Chiricahua: Plan Your Route Around Your Vehicle’s Length

At Chiricahua, your choice of vehicle matters when you’re planning your visit. Current access restrictions depend on its length and whether you’re towing a trailer. We recommend checking both before deciding on your route, along with the information in the Chiricahua park guide.

For longer vehicles, Faraway Ranch is where you must stop if your vehicle is over 29 feet long. The parking lot is 1 mile past the entrance. If your vehicle exceeds that limit, plan to park there. As you plan your arrival, keep in mind that there’s nowhere to turn a large vehicle around beyond Faraway Ranch. Decide where you’ll stop before driving any farther.

The scenic drive has a separate restriction. Only vehicles 24 feet long or shorter are allowed. The 29-foot threshold for parking at Faraway Ranch doesn’t mean you can take the scenic drive. If your vehicle is longer than 24 feet, we recommend leaving this drive off your itinerary while you’re using that vehicle.

If you’re towing a trailer, plan to unhitch it at Faraway Ranch. Visitors with campground reservations are the exception. They can continue to the campground with their trailers. That exception allows you to reach the place where you’ll be staying.

It doesn’t change the rule for the scenic drive. Trailers are prohibited there. When planning your visit, distinguish between getting to your campsite and taking a sightseeing drive. We recommend planning those as separate parts of your itinerary, since a campground reservation doesn’t allow you to take a trailer on the scenic drive.