Trump Signs Law Designating Chiricahua National Park in Arizona

President Donald Trump signed a bill on Tuesday afternoon upgrading Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona to national park status. The designation marks the first new U.S. national park in six years, according to Outside Online. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Rep. Juan Ciscomani were scheduled to attend a ceremony in the Chiricahua Mountains to mark the official change.

Bipartisan Effort and Legislative History

The legislation was a bipartisan effort. Democratic U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego sponsored companion legislation in the Senate in January that was identical to the bill from Ciscomani, a Tucson Republican. At least five similar measures had been introduced since 2016, but none had advanced to a vote of the full House or Senate.

"Today is a historic day for Arizona. Making Chiricahua a national park has been a priority of mine since I first came to the Senate, so I’m thrilled this day has finally arrived," Kelly said in a written statement Tuesday. "A bipartisan effort from the start, this is a win for the communities in southeastern Arizona and for everyone who worked to protect this extraordinary place so our kids and our grandkids can enjoy it."

The bill passed the Senate on September 30, 2026, according to Outside Online. The monument is located 120 miles southeast of Tucson.

Impact on Tourism and Staffing

Elected officials, business owners, and outdoor groups hope the national park name will draw more tourists to the region. Chiricahua National Monument ranked 254th out of almost 400 Park Service sites nationwide last year, with just over 70,000 visitors. By comparison, Grand Canyon was the nation’s 15th busiest park in 2025 with more than 4.4 million visitors, while Saguaro came in 84th with about 848,000 and Petrified Forest finished 156th with about 316,000.

The Association of National Park Rangers, based in Marana, supported the upgrade but noted potential challenges. "We believe that Chiricahua is certainly worthy of national park status," said Bill Wade, a retired park ranger and superintendent who now serves as executive director for the association. "Like a lot of other areas, it is most likely understaffed."

Land Protections and History

The monument is already managed by the National Park Service, and its current boundaries and land uses remain the same under the new law. Most of the land is already protected as wilderness and as a national historic district. The park legislation reinforces protections for cultural and religious sites, requiring consultation with tribes and continued access for traditional tribal uses.

President Calvin Coolidge used his authority under the Antiquities Act in 1924 to establish the national monument on less than 4,300 acres in the Chiricahua Mountains. Another 6,407 acres were added to the monument in 1938 by President Franklin Roosevelt. Several smaller additions have followed since then, including the acquisition of the historic 440-acre Faraway Ranch in 1978.

Arizona was already home to three national parks — Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Saguaro — and about 20 sites in all managed by the Park Service. The area, nicknamed the “Wonderland of Rocks,” is known for its balanced boulders, rhyolite pinnacles, dark night skies and unique, sky-island wildlife.

Why it matters

The designation elevates the profile of a site that has long been overshadowed by Arizona’s other national parks. While the legal protections for the land remain largely unchanged, the new status is expected to drive economic growth through increased tourism. However, advocates warn that the park service may need additional resources to manage the anticipated surge in visitors and maintain the infrastructure required for a national park.

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Sources

• tucson.com: Trump signs law creating Chiricahua National Park in Ariz.
• outsideonline.com: Chiricahua National Park: Hiking Guide

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.