Spent three days exploring Kartchner Caverns, Tombstone, and Cochise Stronghold. Kartchner Caverns is worth a visit, but I don't have any pics because they don't allow cameras down there, but regardless, it's a cool place that was discovered by a couple Mormon kids in the 1970's on private ranch land. They approached the rancher about their discovery, and luckily, the rancher was into conserving it, and not mining in there, so it still exists more or less as it was, save for the paved walkway through it.
We then went to Tombstone briefly, and the site of the OK Corral, but what we found there was endless trinket shops and tourist traps.
Then onto Cochise Stronghold, the mountains where the Apache hid out for years. An absolutely beautiful place that I'd love to come back to when we have more time to spend there.
First night out just south of the Park in the Whetstone Mountains.
Unseasonably cool and windy.
We then went to Tombstone briefly, and the site of the OK Corral, but what we found there was endless trinket shops and tourist traps.
Then onto Cochise Stronghold, the mountains where the Apache hid out for years. An absolutely beautiful place that I'd love to come back to when we have more time to spend there.
First night out just south of the Park in the Whetstone Mountains.
Unseasonably cool and windy.
Were you in the campground at Cochise Stronghold or boondocking near it. It's been many a year since we drove by the campground, but what I remember was campsite with in a area with more trees around the campsites.
Didn't camp there, just drove to see what it was like. We'd been camping at Chiricahua National Monumentโs Bonita Campground. Which is a neat place to see. But has lost much of the trees (not the campground), etc from a bad wild fire a couple of years ago. We camped there last May. http://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm
You are so correct about Tombstone. Very commercialized!
We having made it to Kartchner Caverns State Park yet, but want to.
Good Report!
Thanks!
A few photos of Chiricahua NM's campground:
Didn't camp there, just drove to see what it was like. We'd been camping at Chiricahua National Monumentโs Bonita Campground. Which is a neat place to see. But has lost much of the trees (not the campground), etc from a bad wild fire a couple of years ago. We camped there last May. http://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm
You are so correct about Tombstone. Very commercialized!
We having made it to Kartchner Caverns State Park yet, but want to.
Good Report!
Thanks!
A few photos of Chiricahua NM's campground:
Moonrise.
Morning ride.
Cochise is worth at least four days of your time, especially if you're a climber. Unreal, and definitely going back in March again.
Nice campsite out of the wind.
Lots of small caves for the Apache to hide out in back in the day.
Escape Tombstone and head for the hills........Cochise Stronghold.
10 miles of washboard later.......
Out of nowhere........border patrol helicopter flying REALLY LOW.
10 miles of washboard later.......
Out of nowhere........border patrol helicopter flying REALLY LOW.
Skipped over Kartchner Caverns because you can't take pics there.......but on to the tourist trap of Tombstone. What an annoying place that is.
