Beautifully scenic and historic, with many historic buildings, a running stream (good to have a high clearance vehicle to traverse it), the remnants of an historic orchard, and a nice campground. The self-guided Stronghold Nature Trail introduces many of the area’s common plants. Late fall, winter, and early spring are the best times to visit. (off State Rt. The campground itself rests under a canopy of evergreen oaks. In 1850, the United States took control over the territory that today comprises Arizona and New Mexico. The Dragoon Mountains are a low range that barely rises above the surrounding desert floor. 287 S Cochise Stronghold R Rd , Pearce, AZ 85625 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $419,900. While the road can appear rough, people in passenger cars frequently traverse the road. That’s the setting for the unique accommodations created by Nancy and John Yates. You can also access the trail directly from Cochise Stronghold, A Canyon Nature Retreat. In an interview, guitarist Tom Morello said that Cochise was "the last great American Indian chief to die free and absolutely unconquered. There are a total of eleven sites. Beginning with early Spanish colonization around 1600, the Apache in their territory suffered tension and strife with European settlers until the greater part of the area was acquired by the United States in 1850, following the Mexican War. Many years passed before the US Army, using tactics conceived by General George Crook[9] and later adopted by General Nelson A. Douglas Ranger District Drive slowly. Arizona The countryside between the site and the Interstate is amazing. Cochise died of natural causes (probably abdominal cancer) in 1874. This campground is located in a magnificent, rugged canyon that served the famous Apache Indian leader, Cochise, as a refuge against his enemies. Cochise deepened his resolve and the Chiricahua Apache pursued vengeance against the Mexicans. The campground itself rests under a canopy of evergreen oaks. 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. Description: Yes, ferns do grow in deserts! On one side, the Manzanilla Casita is ranch-house style, with a long, comfortable living room that can be turned into extra sleeping space, separate bedroom, a full, well-equipped kitchen with views of the (usually) sun-drenched grounds, and a wood-burning stove. 191) west 9.1 miles to campground entrance. Cochise came to life for us as we reached the end of the journey. The campsites offer shade from beautiful oak trees, and diverse vegetation which includes plants of the Upper Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. The two accommodations (we have stayed in both, but did not try the yurt) each have their distinct “personalities” and features. In 1871, General Oliver O. Howard was ordered to find Cochise, and in 1872, Howard was accompanied by his aide 1st Lt Joseph Alton Sladen and Captain Samuel S. Sumner, and they came to Arizona to negotiate a peace treaty with Cochise. Remember GPS is unreliable in the valley, most cell phones won’t work there, and there’s no wifi at the Stronghold. Cochise Stronghold Campground is located in a magnificent, rugged canyon that served the famous Apache Indian leader, Cochise, as a refuge against his enemies. [20] Chandler also played Cochise in Taza, Son of Cochise (1954), with Rock Hudson as his son, Taza[20] The film Conquest of Cochise released by Columbia Pictures in 1953 and starring John Hodiak as Cochise also showed Cochise as a caring man who wanted peace with whites. The hike is moderately strenuous. This website is not sponsored by the Forest Service. Thomas Roberts was persuaded by this conflict that it would be best to find a route around Apache Pass, which he did. Cochise Stronghold Canyon surrounded by 64,000 acres of evergreen Coronado National Forest. Preferably, drive in daylight. The fees for staying are as follows. Cochise (/koʊˈtʃiːs/; in Apache: Shi-ka-She or A-da-tli-chi – "having the quality or strength of an oak"; after the whites called him "Cochise", the Apache adopted it as K'uu-ch'ish or Cheis "oak"; c. 1805 – June 8, 1874) was leader of the Chihuicahui local group of the Chokonen ("central" or "real" Chiricahua) and principal chief (or nantan) of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache. The boy was later proved to have been kidnapped by another band of Apaches. Check with Nancy and don’t start unprepared. The U.S. Army captured him in 1871 and prepared to transfer the Chiricahua to a reservation hundreds of miles away, but he escaped again and renewed the resistance campaign. You can stay the night in certain places if you have a motor home. Partway along Cochise Indian Trail intersects Middlemarch Trail, which leads through more cloaked/forested terrain to Middlemarch Canyon Road. We are happy to announce our just released guidebook to the Cochise Stronghold. We were pleased to be told to see this place. 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 exact location has never been revealed or determined. Born in present-day Arizona, Cochise led the Chiricahua band of the Apache tribe during a period of violent social upheaval. I bring my own preferred shampoo and extra conditioner, though good quality natural products are provided.) From Tucson, take I-10 east to US 191, turn right to Ironwood Road, turn right to Douglas, take US 80 to US 191, go north to Sunsites, turn left on Ironwood Road and proceed to Cochise Stronghold Campground. The Cochise Stronghold Chapter NSDAR was approved by the NSDAR on February 9, 2009. It's hot! Spiny cliffbrake (Pellaea truncata) is also common. Nine for tents or RV's and 2 group sites. ft. home is a 5 bed, 4.0 bath property. He was about 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed about 175 pounds (79 kg). Cochise Stronghold Campground offers Handicap Accessible restrooms. This rugged natural fortress was, for some 15 years, the home and base of operations for the famed Chiricahua Apache Chief, Cochise. Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. The tall, handsome, deeply tanned Chandler, a Jewish actor born in Brooklyn, New York, portrayed Cochise as a noble, nearly tragic character forced to fight against the U.S. Army officers who led incursions into Apache territory. The trails are initially easy and well-trod, rising into winding pathways among imposing boulders. The 3,000 sq. It is a beautiful, leisurely walk among the oaks and junipers. There is no dump station for RVs, nor is there any water available at the campground. I became obsessed with the history of Cochise, the great Apache chief, after watching the movies Fort Apache with John Wayne in 1948 and Broken Arrow with Jimmy Stewart in 1950. [4] Army officer Lt. George Bascom invited Cochise to the Army's encampment in the belief that the warrior was responsible for the incident. Both strongholds have ample water, wood, grazing and game, as they did in Cochise’s day. Great coffee grounds, coffee makers, and fresh cream will be in your suite when you arrive. (For something different you may choose a yurt.) He was buried in the rocks above one of his favorite camps in Arizona's Dragoon Mountains, now called the Cochise Stronghold. The Cochise Indian Trail leads from the East Cochise Stronghold Campground down into the West Stronghold Canyon, and is approximately 5 miles one way. suites. Could have gone further but didn't. It's a nice combo of distance, difficulty (the elevation gain is only about 1100 feet - but you climb up the divide each way so double it up), and uniquely awesome scenery. Sign up for our newsletter to receive all the latest news, travel tips and special offers. Every day is a a delight, with innumerable irresistible photo ops along the various trails. Follow Cochise’s example and stay awhile at one of several campsites, by pitching a tent or bringing along your RV. Upon his death, he was secretly buried somewhere in or near his impregnable fortress. Not hostile to the whites at first, he kept peace with the Anglo-Americans until 1861, when he became their implacable foe because of the blunder of a young U.S. Army officer, Lt. George Bascom.