Cochise Stronghold.

Today Sandy, John and KoKo hiked at the Cochise Stronghold east of Benson in the Coronado National Forest. This area of the Dragoon Mountains is rugged and at the time remote so it was a good location for Cochise’s Chiricahua clan of Apache Indians to live in when they were fighting with the U.S. Cavalry.

Driving into the stronghold from Hwy 191 you could see that it was the most rugged area of the Dragoon Range. The last four or five miles of the road were washboard and rough with grade level water crossings; we met two four wheel drive trucks so just when we started appreciating our all wheel drive CRV with higher ground clearance we arrived at the campground and parked next to a Cadillac sedan and noticed several other low clearance cars in the parking area.

The stronghold area of the Dragoon Mountains.

 

 

The road into the Stronghold.

 

The campground at the stronghold; not big rig friendly.

We started our walk on the nature trail which was very well done; there were signs identifying various plants and indicating how the Apache used the plant in everyday life. From the nature trail we took the Cochise trail 1 mile up a valley to a natural spring. Both trails were well marked and easy to follow. The Cochise trail continues on four additional miles to the top of the valley but we did not venture that far.

Some of the sights along the Cochise Trail.

 

 

 

Always eager, this is the attitude we deal with on the trail (KoKo not John).

 

 

The view from the campground.

After our hike we also walked a very short interpretive trail with signs explaining the history of the Apache in the Dragoon Mountains and the people who proceeded and followed them in this area. We returned to Benson and Cochise Terrace and put the hot tub to good use again this evening.