Fee free park!…read more Beautiful scenic drive, reminiscent of Bryce Canyon and the red hoodoos they have there. I'm insane and did the Big Loop (~13.5 miles, ~4.5hrs). Also camped at Bonita Campground. When I visited, they have a shuttle on Saturdays and Sundays (~9am departure) to so you can do a point to point (one way) decline hike back to your car. Rangers very friendly!

I've been here twice and each time I have visited, it is mesmerizing and I don't want to leave!…read more This place is famous for their hoodoos and amazing rock formations that will leave you speechless and in awe! And while this place is a national monument, one thing our government could do instead of all the other nonsense going on is to upgrade this place to a national park. We stopped in here after spending time at Kartchner Caverns and today the scenic drive beyond the campground was closed because of the rain and snow that came down steadily last night. And because of this and due to the amount of time we had, we did a shorter walk along the Silver Spur Meadow. This trail is very easy, well shaded and what a beautiful place to view birds! I think may have seen 15 or more species in just the short walk we did here today. I was also here about 2 years ago and did the Echo Canyon Trail to the Grotto and that was such a lovely easy hike with all sorts of cool rock formations and I enjoyed climbing around. Id like to come back and do a more strenuous hike and when I get a chance, will come back and do the Heart of the Rocks trail! Visitor center is very cool with a really nice gift shop, museum, bathrooms and very informative rangers. Parking lot can be a bit tight but more parking available down the road. I was able to get a fun stuffed sandhill crane! I could spend a lot more time here and just love this place! Great place to get a dose of nature and love how the air feels at close to 5500 feet!

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.

First rule of the cave.. no pictures lol. Hence, no pictures are attached. They say it's because of…read moreaccidents reported from people not paying attention. Also, basically nothing is allowed in the cave. They had lockers that takes quarters but as far as I saw, no machine, you have to exchange with cash soooo prepare ahead. Leaving things in the car felt some what okay but not my favorite. I would appreciate if they had more security. They say they are not government funded so everything comes from public support. This was such a cool experience. You can tell the amount of work and detail they've put into the cave and preserving it. Truly different than other caves I've been to. There are two different parts of the cave you can choose from. If you can't do both my preference was the big room tour. I felt there was more to it, more things to see. Also, (sorry parents) perhaps the age limit made it more enjoyable too. Our tour guide Charles was INCREDIBLE. We did both tours back to back 0945 big room tour and 12 rotunda. Timing was perfect. Enough time to use the restroom and eat a snack. We brought our snacks, their cafe was closed. It would be an enjoyable experience to eat a packed lunch outside not sure if it's 100% allowed. Beginning of April was a GORGEOUS day. There's a McDonald about 12 min away. The big room tour is a man made/marked out, well paved easy walk/route. If you're worried about endurance or handiaccesible, it seems very accessible. The rotunda seemed a bit more incline but still well paved. You can wear white shoes and you wouldn't get dirty lol. I don't recommend open toes shoes/sandals because the Floor is very moist/wet. BOOK AHEAD. At least 2 weeks ahead to get the slots you want. If you're by yourself then a lot easier. It sells out quickly Restrooms were very clean and plentiful. As you wait for your tour guide before taking the tram to the cave there are another set of restrooms so that's appreciated. They want you to get there 30 min before. There really wasn't anything much to do ahead, it's just a simple check in. They have a mini museum that's nice to look around. You can get some good pictures outside prior or after the tour. Are both caves a must see, my bf says yes. I'm in between. If I would go back I would choose the big room tour again but that also has limited time opening due to the bats. As an AZ local or visiting this is a very enjoyable spot

As much as I love going underground and at this point have about 15 caves explored in AZ under my…read morebelt, I only finally made it to this one this weekend. Our caving group was having our winter conference here and it was really nice to use the visitor center's auditorium for our all day presentations. I learned about the invertebrates that live in caves, herpetology, bats and lots of other really fun topics about caves! Auditorium was very comfortable and all the IT worked great and the projector and acoustics were perfect. Seats also very comfortable. Later that day, some of us signed up for the headlamp tour of the Big Room that started at 5:30pm, which is only offered on Saturdays in the fall/winter. I was able to use my own headlamp and helmet. This tour is $50 and the price is higher than their regular tours, which is $30 for adults and all the lights in the cavern are on. The tour was good and I'm glad the proceeds of my ticket go to support this park. Phones aren't allowed into the cavern, so I took no pics. We also stayed in one of the 4 cabins on the campgrounds and it was fabulous. Cabin was super cozy and can sleep 6, one bed and two bunk beds. Cabins also come with a dining table, microwave and small fridge. Bathrooms right across from the cabin. Porch on the front and also a picnic table available. Fire pit also available. I had firewood but we could not make a fire because of rain. This was definitely glamping! And it was lovely. I would definitely do this again. Saw some fun turkeys too! A few things to note here, there is a Bat Cave Cafe on site open 11am - 2pm, however, it was difficult to get anything here as there was only one person working and a lot of us here. I brought my lunch from home. Night headlamp tour was fun but for $50, not sure how it differs from the day tours. But, do know that AZ state taxes don't go to supoort this park, so your tour ticket supports this park, so I can be OK with that. Its pretty amazing that two college students crawled their way thru a 10-12 inch sinkhole and then found this place! I am still in awe of this amazing discovery! And this is well before all the fancy equipment was available like lidar to help with uncovering new caves. And, once these guys, Tufts and Tenen found this cavern in 1974, they kept it a secret for awhile to protect against vandalism and damage. And in 1999, the cavern was open to the public. As someone who deeply loves caves, seeing this place was like one of the best sojourns for me! Im so glad I came to see this show cave! And please, let's all do our part to make sure caves are conserved so we can all enjoy them for a long time to come.

