Dragoon Mountains

azphil · Post by **azphil** » Mar 15 2002 5:28 am

Did a two-nighter there this week after not having hiked there in about 30 years. Went in from the Tombstone side (FR 687) and explored 3 major canyons. I couldn't find any water anywhere as this part of the state has been seeing some bad mojo in the rain department as well.
All this water made for a heavy pack but I was car-camping so it wasn't bad.

The Dragoons are riddled with canyons, large boulders and hoodoos. This mountain range is one of the smaller in area mountain ranges in the Coronado Nat'l Forest but one of the most spectacular when seen from the inside....if you know what I mean.

I've been revisiting most of my hikes taken years ago (like when you could pull over and park on the side of the road in Sedona) in the northern and southeastern portions of the state and have been also expanding my range to include the central (Phoenix area) portion after neglecting it for many years. This spring and summer will find me once again in the southeastern portion of the State......away from the crowds trying to escape themselves. (They 'flip' each other off on the the Interstates yet they 'wave' to each other on dirt roads......go figure.)

I'd be pleased to help any of you if you care to explore the southeastern part of the State.....in fact if any of you have time off during the week we may be able to get together on a hike/backpack or two.

Phil

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Mar 15 2002 11:52 am

Phil, sounds like you went in on the Middlemarch Pass Road. North of there, (east of St. David), is the West Stronghold which is as impressive as the 'main' east Stronghold reached from the Sunsites area. Sorry that the water was scarce, The Huachuca fire thats currently going makes me fear for the Chiricahuas and Pinalenos as well this season. Lets hope for a traditional Cochise County monsoon, and the return of El Nino...

Sounds like you know the area. Have you ever done the route between Onion Saddle and Fort Bowie by way of Cochise Head? Looks interesting on the map...-R

azphil · Post by **azphil** » Mar 15 2002 1:00 pm

Randy, Middlemarch goes through the mountains and 687 goes N-S along the western edge off of Middlemarch. As far as the hike you mentioned I have not done it but seem to recall the names you mentioned. I can't find my FS map so I can't confirm. If you can send me a description or brief map I'd appreciate it. I'll see if my Topo USA has any reference to it. A lot of the stuff I do in the SE part of the State is from memory.....which isn't such a great idea sometimes....I think.

Saw a lot of National Guard trucks driving back to Tucson as I guess the fire in the Huachucas was out by the time I headed back to Avondale. There was a lot of smoke all the way to Tucson but fortunately none around the Dragoons. I sure miss living in Nogales where, what I consider, the best part of the State was never very far.

If you are considering the hike you mentioned and can swing it during the week let me know.