Chiricahua

Chiricahua refers to a group of Apache people traditionally inhabiting the southeastern edge of the American Southwest, including parts of what are now southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. They are a subgroup of the Apache and speak a Southern Athabaskan language, part of the Na-Dene language family. The term also designates a geographic region and related protected areas in this area, notably the Chiricahua Mountains and the Chiricahua National Monument.

The Chiricahua Mountains are a prominent range in southeastern Arizona. The Chiricahua National Monument, located near Willcox within the Coronado National Forest, preserves rugged volcanic rock formations and hoodoos created by rhyolitic tuff dating to the region’s ancient volcanic activity. The landscape is part of the broader Madrean Sky Islands biome, known for high biodiversity and distinctive ecological transitions between desert and montane environments.

Historically, the Chiricahua were among the leading Apache groups encountered by European-American settlers and U.S. forces. They played a central role in the Apache Wars, with notable leaders such as Cochise and Geronimo. Following years of conflict and U.S. military campaigns, many Chiricahua were relocated to reservations in the Southwest. The Chiricahua language remains a focus of linguistic study and efforts to preserve cultural heritage, though it is considered endangered.

In addition to people and places, the name appears in regional biology, such as the Chiricahua leopard frog, a species named for the region.