"Walk in the S ..." a Coronado National Memorial Travel Page by Basaic

The Coronado National Monument is located in Southeast Arizona along the Mexican Border. It consists of 4750 Acres of Oak Woodland and mountainous terrain. It is through this area that Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and his expedition traveled in their search for the fabled "seven cities of Cibola" from 1540 to 1542.

The national monument has a visitor's center with a small museum/gift shop, a short trail with exhibits, the Coronado Cave Trail (3/4 mile each way with a steep and rocky climb; bring a flashlight and sturdy waking shoes), Joe's Canyon Trail leading to Montezuma Pass Overlook (3.1 miles each way; great views of Arizona and Mexico; joins up with the Montezuma Pass Parking Area), Yaqui Ridge Trail (a 1 mile detour off Joe's Canyon Trail with a steep descent) leading to the Mexican Border and representing the start of the Arizona Trail a trail leading from Mexico to Utah (not complete yet), and the Coronado Peak Trail a short detour from Joe's Canyon Trail leading to the top of Coronado Peak offering historical information along the way. Joe's Canyon Trail rises 1300 feet in the first mile and is not easy. Bring water and protection from the sun.

The road up to Montezuma Pass is now open again so you can drive to Montezuma Pass Overlook. Also note that this park is on the border and gets some illegal and drug smuggler traffic.