Redington Pass (68.4 miles away)
Tucson, Arizona
Old Fort Bowie Road
Scout Route
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Old Fort Bowie Road travels to the Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Inconguiosly, it also passes a Buddhist healing retreat and a guest ranch. The dirt road is well maintained but narrows past the one-and-a-half-mile point. Signs suggest vehicles over 24 feet do not pass that point. One blind curve and a narrow one-lane road to the Historic Site reinforce the advice. There is a nice staging/parking area at the trailhead.
The highlight of the road is the remains of Fort Bowie, the centerpiece of the 30 years of war with the Apache Nation led by Cochise and Geronimo. The fort's strategic location helped maintain safe travel across Apache Pass by travelers, including the Butterfield Overland Stage, a passenger and mail service from St Louis to San Francisco. The Fort Bowie Visitor Center is a short walk from the end of the road. The remnants of the old fort lay spread out across a broad plain. Apache Spring, the most reliable water source in the area, is a short hike away.
There are no campsites along the road.
