Hike Silver Spur Meadow Trail, Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona

Add to My List Check Off

The Silver Spur Meadow Trail leaves across the street from the visitor center and winds along to Faraway Ranch. You can discover human settlement in Bonita Canyon while exploring the plant and animal species of the park. When the first white settler entered the canyon, oak and sycamore lined Bonita Creek and Newton's wash. Arizona cypress, juniper, and mesquite have taken hold in the last 125 years. There are nearly 350 species of plants, more than 250 birds, more than 100 arthropods, more than 50 amphibians and reptiles, and more than 60 mammal species using the canyon. They depend on the water from springs, snow melt, and summer monsoon. They find refuge in caves, trees, small pools, and underground dens. The fireplaces found along the Silver Spur Meadow trail were part of the former Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) mess hall. Camp NM-2-A, Company 828 lived and worked in Bonita Canyon from June of 1934 until June of 1940. They built trails, a campground, three houses for NPS staff, a maintenance facility and other infrastructure, a fire lookout, and their own camp. Building foundations, laying pipes, and the bear cage represent just a small portion of the CCC's work in the monument. In 1948 this area became the Silver Spur Guest Ranch when Ray and Ruth Kent bought several buildings on 60 acres from the Ed and LIllian Riggs, and stopped taking customers in the late 1960's. The land and buildings were purchased by the National Park Service. If you look on the northern slope above you while traveling west toward Faraway Ranch you will see another CCC built structure built for Cima, an orphaned black bear cub the CCC boys brought to camp as their mascot. Cima stayed in the barracks each night until the bear "took a likin' to shoes." This cage became his new sleeping quarters and had a door for easy access. By Cima's first birthday he was too big for the cage and was released in the Barfoot area in the Coronado National Forest. Source: NPS

Write a Review

No Ratings Yet

Flag as inappropriate ›