Drive east on I-10 for a couple of hours and near Wilcox, AZ, you’ll find the otherworldly Chiricahua National Monument. After a stop at the helpful visitor center, you’ll understand how the strange rock formations, called hoodoos were formed after a volcanic eruption.

There’s a smoothly paved road that winds through the park past tall trees and even taller rocks in the craziest towers and balancing acts. These so-called hoodoos are compacted volcanic ash eroded by wind and water over the centuries.

This sky island is home to many species of birds, coatis, lizards, deer, black bears, and the banded rock rattlesnake. Chiricahua is at the convergence of the Rocky Mountains, the Sonoran Desert, the Sierra Madre, and the Chihuahuan Desert.

You’ll be happy if you bring a picnic lunch as this is a full day’s adventure in this quiet part of Arizona near the New Mexico border. Even if you don’t do much hiking on the 17 miles of trails in the park, there is plenty to see from the car or from the various parking areas. There are restrooms throughout the park but no food service there or nearby. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and a jacket any time of year. Don’t forget binoculars, a camera, and your sense of wonder.