Campground Overview:
Cochise Stronghold Campground is located in a magnificent, rugged canyon that served the famous Apache Indian leader, Cochise, as a refuge against his enemies. As you enter the East Stronghold Canyon, you pass in the shadow of rocks that quite likely served the Apache warrior as perches for his lookouts. The haunting shapes into which the forces of nature have carved those rocks helps make a visit to this charismatic place an unforgettable experience.
Campsites:
Cochise Stronghold Campground includes 13 campsites that at are shaded by oaks and surrounded by a diverse community of vegetation that includes plants of both the Upper Sonoran and Chihuahuan Desert. Campsites include standard forest service picnic tables and fire-pits with grills. No water is available so be prepared to bring your own.
From Tucson, take I-10 east 72 miles to US 191. Turn right (south) and drive 12 miles to Ironwood Road. Turn right (east) on Ironwood Road. From Douglas, take US 80 two miles to US 191. Go north approximately 45 miles to Sun Sites, then turn left (west) on Ironwood Road. Continue on Ironwood Road (which becomes Forest Road 84 at the Forest boundary) for 8 miles to Cochise Stronghold Campground.
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Semi-Developed |
Season: |
September – May |
Nearby City: |
Sierra Vista |
Fishing: |
None |
Campground Website: |
Cochise Stronghold Campground |
Campground Map: |
Click Here |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
Southeastern Arizona has a wealth of cultural, historical and natural resources. There are many opportunities for half or full day, side trips in the surrounding area. Walk back into the Old West and stand in the footprints of the Earp brothers at the OK Corral, relive the mining boomtown days on Brewery Gulch or explore the remnants of old forts or Indian hideouts. Get out and hike on the lush riparian areas of the San Pedro River or add to your “life lists” at nearby.
Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains on the Coronado National Forest is a good place to learn about southeastern Arizona’s desert plants. The campground itself rests under a canopy of evergreen oaks. Legends were born in the Dragoon Mountains. There, Chiricahua Apache leader Cochise hid from and battled his enemies, and there he’s buried. “I have drunk the waters of the Dragoon Mountains, and they have cooled me,” Cochise is believed to have said. “I do not want to leave here.” After a visit to Cochise Stronghold Campground, you may not want to leave the Dragoons, either.
To help you become better acquainted with this unusual environment, the Stronghold Nature Trail follows a 0.4 mile barrier-free loop that wanders among the yucca, cactus and rocks. This short, easy stroll provides a self-guided introduction to a number of desert plants as well as some of the principles of desert ecology. It also provides good views of the rocks that form the ramparts of the Stronghold. A barrier-free history trail in the campground tells of the area’s colorful past. If you would like to retrace the steps of this area’s historic residents even deeper into their nearly impenetrable refuge, you may choose to follow the Cochise Trail past dozens of fantastic rock formations as it makes its way across the Dragoons to West Stronghold Canyon and the Council Rocks historic area.
Kartchner Caverns State Park was discovered in November 1974, by Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts. They were exploring the limestone hills at the eastern base of the Whetstone Mountains. They were looking “for a cave no one had ever found” and found it. The two kept the cave a secret until February 1978 when they told the property owners, James and Lois Kartchner, about their awesome discovery. Today, the park is managed by Arizona State Parks and includes daily cave tours into the caverns, a discovery center and café, numerous trails for exploring the area, and a picnic Areas and campground.
Tombstone, AZ No visit to southern Arizona is complete without a visit to Tombstone. The “Town too Tough to Die” and location of the OK Corral and Boot Hill Cemetery. Shops line the main walkways, gunfight re-enactments, stagecoach rides and other amusements are to be found. The Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park dates back to 1882 as the Cochise County Courthouse. It houses many artifacts from the various eras of Tombstone’s history in the museum and serves as a resource for historical researchers.
Bisbee, AZ is a curious mix of the old and the new. The community was founded in 1880, and quickly became a thriving urban center, driven by a booming mining industry that thrived on the area’s rich reserves of copper and precious metals. Today, Bisbee’s extraordinarily well-preserved early-twentieth century downtown draws visitors from around the world, who appreciate its historic architecture, it’s welcoming, creative spirit and its cool climate. Bisbee also serves as an ideal overnight home-base for visitors – birders, hikers, wine-tasters, music-appreciators, and others who wish to explore our geologically, biologically and culturally rich “Sky Islands” region.
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area contains about 40 miles of the upper San Pedro River, was designated by Congress as a National Conservation Area (NCA) on November 18, 1988. The primary purpose for the designation is to protect and enhance the desert riparian ecosystem, a rare remnant of what was once an extensive network of similar riparian systems throughout the Southwest. Many recreational opportunities are available within the conservation area.
Murray Springs Clovis Site, a significant archaeological site that contains an undisturbed stratigraphic record of the past 40,000 years. Excavations were conducted by the University of Arizona from 1966 to 1971. People first arrived in this area 11,000 years ago. They belonged to what we now call the Clovis Culture and were the earliest known people to have inhabited North America. Named after the distinctive and beautifully crafted Clovis spear points they made, they were expert hunters of the large mammals of the last Ice Age. An interpretive trail leads visitors through the site.
Fairbank Historic Townsite is a “ghost town” located within the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, along the San Pedro River. Its life as a town began with the construction of a railroad in 1881, and it soon became an important depot as well as the closest railroad stop to Tombstone, then one of the largest western cities (15,000 in 1882).
A few buildings remain standing including a school house, hotel and stagecoach stable, and a small workshop. A trail leads to the town’s nearby cemetery which sits on a small hill overlooking the surrounding area. The area is open for the public to enjoy.
The Spanish Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate is the most intact remaining example of a once-extensive network of similar presidios. These fortresses marked the northern extension of New Spain into the New World. Only a stone foundation and a few remaining adobe wall remnants mark the location of an isolated and dangerous military station.
The San Pedro House, located 9 miles east of Sierra Vista on State Highway 90, is a popular trailhead for birdwatchers, hikers, and mountain bikers. The Friends of San Pedro operate a bookstore and information center.