Welcome to the Coronado National Forest

The Coronado National Forest covers 1,780,000 acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Elevations range from 3000 feet to 10,720 feet in twelve widely scattered mountain ranges or "sky islands" that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supporting plant communities as biologically diverse as those encountered on a trip from Mexico to Canada.

Views are spectacular from these mountains, and visitors may experience all four seasons during a single day's journey, spending the morning wandering among giant saguaros and colorful wildflowers, having a picnic lunch under the brilliant golden leaves of a cottonwood tree, and playing in the snow later in the afternoon.

More on the Heritage of the Coronado National Forest, and Southern Arizona.

The Coronado National Forest is made up of five administrative units called Ranger Districts. Each District includes a number of mountain ranges, each with its own unique character.

Douglas Ranger District

The Chiricahua Mountains are the largest mountain range in this district and are home to the greatest concentration of recreation opportunities. Here you will find the 87,700 acre Chiricahuaa Wilderness with its centerpiece, 9,797 foot Chiricahua Peak. Cave Creek Canyon is known around the world for its dramatic rock formation and rich community of birds. Rucker Canyon provides excellent hiking, and camping.

The Dragoon and Peloncillo mountains are smaller and more remote. The Dragoons are home to Cochise Stronghold, a place as rugged and haunting as it sounds. A campgound, forest trails, and historic sites within this range provide a focus for recreation. In the Peloncillos, prinitive trails and rugged backroads reflect the isolated character of the area..

Nogales Ranger District

Recreation opportunities in the Nogales District are dispersed among the Santa Rita Mountains, the Pajaritos, the Tumacacoris, and the grassy hill country that seperates them. The Santa Ritas are topped by 9,453 foot Mt. Wrightson, which is surronded by the 25,260 acre Wilderness of the same name. Madera Canyon in the Santa Ritas is famous among birdwatchers the world over. A number of Forest roads, including the Madera Canyon Road, provide access to campgrounds, picnic areas and dozens of forest trails.

Pena Blanca Lake, at the edge of the Atascosas, offers developed campgrounds, picnic areas and fishing for stocked and resident species. The Pajaritos are home to senic Sycamore Canyon, a 7,420 acre Wilderness and a history of mining boomtowns and hardy pioneers.

Safford Ranger District

Home of the Coronado’s most extensive mountain range, the Pinaleños, and topped by the highest peak in southern Arizona, 10,720 foot Mt. Graham, the Safford District is a land of superlatives. A scenic road named the Swift Trail leads into these unique mountains and provides access to campgrounds, Forest trails and fishing at Riggs Lake.

The Safford District is also home to the Galiuro Mountains and the Santa Teresa Range. The 76,317 acre Galiuro Wilderness is steeped in history and contains an extensive trail network. The Santa Teresas are rugged and remote, with a variety of primitive trails leading into a 26,780 acre Wilderness.

Santa Catalina Ranger District

Located adjacent to metropolitan Tucson, the Santa Catalinas are the most heavily visited mountain range in the Coronado National Forest. The Catalina Highway (also known as the Hitchcock Highway) winds nearly to the top of 9,157 foot Mt. Lemmon, providing paved access to trailheads, campgrounds, picnic areas and even a downhill ski area. The Santa Catalinas are home to the 56,933 acre Pusch Ridge Wilderness and popular Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Numerous other areas of recreation interest are accessible from Forest roads.

The nearby Rincon Mountains receive fewer visitors but are home to such notable features as the Rincon Mountain Wilderness which is adjacent to Saguaro National Monument.

Sierra Vista Ranger District

The Sierra Vista District incorporates several mountain ranges which are separated by rolling hill country and some of the Southwest’s most extensive grasslands. Within its boundaries lie the Huachuca, Patagonia and Whetstone mountains and the Canelo Hills. These areas were once the focus of extensive mining activity, and their canyons and ridges are rich in the history of those colorful days.

An extensive network of trails provides access to the Huachuca Mountains and to the 20,190 acre Miller Peak Wilderness. In Ramsey Canyon, where miners once sluiced, blasted and tunneled for gold and silver, birdwatchers have found a gentler bonanza. A number of scenic drives cross the district’s broad grasslands, and anglers find their reward in Parker Canyon Lake where stocked trout, as well as other species, challenge fishermen.