I hike the Cochise Trail ever few years. There's a lot to see here: rock formations, vistas,…read morebirds, insects and rattlesnakes, and is a challenging hike of ten miles. I usually start this from the west side, driving through Tombstone and taking Middlemarch road north of town for nine miles before turning north on a forest road. This road is a dirt road that gets very rutted the last two miles as it follows a dry wash. This wash fills into a creek during active monsoon season, so a high-clearance vehicle is necessary. Unlike the east side, parking and dry camping on the west side is free. The trail climbs immediately for 1.75 miles before hitting the western Stronghold and from here it's a gradual descent to the eastern trailhead and campground. The only source of water is at Halfmoon tank, a cattle pond about halfway up or down the trail, depending on which direction you start this hike. Lots of butterflies were in the area in September. During active monsoon season, the creek will run and the waterfall on the western side is a sight to behold. My hiking party rests here near the restrooms before returning the way we came. There was no water in the campground last month when I last did this hike. Dogs are allowed The only negative thing about this hike is its remoteness and accessibility. From Sierra Vista it's a two-hour drive each way. Add another five miles for the hike and it's a day-long adventure.

Well we came yesterday to get out of town and visit the dragoon hills…read more This campground is officially closed to all but hikers. They say mountain bikes are permitted but we are riders and I think the trails are too narrow. And slots where you can t pedal. I say hike. So no parking, bathrooms or camping or potable water. But you can park outside the gates. A few did, like us. Since we are new to the site, we only went to the water tank. Lots of shade along the way. Caves. Huge Rock formations. Hawks circling above hunting. Butterflies, BlueJays. Lots to see. I m going to go back while the weather is still cool. It is normally Officially Closed July to September due to extreme temps. Great to use your imagination about where the Apache's would have hidden in wait to protect the Stronghold.

What a beautiful place to walk around! You need to come early to really see many birds but its…read morestill a worthwhile stop for a nature walk later. There's a guide at the visitor center who has a lot of information about the preserve and shared which birds have been seen lately -- and there are reference photos. The walking area is shaded and easy walking, with quite a few benches throughout. There's also a very nice gift shop that of course supports the preserve. I got a great full zip hoodie for a reasonable price.

A beautiful nature preserve managed by the Nature Conservancy. The first 1/2 mile of so of the…read moretrail has several historical and natural points of interest ( example ponds where you can find the leopard frogs). Lots of benches through out the area. Trail is well marked. Of note it is a gradual ascend. The 2nd half if you wish to get to the overlook continues ascend even more with switchbacks and more rugged stairs... a lot more climbing. There are benches scattered to catch a breath. I did not make it to the top this time but I am told by everyone who did that there are no benches towards the last leg before the top and this is a strenuous trail especially if you are not acclimated to the elevation plus 700ft ascent. Regardless of your hiking goals, the views are lovely, amazing biodiversity and immersion in nature. If you are into birding, this area is a hotspot. The staff at the visitor center are helpful and can provide information too. Hydrate and wear good shoes. Parking is free. There is a small fee. The area does close at 4... so plan accordingly.

It's a very pretty drive to go up there when the waterfall is running you can't follow it up to the…read moretop but I will not go up there scared of heights but it's a nice slow drive-in the back area just to check it out before you go up the mountain

A beautiful place to drive to and see Mother nature's wonders. There are trails that you can hike…read moreand get away to one of the quietest places you will ever find and be surrounded by amazing beauty. It does not matter what time of year you visit there is always something to see. Birds, animals, plants and cactus no matter where you look. If you visit Sierra Vista do not miss this Canyon. It is just a short drive out of town.

Great 17 mile loop trial in Sabino Canyon in Tucson. Bear Canyon is located in the Sabino Canyon…read moreRecreation Area of the Coronado National Forest. The trail starts at the recreation center where either you can walk to the trailhead or take a shuttle for a fee. There is another smaller parking area off of Bear Canyon Road that you can access the trailhead from that isn't in the recreation area. Once parked, you follow an easy rocky wash to the recreation area. Accessing the trail from this parking lot makes the hike a little shorter. But finding a spot to park can be difficult because the lot only holds about 15 cars. Attractions you can visit in Bear Canyon are Seven Falls and Thimble Peak. The rest of this review is for the Seven Falls Trail portion of the Bear Canyon Loop Trail. This hike reminded me of the West Fork Trail in Northern AZ but with less shade. There is a restroom at the Bear Canyon overlook picnic area. The Seven Falls trail is 8 miles out-and-back and has seven water crossings along the way. I was able to walk across the rocks, but plan on getting your feet wet (or bring water shoes). There are lots of Saguaro and Prickly Pear Cactus along this rocky path. After the crossings, there is an incline and then downhill portion until you get to the base of the falls. The waterfall cascades down a rock face and is gorgeous. This hike is really popular and gets crowded during the middle of the day and weekends. I really enjoyed hiking it. The best way to enjoy this hike and avoid lots of people is to start early. And as always when you hike in Arizona, bring water and sunscreen.

