Chiricahua is now America's 64th national park, home to 27-million-year-old rock formations

Arizona is home to America's newest national park — the first in six years. President Trump signed legislation on Tuesday redesignating Chiricahua National Monument as Chiricahua National Park, making it the nation's 64th national park. It's also Arizona's fourth, alongside Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park and Saguaro National Park.

Located in southeastern Arizona's Cochise County, Chiricahua — pronounced "cheery – cow – ah" — spans more than 12,000 acres and is known as the "Wonderland of Rocks" for its towering rock formations shaped by a volcanic eruption about 27 million years ago, according to the National Park Service .

"Chiricahua's towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage and remarkable biodiversity make it one of America's most extraordinary landscapes," Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a statement . "This new designation will shine a national spotlight on one of Arizona's hidden gems, creating opportunities to welcome more visitors, strengthen local economies and share this incredible landscape with more Americans."

Established as a national monument in 1924, Chiricahua preserves thousands of years of human history, including the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache and the legacy of families who homesteaded at Faraway Ranch .

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly first introduced legislation to designate Chiricahua as a national park in 2021, arguing that the change would bring greater recognition and economic opportunities to the region. Other Arizona lawmakers, including Sen. Ruben Gallego and Reps. Juan Ciscomani and Greg Stanton helped advance the bipartisan effort.

"Today is a historic day for Arizona," Kelly said in a statement . "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."

Chiricahua will continue to welcome visitors for hiking, camping, scenic drives and wildlife viewing, according to the National Park Service.

The last U.S. national park designation came in 2020, when New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia was redesignated from a national river to a national park and preserve.