This place is heaven on earth...so peaceful, so full of nature, so beautiful. We're already…read moreplanning our next visit. It's way out in the middle of nowhere, no cell service, no tv, limited wifi, yet we never missed a thing. There was so much to do & see nearby just wandering the area. The property itself is a treasure trove of wildlife & amazing birding. The canyon is just a short drive down the road with hiking, nature trails & more wildlife. The best place to eat is the Portal Cafe, about 5-10mins away. We seriously cant wait to come back!

This is a beautiful, rustic setting. Fantastic for bird watching in the spring and wonderful for…read morehiking all year around. If you are a hiker or birdwatcher and like open empty country, you will love this place.

Cienega Preserve run by Pima county only allows 10 to 15 people a day to visit because of it's…read morefragile and delicate ecosystem. This is one of last perennial running streams in Southern Arizona, as well as one of the last habitats for the Lowland Leopard Frog, Long Fin Dace, and Gila Topminnow. It's is also vital to our own potable water supply as well as ground water. The biodiversity of the area is amazing to witness. It is under attack from drought, habitat denigration, as well as the mining industry. I have been have been working for years directly with Az. Fish and Wildlife as well as countless organizations to help preserve areas like this for future generations. If you want to see what is stake, you need to get a permit from the county, and you better hurry before it all dries up.

This dam is very unique, and very picturesque! Too bad they have contracted the water downstream so…read moremuch, the lake is rarely very deep. The Apache Rez is currently closed for Covid. I was therefor business and able to go to the dam.

Probanly one of the last standing Great Depression dams in the world…read more You have to see it to believe it. Vaulting Eagles, Columns of such beuaty it will take your breath away. This is possibly the greatest standing Art Deco example of CCC work left in the US. Go see it now, before they take it down. Go now.

We were more than pleasantly surprised with this find! With gracious hosts Tom and Alicia who are…read moreas lovely as the picturesque landscape, you may be planning your next stay on the way home. Get ready to unwind and relax. Family style meals and a wealth of activities and history to take in and experience. Our family hiked Cave Creek of the Chiricahua Mountains, toured the old west towns of Douglas, Bisbee and Tombstone, and took time to experience ranch life. A great museum is near the ranch complete with a desert garden, wildlife and historical exhibits. We brought our family of 5 including three boys, ages 10, 12 and 15. We all had a blast with our hosts touring the canyon and spending time with the horses, and of course eating Tom and Alicia's delicious meals! If you are looking for a real taste of the American Southwest, look no further.

I stayed there this year, and it was great. For one, they provide breakfast, lunch and dinner…read more That's huge because in this community there are only two tiny restaurants, not always open. The next nearest food is 45 minutes away! The food was excellent. The hosts are clearly foodies and put a lot of thought in each meal, which were upscale-restaurant-quality. I even had several dietary restrictions and they made that work. The beef from their own cattle was delicious, as well. They even made me dinner on the evening I arrived, which I wasn't expecting. The lodge was appropriately rustic, one of the historic stone buildings of this region. They have a lovely patio with bird feeders close by. I learned several new bird calls this trip just from sitting on that patio, The ranch itself was also in very good condition. I love animals, but I don't love smelling animals - and they are doing good farming because it smells great there. The large livestock has a ton of room to range about, and the smaller ones (the mini horses) are kept close for their safety, I assume. Everything was clean, the animals were happy and entertaining, and adorable! The Great Danes were well behaved, sweet dogs, too. And the hosts - they were so lovely; World travelers with lots of fascinating tidbits to share. They are happy to talk and share stories if you want, and they are also very respectful of guest's time and privacy. This was a fun, convenient, and picturesque place to stay. I wish I would have been able to do one of the trail rides. An excellent trip.

Such a beautiful experience! So many different sites on the hour and a half up to the top of the…read moremountain. This is perfect for those who want to see the World and the different terrain of Arizona. It changes so frequently it's unbelievable!

One of the most beautiful places to hike ! Summerhaven is…read morethe so much fun to shop and eat . Highly recommend.

If I had to describe this place in one word, I would say 'sanctuary.'…read more The Catwalk Recreation Area is a compact gem of stupendous beauty. I'd say it's one of the can't miss locations among the many in this state. Although I had seen some photos and videos, they didn't prepare me for the overwhelming experience. It's a canyoned, slot canyoned, nature trailed, tree-lined, water featured, and wildlife wonder courtesy of a built-for-the-ages metal catwalk that floats through much of it as you are suspended between ground and sky. I've seen so many places of natural beauty that I don't get as impressed or as thrilled as I did when I was younger. However, here, I can't think of enough superlatives to say how amazed I was. This place can easily fill with people on nice weekend days. I chose a cold weekday morning and I had the place to myself for a few hours. I considered that time an honor as I walked the catwalk gazing up to the cliff faces and sky while listening to the subdued roar of the water passing by below. I took time to descend from the catwalk and sit at a few places at the water's edge. I hike and camp and bicycle and, while they offer exercise and joy, the Catwalk Recreation Area seems to have its own built-in stress relief feature. This is such an embracing and calming place that can lift you up and say don't lose sight of all the good things in the world.

The Catwalk is so beautiful…read more The boardwalk itself is higher above the water than I anticipated and much shorter in distance than I expected. Regardless the feeling entering the canyon after the catwalk is almost surreal the rocks seem as if they just fell minutes before arriving. Almost like stepping in the Flintstones cartoon. I suggest going here, bring lots of water and snacks and wear a hat plus sunscreen the sun is very direct and hot. Not much shade until you get up the river a ways. I would say I think smaller dogs paws would not be comfortable on the catwalks metal grating but large dogs seemed very comfortable walking on it.