I was in the area to hike Seven Falls which is a trail you can get off off Bear Canyon Trail. It…read moreis in in the Sabino Canyon Recreational Center and parking was $5 bucks. For Seven Falls you can start off right from the parking and work your way up to the fails or you can get tickets and a ride the tram up for 4 miles, if you take the tram, you are still hiking 8 miles so don't feel like you're not getting your distance in if that's your thing. I recommend doing the Seven Falls hike either in the early spring if the creeks aren't flowing to high or the fall, most of the hike is not shaded, but you do like 7 creek crossings and do get wet , so plan on wearing waterproof shoes. This was an Arizona bucket list hike for me so I really enjoyed it. The Seven Falls are worth it! Come early to get a parking spot . Distance (with tram ride) 8.2 Miles, but I am sure the .2 depends on where you park, elevation gain about 900ft, difficulty moderate, you don't have to scale rocks or scramble, you can easily climb. Amenities are at the center, and it's real flushing toilets. No, you can't bring your dog on this.

This is a nice museum with a gift shop that goes to support the wildlife in the area. There are…read moresome walking trails and trees with shade to sit under and watch all the birds. Inside there is a chart of all the birds people have seen there. There is also one for butterflies. You can also sit at the table with chairs on the closed in patio for a break. There are bathrooms but the outhouse style ones so be aware. Parking was easy.

Cool place to see. We didn't go in to see the museum so we just walked one of the trails. My dogs…read moreloved the long walk in the park. This was a stop on the way back to Tucson from Bisbee which is such a cute town in the mountains at 5900 feet elevation. The weather was just perfect for a long walk. Not many people were in the park walking the trail today.

Brown Canyon Ranch is a very popular local hang-out all times of day. Retirees walk here early in…read morethe mornings, then come the mountain bikers, and then the hikers, runners, equestrians. Weddings and Senior pics are also popular. Day use is now $8. There is a restroom and several picnic areas by the pond to sit back and relax. To avoid the fee, park off Ramsey Canyon Road and walk the 0.8 mile to the ranch house. My hiking group does weekly loop hikes in Brown Canyon. The ranch house is open during daylight. The pond is a habitat for the endangered Chiricahua Leopard Frog. There are several trails that start at the ranch house. The Brown Canyon trail is a four-mile trail that one can take into Ramsey Canyon. The Garden Connector trail, which begins off the Buffalo Soldier Trail and SR92, ends here. The Brown Canyon Loop trail also starts here, although it's not marked. Just make sure you turn left at the horse trough two miles into the hike. This is a 4.6-mile loop. Just watch out for speeding mountain bikers. There is also a 1.5-mile Nature Trail loop with a duck pond. Dogs are allowed on these trails, but must be leashed. This place can get busy on the weekends. Watch out for rattlesnakes, javelina, coyote and deer.

Breathtaking views of the mountains with excellent beginner's walking path for the entire family…read more Very informative displays inside the cabin. There's a tiny duck pond on the walking path and a small bench to rest and take in the beautiful scenery. Pet's are welcome as long as you clean up after them to preserve the walking path. Watch out for snakes and other little critters.

The Ramsey Canyon Cabin experience is magical. From the moment we arrived we were greeted by…read moreseveral species of stunning hummingbirds that were at the numerous feeders positioned around our cabin's deck. The cabin itself was comfortable and super clean. They thought of everything - I like to cook and the kitchen is fully equipped and I found all that I needed. The cabin we stayed in had a BBQ and we were able to cook some delicious steaks. The WIFI worked beautifully. They even give you a supply of sugar water to refill the feeders as the hummingbirds are so voracious! What we enjoyed most was the tranquility and beauty of the natural surroundings. The new owners have created a network of paths around the property which take you to other areas with feeders and down to, and over the creek. There are several areas with seating scattered throughout the property where you can relax, enjoy nature and bird watch. I actually came to the area for birding and found the birds were more abundant at the cabins than at the nearby nature preserve, but it is an easy walk from the cabins and definitely worth checking out. However, we were more than satisfied to hang out on the property. I never considered my husband much of a 'nature' guy, and he keeps talking about going back - so that says a lot! By the way, the negative review written by Kate L. dates back to 2010 and the new owners have only had it about a year so it should be taken down. It doesn't reflect at all the caring, creativity and attention to detail that the new owners (a young couple with kids) have brought to this very special place.

