The Big Loop

The Big Loop is a strenuous 9.5-mile circuit through the heart of Chiricahua’s pinnacles and canyon country. It links Echo Canyon, Upper Rhyolite, Sarah Deming, Heart of Rocks, Big Balanced Rock, Inspiration Point, Mushroom Rock and Ed Riggs, then returns to Echo Canyon Trailhead. Plan on 4 to 7 hours; about 5½ hours is a fair starting estimate if you keep moving and leave time for the rock formations. Mileage can vary when hikers link the upper trails differently. This version follows the full named route, including the Heart of Rocks loop and the one-mile round trip to Inspiration Point. It’s a terrific choice if you want the park’s signature rock scenery and have most of a day; skip it if you’re after a quick walk. The 1.2-mile Echo Canyon to Beyond Grotto out-and-back gets you to the narrow rock passages without the full commitment.

From the Echo Canyon lot, the trail heads downhill through scrub and then into the close-set rhyolite towers. The Grotto and narrow passages come early, followed by loose, rocky switchbacks into the canyon. Upper Rhyolite brings a change of pace: shaded woodland, a wash crossed several times, and a climb back out. Sarah Deming is the hardest sustained push, gaining roughly 850 feet in about 1.5 miles, with the steepest half-mile near the top. There’s tree cover on parts of the climb, but the rock country opens back up as you gain height.

The trail reaches a junction with the Heart of Rocks loop, where named hoodoos crowd close around the path. Look for formations such as Camel’s Head, Thor’s Hammer and Punch and Judy among the rock slots and balanced pinnacles. This section has plenty of rock steps, so it’s slower than the map makes it look. Follow the signed loop clockwise for the easier walking and best views; the loop is harder to follow in reverse. Take a breath before leaving the rocks: the route still has a long way to go.

The Big Balanced Rock trail carries you east across open slopes to the massive balanced formation. From there, the half-mile spur to Inspiration Point is worth the extra mile round trip. It ends at a broad view over Totem Canyon and Echo Canyon, with pinnacles below and distant ranges beyond. For a photo, keep some foreground rock in the frame and aim across the canyon; that gives the spires a sense of scale.

After returning from Inspiration Point, follow Mushroom Rock Trail down into Hunt Canyon. It follows the drainage past the mushroom-shaped formation, then works through boulder-choked ground and more wash crossings toward Ed Riggs. Ed Riggs is a gentler finish than climbing back out by Echo Canyon, but your legs will already have several hard miles on them. Watch the junctions and keep the park map handy; this is a long linked route, not a single obvious footpath.

The pinnacles are rhyolite tuff, formed from volcanic material about 27 million years ago and carved into towers by later uplift and erosion. The route lets you see them from several distances: narrow passages at Echo Canyon, named formations at Heart of Rocks, and wide views from Inspiration Point. That changing scale is the reason to do the whole loop rather than only driving to the overlooks.

Start and finish at Echo Canyon Trailhead on the scenic drive; the parking area has restrooms. There’s no food or drinking water listed along the route, so bring what you need for a strenuous day, including water and snacks. Pets aren’t allowed on the trails. The route is open year-round, but snow and ice can affect higher trails in winter, especially from January through March; check current conditions before setting out.