Fort Bowie National Historic Site
An easy walk through scrub land and woods leads to the weathered remains of Fort Bowie, which operated from 1862-1894.
An easy walk through scrub land and woods leads to the weathered remains of Fort Bowie, which operated from 1862-1894. The peaceful location belies the fort's pivotal role in the Apache wars of the late 1800s.
Why go: This bucolic setting — attractive because of reliable water — was the site of numerous clashes between Chiricahua Apaches and U.S. soldiers. The 3-mile round-trip hike to the fort passes a Butterfield stagecoach stop and cemetery on its way to the fort. Signs mark where skirmishes took place.
Don’t miss: Fort Bowie Cemetery. A little more than a mile from the trailhead, you'll come to the picket-fenced cemetery. Pause to read the markers of the soldiers and others buried here. The markers and fence are replicas — the park service used two original headboards to create templates for new markers, and inscriptions are based on contemporaneous photographs and descriptions from a journalist who visited the site in 1886.
Insider tip: The visitor center contains all sorts of items of daily life, including Indian stone tools and baskets and some dental instruments that will give you nightmares.
Along the way: Willcox is the nearest city to Fort Bowie. Stop for authentic Mexican food and friendly service at Isabel's South of the Border restaurant on Maley Street downtown.
How far: About 225 miles southeast of Phoenix.