fort bowie national historic site

From the parking lot to Fort Bowie, be expecting a bit of a hike. (Unless you're disabled, then call for instructions) It's a little over a miles each way, but if you don't make the hike, you will miss the site of the Butterfield Stage, Apache Springs, an historic cemetery, and other ruins. Once at the fort you will see the ruins of the old barracks, the powder room, and many other adobe ruins. Unfortunately, anything that was built of lumber, such as the officer's quarters, has been long removed and repurposed. There is a very nice visitor center with artifacts from the fort. Ask the rangers the alternate route to hike back for different scenery. This is well worth seeing, and surely won't endure the test of time, so see it while you can.

Located near the Chiricahua National Monument only makes a visit to this site more worthwhile. Visiting Fort Bowie will give a visitor a real idea of how isolated our military was during the "Indian Wars" of the Southwest. The staff is supremely knowledgeable and eager to answer questions. You may drive up to within 500 feet of the visitors' center.

Wow you forget about the history of Arizona, and the importance the forts played in our safety back then. How important the water sources are are very evident when looking at the terrain but I never realized what went into securing them for the pioneers. Also how was a person to eek out a living in that barren of a place, I have a lot of respect for the indians and their ability to "live off the land." We took our time and read the placards and trail information along the way. There was no pressure to hurry and the weather in February was perfect for this 3 mile round trip hike. Do bring water for the trip and you can refill at the ranger station at the top of the trail. There was a handicap accessible road that you would not have to use the hiking for people unable to hike. It miss a lot of items on the way up BUT they do have a lot of interesting museum type things at the ranger station and someone on hand to answer your questions.

There is much to see and learn here. The history of the US Army conflict with the Chiricahua Apache led by Cochise & Geronimo. The Overland Stage that routed through here on the way from Saint Louis to California. The story of the very important water source found here. The final surrender of Geronimo that ended the Indian Conflict. The Visitor Center is at the ruins of Fort Bowie. To get there requires a 1.5 mile walk one way. However, there is much to see along the way including a Minor's site, the Graves of civilians and Indians who died from fighting or disease (including one of Geronimo 's sons), the site of the Indian Agent, the still existing valuable spring that provided water and the Overland Stage Station.The 1.5 mile walk is actually not very strenuous. Along the way you will be looking upward at the surrounding mountains.At the Visitor Center, information is available from a very pleasant and helpful young man. The Visitor Center is small but has many interesting items regarding the history of the area. There is no food here, but there are clean restrooms, a nice porch to sit and appreciate the setting, picnic tables and water.The road to Fort Bowie is primarily gravel and dirt. It is easily accessible by car. Fort Bowie is definitely worth a few hours of your time.

We visited on New Year's Day, so the weather was cool and pleasant for walking. The ranger had seen some javelina in the morning and we saw some as we were leaving. Much of the road coming in was dirt/gravel but in good condition when we came. We parked in a small parking lot and made the short walk to the visitor center/gift shop. The ranger was friendly and informative. There is a restroom also at the visitor center.The fort now is mainly the foundations of the old building but there were photos and descriptions of the fort in its heyday. I was mainly interested in the terrain, many early forts I know of in the west were on flat ground and this one was in the hills. Wonderful sight and beautiful desert!

This is an easy hike to both sets of ruins. If you are from sea level the hike will be a little difficult because of the altitude. But otherwise this is a great walk into the past. The footings for the buildings are located in great proximity to have Apache Peak as a photographic backdrop.

From the trailhead it's a pleasant hike to the fort, and at sunset on the return the sounds of the desert were amazing. Pity that access has to be via a long dirt road.

It is said it is a 3 mile round trip, but it definitely feels the hike is longer than that. The return trail from the trail head behind the visitor center offers great views. Take lots of water and some snacks with you. Visitor Center does not sell them. I really enjoyed the drive to the site. It is open range and we saw lots of cattle crossing the street. It was the first time I ever saw a pistachio grove with fruit on the tree and dried nuts on the ground. That added some interesting points to this trip.

This is an out of the way place to visit. But it is well worth the trip. You will travel either 6 or twelve miles of gravel road spending on which direction you come from. There is a mile and a half hike on get there but it has a lot of sites on it that offer in site into the lives of the Apache and settlers on the western frontier. This was a large fort and a lot of it is still visible. Check for the hours of operation before you go as you will need to get I to the site and have time to view it plus get back out to your car.

