Coronado National Forest
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Coronado National Forest (James Randklev/Photographer's Choice/Getty)
Anyone who's driven Interstate 10 through southern Arizona knows that the region's lowland desert—bone-dry, dusty, and often searingly hot—isn't the most hospitable of American landscapes. And from the roadways, the steep, wrinkled topography of the mountain ranges that rise here and there from the desert floor doesn't look much more user-friendly; some green is visible, but when it's 110 degrees where you are, it is hard to grasp the difference that a few thousand feet of elevation can make. Read More »
Coronado National Forest Highlights
- The Coronado National Forest is sectioned into five Ranger Districts: Douglas, Nogales, Sierra Vista, Stafford, and Santa Catalina. Each district has camping available. Mountain lions and black bears may be in the area, so be aware of your surroundings and watch pets and children. Campfires may be restricted particularly in the summer so check the rules and regulations in advance.
- Cochise Stronghold Campground is located in the canyon that Apache leader Cochise used as a refuge against his enemies. The Cochise Trail retraces the escape route of the Apaches and will take you past rock formations into the West Stronghold Canyon (west side of the Dragoons).
- Located in the Sierra Vista Ranger District, Lakeview Campground is located adjacent to Parker Canyon Lake and just a short walk or drive to the boat launch ramp and fishing pier. There are 65 single-unit sites open year-round and drinking water is available. Lakeview Campground is an excellent base for doing some area birding. Bald Eagles, Osprey and migrating waterfowl can be seen on the five-mile trail around the lake.
Coronado National Forest Active and Adventure Highlights
By Bill Weir
- The Coronado National Forest has dozens of trails, many on southeastern Arizona's "sky islands" (isolated cool-climate mountaintop forests). Any trail not within a wilderness area or specifically posted "closed" is open for mountain bike use.
- The Arizona Trail—the nearly complete long-distance path running from Arizona's border with Mexico north to its border with Utah—comprises everything from scorched low desert to cool alpine mountaintop, and runs along several of the mountain ranges encompassed by Coronado National Forest.
- The 87,700-acre Chiricahua Wilderness is famed for its diversity of plant and animal life, as well as spectacular geology. Trails lead up canyons, or you can drive on unpaved roads to Rustler Park (elevation 8,400 feet) just north of the wilderness.
- Elephant Head Mountain Bike Route twists 13 miles (one-way) through rugged foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson between the mouth of Madera Canyon and the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory Visitor Center. Elevations range from 3,600 to 4,600 feet.
Last Updated: 29 Mar 2010
Published: 5 Nov 2008
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.
Published: 5 Nov 2008
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.
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Coronado National Forest Travel Q&A
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What You Can Do in Coronado National Forest
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Parks Near Coronado National Forest
- Santa Catalina Passage, AZ (5.4 mi.)
- Empire-Cienega National Conservation Area, AZ (20 mi.)
- Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, AZ (29 mi.)
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