AZ Trail #1 and #2 LbNA #13084 (ARCHIVED)
Map
Nearby Boxes
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Add Location| Owner: | Kristal & Ron  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jan 13, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Sierra Vista |
| County: | Cochise |
| State: | Arizona |
| Boxes: | 2 |
| Found by: | Kristal & Ron |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Mar 4, 2006 |
| Status: | FFO |
| Last edited: | Jan 13, 2005 |
*** Due to massive flooding at the end of July '06, these trails are washed out. The boxes are temporarily inaccessable and may even be missing. Will update ASAP. ***
These boxes are at the far southern end of the Arizona Trail, in the Coronado National Monument.
From Sierra Vista, take Route 92 south 16 miles to the turnoff for the Monument. Go 5 miles to the Visitor Center and enjoy the historical displays there. Continue 3 miles farther to the Montezuma Pass Overlook. (This is a dirt road that is passable by passenger car, but not RVs over 24’ in length.) When you get to the parking lot, the trailhead is behind the building on the left, where you should register your hike.
The “AZ Trail #1” Letterbox can be found at the southern terminus of the Arizona Trail, right at the Mexican border. This is a pretty tough hike… the trail is easy to follow, but it has a steep, unrelenting grade. It took us 45 minutes to get there and 75 to get back. You will need plenty of water!
Behind the registration building, go right at the sign that says “Coronado Peak .4 miles”, then left at the sign that says “Joe’s Canyon Trail 3 miles”. You will be on this trail for about ¾ mile until it comes to a stop in a saddle. Joe’s Canyon Trail continues down stairs to the north, but you’ll take the Yaqui Ridge Trail which switches back to your right. You’ll know you’re on the right track when you see an Arizona Trail marker about 5 yards down the road. From here it’s 1 mile steeply down to the border! (Don’t worry, you’re not going ALL the way down to bottom of the valley… just about half-way.)
At the end of the trail, you’ll find a silver monolith marking milepost 102. From this monument, go downhill to the east, counting fence posts. Between the 7th and 8th, look left to the Siamese Agaves. The box is on their SE side, under flat pink rocks. If this is the beginning of your Arizona Trail adventure, use the START stamp. If you’re at the end of your journey, use the FINISH stamp. In either case, good luck getting back up the mountain!
The “AZ Trail #2” Letterbox is a much more casual hike to a great panoramic view. From the registration building, follow the signs to the top of Coronado Peak. If you’d like to take it slow, stop and read all of the informational signs about Coronado’s expedition along the way. While enjoying the view on top, scout out the other visitors to see how many people you need to be wary of while searching for the box.
From the top, go back down one flight of stairs to the bench on the north side of a grove of dead, burned trees. Continue down the trail 18 stair steps. There is a large desert sumac (looks like a manzanita bush without the red bark) at 215 degrees from north. The box is on the NW side under a pile of rocks and sticks.
These boxes are at the far southern end of the Arizona Trail, in the Coronado National Monument.
From Sierra Vista, take Route 92 south 16 miles to the turnoff for the Monument. Go 5 miles to the Visitor Center and enjoy the historical displays there. Continue 3 miles farther to the Montezuma Pass Overlook. (This is a dirt road that is passable by passenger car, but not RVs over 24’ in length.) When you get to the parking lot, the trailhead is behind the building on the left, where you should register your hike.
The “AZ Trail #1” Letterbox can be found at the southern terminus of the Arizona Trail, right at the Mexican border. This is a pretty tough hike… the trail is easy to follow, but it has a steep, unrelenting grade. It took us 45 minutes to get there and 75 to get back. You will need plenty of water!
Behind the registration building, go right at the sign that says “Coronado Peak .4 miles”, then left at the sign that says “Joe’s Canyon Trail 3 miles”. You will be on this trail for about ¾ mile until it comes to a stop in a saddle. Joe’s Canyon Trail continues down stairs to the north, but you’ll take the Yaqui Ridge Trail which switches back to your right. You’ll know you’re on the right track when you see an Arizona Trail marker about 5 yards down the road. From here it’s 1 mile steeply down to the border! (Don’t worry, you’re not going ALL the way down to bottom of the valley… just about half-way.)
At the end of the trail, you’ll find a silver monolith marking milepost 102. From this monument, go downhill to the east, counting fence posts. Between the 7th and 8th, look left to the Siamese Agaves. The box is on their SE side, under flat pink rocks. If this is the beginning of your Arizona Trail adventure, use the START stamp. If you’re at the end of your journey, use the FINISH stamp. In either case, good luck getting back up the mountain!
The “AZ Trail #2” Letterbox is a much more casual hike to a great panoramic view. From the registration building, follow the signs to the top of Coronado Peak. If you’d like to take it slow, stop and read all of the informational signs about Coronado’s expedition along the way. While enjoying the view on top, scout out the other visitors to see how many people you need to be wary of while searching for the box.
From the top, go back down one flight of stairs to the bench on the north side of a grove of dead, burned trees. Continue down the trail 18 stair steps. There is a large desert sumac (looks like a manzanita bush without the red bark) at 215 degrees from north. The box is on the NW side under a pile of rocks and sticks.