My wife and I went to this site at the request of a dying Apache friend. His older brother served on my boat in Nam. He said he always intended to visit the site, but never got around to doing it - and now he is unable to travel the distance necessary. His interest was Fort Bowie is where "it all ended" - the indian wars - the last Native Americans who ran wild. He said, " I've always hated the SOB (Geronimo) for what he did to all Apache, but he was the very last of our kind to know the wide open ways of our people. That place is really sacred to the end of our ways."The Fort area and it's surroundings are pristine open and unimproved grounds. Only scattered adobe foundations mark some of the buildings which once housed 3500 troops and calvary. The grounds hold a haunting feeling. In a way it is hard to imagine how people lived there. Somehow, the place should have been preserved as a monument to end of the southwest's American Indian conflicts with the movement of settlers westward. In the end, 3500 soldiers never found Geronimo. He surrendered once and for all to a small band of soldiers from Fort Bowie. He was just tired.They returned to Fort Bowie and shortly thereafter ALL Apache including Geronimo and many Apache scouts serving with the US Army, were shipped by train from Holbrook, AZ to Florida for incarceration. The Fort no longer had any use and was simply abandoned shortly thereafter.

I’ve been here several times btwn 2008 – 2011, always enjoying the sites and the view. It was no different this time, I went in early May before the weather turned hot. The trip was part of a class project. We were lucky that at the beginning we were met by a Park ranger who gave a short history of the post, and its role in the Apache Wars. The walk itself was pleasant, there were plenty of stops with interpretation signs and information from our instructor. We saw where the Butterfield stage had its Apache Wells location, and if you looked hard enough you could still make out parts of the stage trail. There’s also the location of the spring which made the location so valuable to first the Apaches, the Butterfield stage and later the cavalry, along with the location of Tom Jeffords Trading Post. The fort itself is in ruins, however there’s still plenty to see. There are interpretations of locations of the original post hospital, armory, housing, etc. There’s a ranger/museum/bookstore bldg. at the fort, once you reach it. The bldg. also has a wraparound porch around the whole bldg. with benches to sit on. From the porch you have a nice view of the old fort, the surrounding mountains, and the hill that you can hike back to your car on. That trail offers a different view of the Battle of Apache Pass. This is really a fascinating place to visit. It's rarely ever crowded and the ranger has so much knowledge to tell. Regardless of how often I visit here, I always find something new about it.

Great place that opens the book on a lost portion of American history. Its remote setting and the lack of amenities (must hike to it outside of special circumstances) bring home the wildness of this portion of the US- both now and 150 years ago. This fort played a key role in the expansion west, one that I had never learned. The education signage along the trail to the Fort and on site are first rate and give context and depth to the story without editorializing. Bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and experience (for a short while) what the settlers and soldiers of generations ago experienced.

The hike at 1.5 miles one way is quite manageable for most people. There are several stops along the trail where you can view an interesting bit of history and read about it too. Being from the north, I was quite excited to see a tarantula on our path. I have only ever seen them behind glass in zoos or nature exhibits. When we reached the Visitors' Center, the Park Ranger could not have been more eager to be helpful. He went out of his way to give my hubby (a teacher) materials for his class. The hike back to the parking lot was a little more strenuous and the path a little rougher. Make sure you have sun protection. Take water with you. At least one bottle per person going and one coming back. You can refill at the Visitors' Center.

I love places like this. They are so needed. I was not sure we were going to be able to make the hike in, it sounds so daunting on the website, but the 3 mile round trip hike is not that strenuous. Although there was a breeze blowing the day we went (we are unfit, overweight seniors) and we were able to make it. I understand why the facility thinks it is best to take the hike in, rather than use the limited access road to the visitor center, it really does prepare you for the Fort at the end of the trail. I am glad they are doing their best to preserve what is left of this grand fort. I would have loved a video presentation or a guided tour by a docent once at the site. And they lost out on gifts shop purchases and a donation as they closed the visitor center door (midday) from the time I asked where the restroom was to the time I returned to the front door (we are talking less than a minute).

In the reviews for Fort Bowie I don't thonk it is sufficiently noted that the 1.5 mile walks in and out of the fort area can be very pleasant under the right circumstances. I was there with my wife the second week in April, just before the temperatures started escalating. We were under a clear sky with temperature in the 70s. The walk in was physically easy, with many wildflowers and flowering trees in bloom. The suggested "overview" trail out is a tad more demanding but truly gives wonderful views of the hill country and valleys beyond. The trail in has more historical markers than the trail out. Seeing things like the Apache Spring, the graveyard containing one of Geronimo's grandsons and the area where Lt. George Bascom met with Cochise (and behaved disreputably) brings history alive. The combination ranger station/bookstore is compact and contains a number of interesting artifacts and photos. The ranger was very pleasant and informative.Fort Bowie lends insight into the Indian Wars and that whole era in a way that cannot be delivered by mere reading. For children age 8 and over, it should be a very worthwhile and exciting experience.