Coronado National Memorial commemorates the first major European exploration of the American Southwest. The Memorial lies on the United States-Mexico border within sight of the San Pedro River Valley, through which the Coronado Expedition first entered the present U.S. in search of the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola. It is a cultural area situated in a natural setting comprised of 4,750 acres of grasslands and oak woodlands.
The Basics
Location:
About 20 miles south of Sierra Vista, Arizona
Hours:
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Season:
Open year round
Address:
4101 E. Montezuma Canyon Rd.
Hereford, AZ 85615
Phone:
520-366-5515
Fax:
520-366-5705
Map
Some More Things to Know
To get there from Phoenix or Tucson, take I-10 east and exit south on Hwy. 90 to Sierra Vista, then south on Hwy. 92 to S. Coronado Memorial Drive. (From Bisbee, take Hwy 92 west). Follow S. Coronado Memorial Drive 5 miles to the Visitor Center.
Directions
From Phoenix or Tucson take I-10 east and exit south on Hwy. 90 to Sierra Vista, then south on Hwy. 92 to S. Coronado Memorial Drive. (From Bisbee, take Hwy 92 west). Follow S. Coronado Memorial Drive 5 miles to the Visitor Center.
Climate
Summers are hot, with daytime temperatures in the 90s F (32-37° C) and low humidity in June and July. Winter temperatures often fall below freezing at night, with highs 40-60° F (4-15° C) in December and January. The summer rainy season is between late June and early September.
Activites include Auto Touring, Bird Watching, Caving, Hiking, picnicking, Horseback Riding, Nature Walks, and Wildlife Viewing
Drive three miles to the scenic overlook Montezuma Pass. From the pass visitors can the one one mile round trip hike to Coronado Peak. Additional trails include Joe's Canyon (3.1 miles) and Yaqui Trail (4 miles round trip).
Allow two hours for a visit to Coronado Cave and bring two flashlights per person. Pets are not allowed on hiking trails and should not be left unattended in parked vehicles, especially in warm weather. History and nature programs and tours of Coronado Cave are available for groups when scheduled in advance. Regularly scheduled programs are given for the general public during the busy seasons. Established picnic sites are available.
Hiking
While hiking the Memorial's trails, carry plenty of water and protection against the sun.
Coronado Cave Trail: 0.75 miles one way; Elevations 5230 feet to 5700 feet. The trail begins at the west end of the visitor center parking lot and ascends 0.75 mile up a steep, rocky slope to the cave entrance. Permits are required to enter the cave and must be obtained at the Visitor Center prior to the hike. Those planning to explore the cave should bring at least two flashlights per person.
Cornoado Peak Trail: 0.4 miles one way; Elevations: 6575 feet to 6864 feet. Trail begins at Montezuma Pass. Quotations from the journals of Coronado's captains, posted at scenic overlooks along the trail, provide a glimpse into the minds and hearts of the conquistadors as they trekked northward along the San Pedro River. From Coronado Peak one is overwhelmed by the beauty of the San Pedro and San Rafael Valleys and the panoramic views of the desert grasslands.
Joe's Canyon Trail: 3.1 miles one way; Elevations: 5230 feet to 6575 feet. The trailhead is 500 feet west of the Visitor Center on Montezuma Canyon Road at the picnic area turnoff. The trail climbs about 1000 feet in the first mile with scenic views of Montezuma Canyon and the San Pedro River Valley. After reaching the saddle at the top of Smuggler's Ridge, the trail continues westward with southerly views deep into the grasslands of Sonora, Mexico. Passing along the northeastern side of Coronado Peak, it joins with the Coronado Peak Trail, ending up at the Montezuma Pass parking area.
Yaqui Ridge Trail: 1.0 mile one way; Elevations: 6500 feet to 5925 feet. Descends steeply from Joe's Canyon Trail down to International Boundary Marker 102 located at the southwestern corner of the park. This trail is the southernmost point of the Arizona Trail. Please do not cross over fence into Mexico and remember what goes down must come back up.
Crest Trail: 5.3 miles one way to Miller Peak; Elevations: 6575 feet to 9456 feet at Miller Peak. The trailhead is across the road at the northeast end of the Montezuma Pass parking area. The trail climbs for 2 miles to the northwestern boundary of the Memorial. There it enters Coronado National Forest and continues along the crest of the Huachuca Mountains to the turnoff for Miller Peak, the highest peak in the Huachucas. The trail passes through an area that once saw much turn-of-the-century mining activity.
Joe's Canyon Trail and the Coronado Peak Trail are both part of the National Trails System and classified as National Recreational Trails. The Yaqui Ridge and Crest Trails are part of the larger Arizona Trail which stretches from the Arizona-Mexico border at Coronado National Memorial to the Arizona-Utah border. Please do not harm or disturb any plants or animals, as all flora and fauna found in the Memorial is protected by federal law. Wood gathering and hunting are not permitted within the Memorial, nor are firearms unless securely stored to prevent their use.
Open: Open All Year dawn to dusk Location: Three miles west of the visitor center, accessible by a winding mountain road, is the scenic overlook at Montezuma Pass, elevation 6,575 ft. Closures: The road is paved for one mile and a graded dirt road for the upper two miles. It is usually passable year round for vehicles under 24 feet in length. Temporary road closures may occur after heavy rain or snow fall. Exhibits: This site provides views of the San Raphael Valley to the west, the San Pedro Valley to the east, and Mexico to the south. Montezuma Pass is also the trailhead for the southern terminus of the great Arizona Trail. See the hiking page for more information on trails. Available Facilities: Restrooms are available all year and drinking water may be available in the spring, summer, and fall.
Picnic Area
Open: Open All Year dawn to dusk Location: The picnic area is located near the visitor center. You can drive directly to the picnic area or walk there from the visitor center along a short (0.1 mile) trail. Closures: The Memorial is open for day use only; therefore, camping is not allowed. Plan to end your activities by dusk. Fires are permitted only in grills in the picnic area, but may not be permitted at all during extremely dry periods. Hunting, woodcutting, and gathering of minerals and vegetation are prohibited. Pets should never be left unattended in vehicles, and must be kept on a leash. Mild temperatures and low humidity provide pleasant opportunity in all seasons. Available Facilities: There are 25 sites located beneath the trees, two ramadas, and several water faucets and fountains. Restrooms are accessible to persons in wheelchairs, and the area is relatively level. Outdoor grills are provided for cooking fires. Visitors need to bring their own charcoal or wood, as no wood gathering is allowed within National Parks. There are no overnight camping facilities.
Coronado Visitor Center
Open: Open All Year 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Closures: Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Buses and RVs should park in the picnic area. Exhibits: As a Memorial, there are few tangible artifacts or relics of Coronado's expedition within the park. Cultural interpretation is based on appropriate displays such as paintings depicting the expedition, authentic armor and weaponry, crafts, and interpretive text explaining the importance of the Spanish impact on the cultures of the region. There is a nine-minute video on the history of the expedition, as well as, a hands-on display of 16th century clothing and armor for visitors to try on. Photographs of birds and native wildlife adorn the walls at the rear of the visitor center. A 14-foot picture window provides visitors with a wonderful opportunity to view and photograph the flora and fauna in a relaxed atmosphere. Available Facilities: Interpretive books, guides, and maps are available through the Western National Parks Association bookstore in the Visitor Center.
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