Fort Bowie National Historic Site
On our weekend road trip to Tucson, we decided to cross off a handful of NPS sites in southeast Arizona. We headed to Fort Bowie National Historic Site near Bowie. Fort Bowie was built very close to the site of a Chiricahua Apache community (once led by Cochise). It was located to take advantage of a natural spring and to provide protection for the stagecoach trail running through the area. In the now familiar understanding of western American expansion, the Apache village was located in a spot that the Americans wanted. Conflict ensued, battles fought, and the Army displaced the native Apache.
Address and Location
The parking area for Fort Bowie sits off South Apache Pass Road in Bowie, Arizona. The site doesn’t have a physical address that is accessible by road. We searched for Fort Bowie as a point of interest, and our GPS directions were correct. You can also follow the brown NPS signage off exit 366 on I-10. The last few miles on South Apache Pass Road are unpaved.
Cost
Exploring Fort Bowie is free.
What to Do
One very important thing about the Fort Bowie site: the Visitor’s Center is located about a two-mile hike each way from the main parking area. You will have to hike in. We naively assumed that the path to the Visitor’s Center would be an easy hike, and we were wrong. The main path is not accessibility-friendly. At times, you will have to climb steps and navigate trail sections that are narrow, uneven, and rocky. Be sure to pack sunscreen and lots of water.
Along the main route, you’ll find settler ruins, interpretations of local Apache settlements, and displays about the history of the area. There is also a small cemetery.
The Visitor’s Center sits on top of the ridge at the end of the trail. Here, you’ll find the remains of the main Fort Bowie. You can walk a trail around the ruins and check out the different areas of the fort. The Visitor’s Center has a small exhibit with artifacts from the Apache villages and from the Army occupation. And be sure to soak up the air conditioning inside before you head back to the trail head and parking area.
Have you ever visited Fort Bowie?
