern Arizona, historically known to Native American tribes as the Land of Standing-Up Rocks, is on the verge of becoming the 64th national park in the United States.

Legislation establishing Chiricahua National Park has cleared Congress with bipartisan support and is currently awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature. The 19-square-mile site, which was first designated as a national monument in the 1920s, sits within the ancestral territory of the Chiricahua Apache.

Representative Juan Ciscomani, the Republican sponsor of the Chiricahua National Park Act, highlighted the unique geological significance of the area, noting that while it is difficult to compare any site to the Grand Canyon, this location offers a distinct and largely undiscovered landscape. The designation aims to preserve the hundreds of pinnacle-shaped formations created by ancient volcanic activity.

The new law includes provisions to ensure that the San Carlos Apache and other tribes maintain access to the land for traditional ceremonies, including the ability to temporarily close sections of the park to the public for cultural purposes. While the tribe has not taken a formal stance on the park status, officials have emphasized the necessity of protecting these areas as sanctuaries for prayer and ritual.

The site currently attracts approximately 60,000 visitors annually, and local leaders in nearby Willcox, Arizona, anticipate that the upgrade to national park status will provide a boost to the regional economy. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the establishment of the park will cost less than $500,000, though the National Park Service has not yet detailed plans for staffing or infrastructure adjustments.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)