Birds and grounds were great but owner was hostile and frightening when we misunderstood the sign.read more

The SPRNCA is more than just an old ranch house near the river off SR 90 where birders mingle…read morealthough it is the most used site in the area. The area includes 40 miles of a well-marked wide dirt trail along the San Pedro River that once was the home to the local Apache tribes. I live eight miles due west from the Hereford Bridge trail head and bring my dogs here to let them enjoy the river where few people go. This is eight miles from Mexico. Right now we have plenty of migrating hawks and eagles, and soon we will have our hummingbirds from the south come back up here. You can walk all the way down to the international border along the trail, although I'd advise you to not do it alone as border crossers do come through. There are no water stations or rest areas along the way; it's all primitive so bring your own water and make sure you have a fully-charged cellphone. The trail is mostly flat and exposed. The views in all directions are of mountain vistas. Creosote, mesquite, desert grasses and catclaw are common flora right off the trail, but you may come across adobe ruins, old pumps, even an old carcass or two. Other great stops are Murray Springs Clovis site and the nearby Clayton house (now just ruins) Beside the San Pedro House, there is also the old mining town of Fairbank further north. Volunteers man the old school house (now a visitor's center) on most weekends. There's also an historic cemetery. Near Millville there are even petroglyphs. North of Fairbank is the old mining town of Contention, but there isn't much left of the town. The trail going north of here is little used, and the river dries up in the hotter months. The Bureau of Land Management manages the trail. It's understaffed and the trail therefore can get overgrown at times. However, I enjoy this area for my solitude. I can take my dogs here and bother no one, and using it doesn't cost a dime.

Beautiful stop in between Sierra Vista and Bisbee! Easy to stop for a few minutes to take in the…read moreCottonwood trees and/or spend hours along the trails. We visited at a time when the San Pedro House itself was closed to visitors due to the pandemic plus part of the River Trail was closed off due to forest fire risks. However, a large section of the trail was still open and we were able to walk along the river and get lost under the canopy of green lush foliage and trees. It's worth the walk from the San Pedro House to the River to hang out under the trees, you don't have to go far to find a cool spot to sit and admire the scenery. You'll walk on a wide flat trail along a field, at the time we went the field was filled with small yellow daisies before getting to the canopy of trees. Check the website before visiting so you can know what you're in for in terms of hiking or going inside the San Pedro House. Hope to come back in cooler temperatures to spend more time on the trails. Oooh take your binoculars too, spot is also known for great bird watching.

I hated it when I was made to run up here from the Apache Flatt, which is about 1.5mi, it was…read morepainful! But a short hike or a car ride up here is a complete different story. It's a hidden/"exclusive" gem so pretty quiet most of the time. The view is breath taking. It give you a full 270 degrees view (a huge portion is blocked by all the mountains so that doesn't count) of up to 25-30miles out! They have a few picnic tables if you want to spend some time up here to have a nice little lunch. There are hiking trails leading all the way up the mountains. Don't go by yourself if you still love life and don't want to encounter/get stabbed by illegal drug traffickers, get mutilated by....bears, stung by scorpions, bitten by snakes, pretty much everything on Fort Huachuca can kill u, so take a buddy, a big knife (can't carry fire arms here) if you want to hike up the mountains from here.

To start I needed an ACCESS pass, which they offer at Coronado Park, if you're disabled & can prove…read moreyou are they give you a lifetime membership no cost entrance fees to over 2,000 national parks Etc... This location offers a nice hiking trail, and many other trails with beautiful mountain scenery. They have a small store with lots of information and the staff are very pleasant & helpful. There's plenty of parking, and restrooms. If your bored at home and want to get some sun, fresh air or quiet time this is your spot.

US National Memorials comprise an odd array of themes, so it's not terribly weird that we have one…read morefor a Spanish conquistador (we have two actually - also one for de Soto in Florida). Beautiful area with trails, an excellent visitor center and other features. At the very least, if you're able, hike up to the top of Coronado Peak from Montezuma Pass. It's a short hike but gains 300 feet in elevation. Good views up there. The Coronado memorial is somewhat out of the way but still easily accessible from I-10. If your vehicle has good tires, after visiting Coronado consider continuing on westward through Montezuma Pass towards Parker Canyon Lake and the town of Sonoita. It's a nice drive. 4WD not required but make sure your spare tire is in good shape.